It turns out trying to “keep up” with everything in the information age is like trying to drink from a firehose while riding a rollercoaster that’s already on fire. We’ve been told for years that we should “stay informed,” but what they really mean is “drown in a sea of irrelevant nonsense.”
Through great cost of time and energy, I ultimately discovered that anyone who claims they’ve mastered the art of keeping up in this era of constant digital bombardment is likely lying through their teeth; that is, unless that individual has achieved a Zen-like detachment from the world that deserves intense study.
When life throws actual responsibilities at you, something’s got to give. Unfortunately, it’s usually the important stuff, like remembering to eat, that slips through the cracks. Big business has the audacity to turn everything we need, love, and care about into a product that they sell back to us, including our attention spans.
It turns out there’s really only one solution to keeping up with the information age: just stop trying. Honestly, mindfully pick your interests, let them fuel your passion, and leave the rest to those who still believe in the myth of “keeping up.” I’m not much of a sampler anymore; I decided to become more of an all-in or not-at-all kind of gal. If you want me to care about something, it better be worth my while and actually improve some aspect of my life.
We all have a limited capacity inside our skulls. Each of us has only so much bandwidth, and I’m reserving mine for things that matter. These are the people I love, the projects I care about, and figuring out how to nap more effectively. Whatever you do, never let the ones who matter most drop off your radar. Yes, it’s easy to get distracted by every shiny new thing, but you have to unlearn that training, or you’ll lose sight of the people who actually depend on you. Keeping up with them is non-negotiable.
I’m more than happy to blissfully ignore 99.9 percent of what’s out there to see, while finally figuring out how to keep up with the things that count.
~ Amelia Desertsong, September 18, 2024
