Do You Check the News Without Realising It?
Be honest—how many times a day do you open a news app, scroll headlines, or watch “breaking news”? Morning tea, lunch break, before sleep—it slips into life silently.
I wondered:
What would happen if I stopped checking the news completely for 7 days?
No headlines. No breaking alerts. No debates.
So, I tried it. What followed surprised me.
Day 1–2: The Invisible Habit Becomes Visible
The first shock wasn’t silence—it was habit.
My thumb kept opening apps automatically. Every free moment felt incomplete, like something was missing. Not because I needed information, but because my brain expected stimulation.
It felt similar to checking your phone even when there’s no notification.
First realisation:
👉 News is less about awareness and more about routine.
Day 3–4: Anxiety Quietly Starts to Fade
By midweek, something unexpected happened—mental noise reduced.
No tragic headlines.
No alarming numbers.
No urgent opinions demanding a reaction.
I wasn’t ignorant of reality—I was simply not emotionally dragged into every crisis happening somewhere in the world.
Sleep improved.
Thoughts felt lighter.
Conversations became calmer.
Second realisation:
👉 Constant news keeps the mind in a permanent state of alert.
Day 5–6: Focus and Time Make a Comeback
Without realising it, I gained time—small pockets that usually disappeared into news scrolling.
That time went into:
· Thinking without interruption
· Noticing people around me
· Finishing tasks faster
· Feeling present instead of reactive
Surprisingly, nothing important was actually missed. Major events still reached me through people—without the panic.
Third realisation:
👉 Most news is repetitive, not essential.
Day 7: A Clearer Relationship with Reality
On the final day, I noticed something powerful.
My opinions felt more my own, not shaped by headlines.
I reacted less, reflected more.
The world didn’t feel perfect—but it felt balanced.
Reality existed beyond screens.
Life continued normally.
Final realisation:
👉 Being informed doesn’t require being overwhelmed.
What Shocked Me the Most
It wasn’t peace.
It wasn’t extra time.
The biggest shock was this:
The world felt no worse—only my perception had changed.
News didn’t disappear. Fear did.
Does This Mean You Should Quit News Forever?
No.
But it does mean we need a healthier relationship with it.
Instead of:
· Constant updates
· Emotional overload
· Fear-driven headlines
Try:
· Fixed time for news
· Trusted sources
· Intentional consumption
Try This Simple Challenge
You don’t need 7 days immediately.
Start with:
· 24 hours without news
· Then 3 days
· Then a full week
Observe—not avoid.
Final Thought
Sometimes, the mind needs silence—not more information.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or mentally tired, maybe the question isn’t:
“What’s happening in the world?”
But rather:
“What’s happening inside my mind?”
