To cut yourself off from the world for an extended amount of time is foolish. It behooves us all to know what’s going on in the world around us, as we’re all affected by each other’s actions. Especially in this day and age when important news is delivered almost instantly. That’s certainly not to say anyone should be plugged in 24/7, that’s certainly no better for you than not beign plugged in at all. But as mentioned in other comments, you can stay connected on a daily basis and still have time for yourself, your family and other things.

I also agree with another reader who spoke of productivity. When I have so much going on that I’m no longer productive, it’s time to take a break. Whether that break is reading a newspaper, watching a ball game or going for a run, it’s good to give your brain a mental break. And you can’t beat daily exercise for this — relieves the stress and anxiety that build up over the day and releases chemicals naturally that relax the body and mind.

In that time, I listened to perhaps five minutes of news, and read one newspaper. I also finished four books.

It’s been an eye opener to see how I didn’t miss the Internet, and how much fantastic fiction reading I got done during my media-free time. Loved it, and I’m hoping to be more mindful about the way I spend my time with respect to information overload from now on.