Are You Addicted to Information?
You’ll get a good sense of your relationship with information when you pause—and notice what happens in your mind and body when you stop consuming it.
Do you feel a craving for the next hit of content? Does your mind race with the fear that you're missing something vital—some life-altering insight or newsflash? Does your body get tense or anxious when there's nothing to listen to, watch, or read?
If so, you might be overly dependent on information consumption. Whether it’s news, podcasts, audiobooks, documentaries, TV, radio, streaming, or even chatting with AI—it can become a way to feel safe or in control. But here’s the hard truth: no amount of content can protect us from being human. We're still fragile. Our time here is limited. We don’t have the control we crave, and safety isn’t guaranteed.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not anti-learning, far from it. Learning is one of my greatest joys. But compulsive consumption isn’t the same as learning. It’s bingeing. And bingeing is a coping mechanism—a way to soothe discomfort.
If we truly want peace of mind, we need to make room to slow down. When we do, the deeper layers of our lives begin to surface—layers we can finally tend to. That’s where contemplative practices like meditation and prayer come in.
These practices calm your nervous system in a way no audiobook ever could. While content stimulates your prefrontal cortex (the rational brain), mindfulness reaches the survival centers of the brain—the parts on high alert for danger—and helps them relax.
You can stuff endless information into your head while your nervous system stays stuck in fight, flight, or fix mode.
If you suspect you're addicted to information, take it as a gentle invitation. Get curious about what you might be medicating with content. Try placing limits on your consumption. Allow space for detoxing from the false comfort it provides. Then turn toward contemplative practices. Reconnect with your body. Learn to be present.
I’m honored that you read these emails—but I also know: no one needs them. If they stopped, the world would keep turning. What we do need is groundedness. A felt sense of comfort. And that won’t come from consuming more content.
Remember, reading about Paris isn’t the same as visiting Paris. Walking its streets, meeting the people there, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells, is so much richer. And the immersive experience transforms us.
Which leads to today’s question:
Are you ready to spend some time visiting yourself?
That’s where the real magic is. Right here. Inside you. This very moment. But you might miss the opportunity for a transformative experience if you’re always chasing the next bit of information.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom Page, LCPC
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