10. Stop watching trash, stop feeling like trash
I have realized the need in my own life to cut out all junk content from my life. When I finally committed to quitting PMO I decided to also quit the news media, political content, true crime, and mindless entertaining content. I had no idea just how impactful this was going to be on my mood and mind state.
I used to constantly watch the news and obsessively check online political websites. I was always trying to get a glimpse into the future and hopefully get ahead of the collapse before it started to happen, I was stuck in a very negative and fear based environment and I did not even realize it. I thought I was just “being informed” when in fact I was scaring myself over and over and keeping constant stress about the future alive.
I also used to watch true crime content, I love serial killer stories, interrogations, body cam videos, etc… My you tube feed was full of this type of content. I was filling my free time viewing the sickest, saddest, darkest parts of humanity, and not surprisingly feeling scared, anxious, and depressed about life. I was listening to a YouTube channel one day and the presenter mentioned how they would not watch true crime before a date because it made her feel stressed out. That really struck me, as I realized I was watching true crime during my breaks, listening to it on my commute, etc.. and would walk into my house at night feeling scared, anxious and stressed.
Mindless entertainment is similar in that it is just a pleasure hit and a waste of time and focus. I also used to watch an inordinate amount of mindless entertainment on YouTube during my days, sinking hours into content that does not improve my life at all and serves as a distraction from dealing with myself. I would scroll and scroll looking for the next video to kill time and numb my mind.
Part of becoming PMO free for the long term, is also becoming free of filling your mind and spirit with content that does not uplift or improve your station in life. If you are filling your free time with watching content that makes you feel anxious, stressed, scared, or numb, you are going to increase the amount of urges you have to use PMO. When I would watch the news I would get so worked up and worried about the future, that ultimately I would want to reach to PMO for comfort. When I would watch true crime I would feel scared and sad about humanity and thus PMO was right there to make me feel better. Mindless entertainment would have me scrolling and obsessing about finding the next video, eventually this would become boring and mind numbing, which makes PMO look a lot more appealing. The bottom line is cutting out all of this negative and pointless content will help reduce PMO urges and it will give you a bunch of your free time back to do other things, like find your purpose and begin to build with vision in your life.
Immediate Action Steps:
Assuming you are on monk mode as you read this, Cut out all non self improvement related content for a minimum of 60 days. No politics, no news, no true crime or other negative content, and no mindless entertainment
If you use YouTube a ton like I do, create play lists in advance of going through your day, pick content that uplifts or educates you, and only stick to that list of content as best as you can throughout the day
Turn your screen off and just listen to YouTube, this is what I mainly do, I rarely actually watch videos anymore, this helps with breaking screen addiction, and keeping the eyes from wandering and maybe seeing something that could start an urge.
Progress not perfection is the goal, this is not about being so ruthless that you can never again watch a Key and Peele skit to add some levity to your day, but if you do that don’t make it an extended thing that wastes a bunch of time. Watch a couple and move on with your day. Though for the first 60 days I would advise minimizing this as much as possible, and focusing on self improvement.
Journal about how you feel without all of your usual content. How has it impacted your mood, your focus, your stress levels? Acknowledge any changes that occur while being away from this content.
