"Who Knows?": Questioning Your Assumptions about Information

In the Simple Living column, we are taking a hard look at the assumptions we have made about things that govern our lives. We are questioning these assumptions, one by one, to make life-changing decisions that will suit each of us individually. We are simplifying our lives by clarifying our assumptions about the world and what we need and want in it. To read the introduction to this series, click here.

Last month, we talked about the power of personal connectedness. And we emphasized that our relationships with others are truly sacred.
Unfortunately, everyone on Madison Avenue knows that. Advertisers know our urge to answer the ringing telephone. They know our pull to open that piece of mail stamped "urgent" even though we know it's junk.

We can greatly simplify our lives just by questioning the ways in which we get our information, and the amount of information we let into our lives.

Here's how:

Turn off the TV. The average American spends four hours every day watching TV. Question the assumption that this is a good thing. Even when the TV is on only for background noise, it can result in sensory over-stimulation, which can make you irritable and snappy. If my 3-year-old sits in front of the tube for too long, she slips into a moody, whiny funk, and I think I know just how she feels. If enveloping yourself in a passive activity takes away all of your momentum, question the wisdom of that life decision. It's as simple as turning off the TV and using that time to nurture yourself or your family instead.

Turn on the voicemail or answering machine. Question the prevailing assumption that says, when the phone rings, you must answer. Once your friends start to realize that you don't drop everything to answer the phone, they'll start leaving more detailed messages. Encourage them to leave information regarding the best time to call. Then you can get in touch when it's convenient for both of you.

Cancel call waiting. My husband and I recently shared a laugh because we realized that neither of us ever used the call-waiting feature on our phone. He mentioned one day how he finds it rude to ask one person to wait while he checks to see if the other caller is more important or more interesting. I have always felt the same way, so I let the beeps go unanswered. Together, we questioned the assumption that we needed this feature to be in proper touch with our friends, family, and colleagues and cancelled the service that very day.

Reduce the number of sales calls you receive by adding your home and cell numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry here: https://donotcall.gov/

Cancel your newspaper subscriptions. Do you enjoy reading the newspaper? Forget the assumption that it's what you're supposed to do. If you don't enjoy it and don't need it, cancel your subscription altogether. Instead of reading the news in the morning, start the day with a book of prayers, meditations, or something you find uplifting. The news can wait.

Cancel your magazine subscriptions. Keep only the magazines that you read. If you've got a great big stack of magazines waiting to be read, perch yourself over the recycling bin and question whether you want to read it, need to read it, or simply feel as though you should read it.

Reduce the junk mail you receive. See Momscape's Instructions in How to Stop Junk Mail

Reduce the number of pre-approved credit card offers you receive. Call Trans Union at 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5-OPT-OUT). Trans Union shares these requests with the other two leading companies: Experian and Equifax, so one call should stop a lot of the offers.

Reduce the amount of email you receive. Use your email program to block or filter incoming mail. Don't reply to SPAM even to ask to be removed from the list--that only lets the sender know you have an active account. After you've done what you can, don't let unwanted email rob your energy. Get rid of it all right away with your delete key. As you sign up for email newsletters and updates online, once again, question whether you want or need the information or simply feel like you should subscribe.

Turn off TV news. Question your assumption that you need to be informed about everything that's going on in the world. Question your assumption that this is the best medium for transmitting the information you do need to know.

This month, fight the information barrage by questioning your assumptions about the way you filter information and how much of it you want to invite into your life.