I Read the News Today, Oh Boy . . .

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Another option is to set a limit on how much time you devote to news each day, perhaps allowing yourself half an hour as a start. By experimenting with different levels of exposure, you'll find a balance that feels comfortable.

That's what I finally managed to do. I cut back first by tuning out radio and TV newscasts and allowing two newspaper subscriptions to lapse. It seemed strange at first to draw away from the endless data stream that once dragged me along, but I'm glad I did.

These days, when I feel myself getting too cynical about our political system, I steer away from loudmouth commentators and pompous talk show guests who just get me riled up. I avoid brain candy like celebrity gossip and the glitzy hype surrounding fads.

And the results are tangible. I feel more tranquil and content, and my sleep is deeper and arrives more easily. The big blocks of time I once devoted to the news are now available for natural stress-reducers like laughing with friends and listening to music.

I still read my local daily most mornings, and I regularly channel-surf between newscasts. The difference is that I control the amount I allow inside my head, and I'm better able to gauge when I've had enough. I may not be as well informed as I once was, but I'm enjoying my life more.

I wouldn't go back. Sometimes no news really is good news.

HOW TO GO ON A MEDIA DIET

Avoid empty calories. Settle on a few responsible news sources you trust to be accurate, comprehensive, and user-friendly. Avoid "empty calorie" media, like bottom-feeding tabloid shows, which exaggerate the negative.

Use a filter. It takes only a few minutes to set up protocols on Internet services like Google (www.google.com), Bloglines (www.bloglines.com), and KeepMedia (www.keepmedia.com) that can sift through thousands of stories to deliver only those most valuable to you.

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