We live in a world flooded with information. The constant scroll of headlines, opinions, and “breaking news” keeps our attention fractured and our hearts restless. Yet, what if peace of mind lies not in knowing more, but in knowing less — more deeply?
Swiss author Rolf Dobelli, in his book Stop Reading the News, proposes something radical: stop consuming news altogether. His argument is not political, but psychological and spiritual. And when framed as a spiritual discipline, his advice becomes part of a larger practice of inner liberation.
Why the News Robs Us of Peace
Dobelli shows how news creates mental pollution. Most stories are not actionable — they stir anxiety, outrage, or sympathy without offering ways to respond meaningfully. Spiritually speaking, this fragments our awareness and dulls inner clarity.
– It feeds fear and outrage. News thrives on novelty and negativity. Each headline is designed to provoke emotion, not insight. Over time, we acclimate to being perpetually alarmed.
– It scatters attention. Constant news consumption trains the mind toward distraction. Our still point — the inner witness — gets lost in noise.
– It distorts perspective. The world we see through news is not the world we inhabit daily. It magnifies crises and ignores quiet virtues like kindness, patience, and presence.
– It undermines serenity. Spiritually, the habit of reacting to external stimuli erodes the contemplative instinct. The mind becomes like a leaf in the wind rather than a mountain in stillness.
The 30-Day News Fast
To stop reading the news is not withdrawal — it is a fast. It resets the nervous system, clears the mind’s palate, and heightens discernment. Here is how to go *cold turkey* for 30 days:
1. Cut all news sources. Unsubscribe from newsletters, delete apps, avoid TV, radio, and “doom scrolls.”
2. Choose one trusted long-form source (e.g., a weekly digest or a thoughtful podcast) if total abstinence feels too abrupt.
3. Inform friends. Tell them about your experiment so they won’t flood you with headlines.
4. Journal the withdrawal. Notice impulses to check the news; write about what surfaces instead — boredom, calm, uncertainty, or relief.
5. Replace with reflection. Fill reclaimed time with reading timeless literature, sacred texts, or silence.
6. Ground in practice. Each time the urge to “check the news” arises, pause, breathe, and gently return to presence.
Within a week, the noise fades. Within a month, the mind grows luminous again. The world still unfolds, but your inner landscape becomes quieter, steadier, clearer.
The Fruits of a Quiet Mind
After thirty days, you may discover:
– Peace replaces anxiety. Without constant input, your mind ceases to expect crisis around every corner.
– Attention deepens. Reading books, sitting in silence, or conversing deeply becomes easier and more nourishing.
– Discernment sharpens. You learn to distinguish what actually matters in your life versus what merely clamors for attention.
– Joy returns to presence. The sunlight, a neighbor’s greeting, the taste of tea — all regain their texture.
Spiritual peace begins not with a new belief, but with subtracting excess noise. To stop reading the news is to choose stillness over stimulation, substance over spectacle. It is to say: My consciousness is sacred, not a dumping ground for trivia and terror.
So try it — a 30-day news fast as a modern practice of silence. Not to ignore the world, but to see it once again through clear eyes.
Dr. Jay Forrest is a Zen Deist Philosopher exploring rational spirituality, contemplative practice, and the quiet wisdom that emerges from a reflective life beyond traditional religion.