I would like to take a media fast. Why am I doing this? Lately, videos, news, internet browsing, checking email, and music are what I have been using to cope with stress. I don’t think this is a good arrangement. I would like to replace it with a combination of meditation, exercise, making teas, reading books, and making conversation.

America is a very media-saturated culture. While this has many positives, it also creates trivial obsessions that I think almost everyone would agree are not the wisest use of their time or mental resources. Absorbing too much media tends to limit creativity and produce a feeling of dependence, at least in my experience. When I have done similar experiments in the past, everyday life became more interesting, since I was not constantly letting myself get distracted by these other sources.

So, here are the ground rules for this month:

• No videos. This includes video productions, episodes, YouTube clips, and anything else, except what is required for classes.
• No news. The only exception I will give myself for this is to glance at the headlines in a news magazine on weekends if I would like.
• No internet browsing unless for important reasons. Some of these reasons might include looking up information about the MCAT, looking up a concept I am struggling with in one of my classes, or researching a specific topic on my blog or other website. However, this should be the extent of the time I spend on the internet, and even this should be strictly monitored.
• No checking email more than once a day. I can check more than once if I am expecting something urgent, but other than that, I want to stick to this rule.
• No listening to music or other audio while exercising or stretching. I can meditate during this time, do some productive thinking, or just fully apply myself to what I am doing. 

I hope to pick up some new habits during this month and become less prone to distraction. Wish me luck!