I don't know what it's like in other countries, but most people I know in America are WAY too immersed in news and social media. Most people I know spend shocking amounts of time and mental energy stressing about the state of our country, the latest political breaking news, what's happening in Gaza and/or Ukraine, the latest celebrity breakup, the economy, the environment, fires, plane crashes, drones ... you get the idea.

Do you know what each of these things have in common? Apart from extremely rare exceptions, there's NOTHING you can do about any of them. They are happening to someone else. They are not your responsibility. You have no power to change them. Somebody just wants you to stress out about them like they're stressing out about them. 

It reminds me of the conversation Jesus had with Peter in John 21, where he tells him about some things that will be happening in Peter's life in the future. What does Peter do with this information? The very first thing he does is point to another disciple and ask, "Okay but what about him? What's going to happen with him?"

I imagine Jesus sighing to himself, shaking his head, taking a breath, and responding, "Don't worry about what's going to happen to him. What is that to you? You just follow me."

I have a guaranteed strategy to upgrade the quality of your life. If you do this, you will stress less, have more time, and enjoy your life more. Your mental health -- as well as your relationships -- will improve. Your spiritual life will improve, in some cases dramatically.

Before I tell you what it is, I invite you to do a little math. Add up the amount of time you spend consuming digital content (unless it's related to self-development or spiritual growth). How many hours a day or week do you spend:

• watching tv shows or sports
• watching news on TV, or listening to it on talk radio or podcasts
• reading news stories online
• consuming social media

Once again, if you're watching or reading content that is focused on personal growth or spiritual development, subtract that time. Of course these are going to be hard numbers to estimate. Just try your best. Also be aware that most people will tend to UNDER-estimate, because they don't want to face uncomfortable things about themselves.

SO what's your number? How many hours a day? A week? Whenever I've done this exercise with people, their total numbers cause them surprise and dismay. No wonder we are so stressed out and unhappy! No wonder we feel like we don't have enough time for anything. We're too busy on our phones and other screens. 

If you want to upgrade your life, do this: Take that number, and for the next week, try to cut it at least in half. Make changes to your schedule, and do whatever you need to do to spend significantly LESS time consuming content on your screen. 

(Bonus tip: if you're currently watching news content that pushes outrage by only giving part of the story so you get mad at how terrible and stupid "the other guys" are ... eliminate that content altogether. Start taking news ONLY from neutral, dispassionate, "just the facts ma'am" kinds of sources.)

It's not that hard. I'm not asking you to completely eliminate your news and other media consumption. You can still be informed. You can still relax in front of the TV if you want. Just don't do it all night. 

Then comes the million dollar question: What will you do instead? What will you do with the time you are no longer spending consuming digital content? Whatever you want! Find some fun and renewing things to do with that time. Get together with friends. Go outside. Get back to a hobby that you used to like doing but no longer feel you have time for. 

Off and on for the past couple years, I have gone back to this exercise. These days in my day planner, I have "limit scrolling" as one of my "to do" reminders EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

I'm not perfect with this but I have found it to work every time -- when I'm successful with limiting media over-consumption, I'm significantly happier, more peaceful, and more energized. It makes a huge difference. Conversely, I can tell when I've started slipping back into old patterns. It becomes obvious in my mood and energy levels.

So that is my advice, and based on my own experience, it works. But more than that, I've now worked with a number of other people who have also done it ... and they've had the same experience. It's not just me. Nobody is less happy or more stressed out after they cut their digital media consumption in half. 

Not only this, but I keep reading research about this, and other peoples' anecdotes, which reinforces this promise. A couple years ago I read a book that now seems to be "having a moment." It's basically a long rant about this very issue. I don't agree with everything in the book, but it's interesting to me for no other reason than how it demonstrates that I'm not alone in feeling this way. Its title, and subtitle, says it all: "Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! How to Take Back our Time, Attention, and Purpose in a World Designed to Bury us in BS."

I don't think I'm on outlier in having to fight this battle. It's not that I've become a closeted Amish wannabe. It's just that I've come to terms with the reality that what is "normal" about screen time and content consumption in our present day is extremely, profoundly, and inescapably bad for us. It wreaks havoc with our emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being.

I dare you to do something about this. 

I dare you to take action on this article. Don't just read it and move on with your life. I dare you to try this. I dare you to experiment for the next couple weeks. Take your junk digital media consumption, and cut it at least in half. Use the time instead for things that are genuinely fun and renewing.

Let me know what happens!