On August 17th the day after President Biden’s speech in which he outlined his policy with regard to Afghanistan and explained his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from that country, I began my day as usual flipping between New Day on CNN and MSNBC’s Morning Joe. These were two of the three daytime shows that I watched with the sound on. (The other was Deadline White House.) Throughout the course of my day, I flipped between the two networks with the volume muted as I worked, turning it up only if something caught my interest.
On this morning, both shows were cluttered with guests who were assigning blame for the outcome in Afghanistan to anyone and everyone, but most notably to President Biden. Moreover, the cast of characters pointing the fingers were the usual suspects who find themselves on TV whenever military or foreign affairs issues are discussed. They include Richard Haas, President of The Council of Foreign Relations, Retired General David Patraeus, and the Washington Post’s David Ignatius among others.
The coverage so dominated the airwaves that day and was so skewed by these so-called experts, some of whom maintained financial, political, or emotional capital in the continuation of America’s military presence there. So laughable was all of the hand wringing and predictions of doom, that I cut off my TV and vowed to not watch another cable news program until the Afghanistan dust had settled.
However, a funny thing happened as I went about my workday with the TV off. As a freelancer, my time has to be effectively utilized in order for me to achieve any of the goals and objectives that I’ve set for myself and my business. It wasn’t until I shut out the noise that is constant on Cable News did I regain an appreciation for quiet accomplishment. I also became the beneficiary of improvements in my life that have added much need value over the last six weeks. These include:
5. Stress Level
Since I’m disengaged, I’ve surrendered my status as an intense observer of these contrived gabfests. I no longer scream at the TV, hurling invectives at people who can’t hear me. I’ve also drastically reduced the number of people who I’d like to shove into a burning fire while they’re tied up and conscious, send to GTMO and waterboard them for eternity or drop them into a pool of flesh-eating piranhas. I’m now operating with a much-welcomed level of emotional serenity.
4. Discovered reading again
As a news and information junkie, I was not taking the time to read a number of the books, both fiction and non-fiction that populate both my nightstand and my Kindle. Since my cable news blackout, I’ve committed to reading 50 pages per day of a chosen book, with the goal of reading at least five per month. So far during this period, I’ve read three novels and two books on business.
3. Gained a renewed appreciation for print journalism
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always read a variety of news publications and as a one-time aspiring journalist I enjoy great writing. However, since my TV hiatus I’ve expanded beyond my publications of choice, the Washington Post, The New York Times, and several other major dailies, but I’ve also enjoyed reading the work of a diversity of writers on platforms like, The Undefeated, The Root, The Intercept, and others. There is so much great information available and I’ve given myself more time to consume as much of it as I can.
2. Exercise & meditation
Instead of switching on the remote, my first activity of the morning is to meditate. (I use the Calm app.) Afterwards, there’s 90 minutes of stretching and cardio with only the music from my chosen playlist in the background. Sticking to this regimen has been an additional tool in helping me to alleviate stress and is keeping me on track health wise.
1. Enhanced Productivity
There is no doubt that my productivity has increased during this period. By not keeping track every breaking story on one of the networks, I’m solely focused on the tasks at hand. I’ve also been able to develop and maintain schedules that separate my activities in blocks of time that allow me to stay focused, organized and on point.
It’s hard to say, if and when I’ll return to cable news or should I say CNN and MSNBC, since I will never, ever watch Fox News. But if I do come back to the fold, I think I will be a more discerning viewer by not getting caught up into the outrage and questionable coverage that some issues receive. But with that being said, my separation from cable news has been very satisfying thus far, so much so that divorce is a real possibility.