Books to Blogs #5
This week, two questions from 3001 Questions All About Me. Here is number 1146.
“Do I consume a lot of media? Should I go on a media-intake diet?”
The answers? Yes, and… maybe.
Media is everywhere. It fills our ears, eyes, minds, and pockets. It’s waiting when we wake up and trailing us into sleep. But we rarely pause to ask ourselves what kind of media we’re actually consuming.
Is it nourishing or numbing? Does it leave me feeling informed or inflamed? Inspired or drained?
Some mornings I start my day with a lighthearted radio show (hi, Bob and Sheri fans!), and by lunch, I’ve unconsciously scrolled through three news headlines, half an argument in a stranger’s comment section, and whatever the algorithm decided I needed to see. I didn’t mean to. I just… followed the feed.
But then there are moments that remind me media isn’t all doom and scroll. The other day, a friend sent me a reel of someone pouring wine with the caption: Them: “If you don’t have kids, who’s going to take care of you when you’re older?” Me: “The sommelier.”
I laughed way too hard, but it stuck with me. Media, when done right, connects us. It makes us laugh, feel seen, and reminds us not to take life too seriously. The trick is knowing when it’s enriching—and when it’s just noise.
When I really examined my media consumption, I realized something important: I don’t need to detox from all of it. Here’s why: I don’t watch the news. My Instagram feed is curated with inspiration, gratitude quotes, and uplifting messages. I share funny gym fails, animals being weird, people falling (harmlessly!), and the occasional wine humor. My feed is part mood-booster, part comedy club, and part vision board.
I’m not drowning in media. I’m swimming in it—with floaties.
That said, media can become a mindless loop that steals time and energy without giving anything meaningful in return. That’s where a “media diet” becomes less about restriction and more about rebalancing.
Practicing Mindful Media Consumption
Here’s what I’ve learned about creating a healthier relationship with digital content:
Choose your energy. Follow accounts that uplift, not drain. Unfollow anything that sparks comparison, outrage, or anxiety.
Start with silence. Try beginning your day without immediately checking your phone. Let your thoughts arrive before the noise.
Set intentional windows. Create boundaries around when you scroll or watch. Ask yourself: “Will this add to my day—or take from it?”
Consume to connect. Seek media that uplifts, informs, or aligns with your values. Laugh more—humor heals.
Create before consuming. Journal, dance, meditate, or even share a good quote. Output something before taking more in.
One of my favorite reminders is this: You become what you consume. That includes food, media, energy, and even the words you speak.
So while I might not go cold turkey on media, I’m learning to treat it like a buffet: I don’t need everything that’s offered. Just the things that nourish, inspire, and remind me who I am.
When used intentionally, media can spark joy, create connection, and even light up your spiritual practice. The key is staying awake while scrolling—being mindful about what we invite into our mental space.
Should I go on a media diet? No. But I am watching my portions.
And if anyone asks who’s going to take care of me when I’m older, I’ll raise my glass. The sommelier’s got this.
So I’ll turn the questions to you: Do you consume a lot of media? Should you go on a media-intake diet?
I’d love to hear how you navigate your own digital consumption in the comments below.
Thanks for being here. If you enjoyed this post, there’s plenty more where that came from, everything from soulful healing tips to playful prompts and real conversations about life.
Find me and connect. I want to hear your stories:
Website: www.flexiblebeing.com
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@theresamartinezshapiro
@flexiblebeing
Email: theresa@flexiblebeing.com
Empowering Your Journey to Healing, Clarity, and Self-Discovery.
Theresa Martinez-Shapiro
Hello! I am Theresa Martinez-Shapiro; Wife to Robert. Founder of Flexible Being. A Master Reiki Therapist, Certified Oracle Guide, Spiritual Mentor/Guide, Intuitive Empath, Coach, and Educator. I am a fur mom to 3 cats and 1 dog – Sonny, Patches, Ryelee, and Winnie. We currently live and practice in Stockton, California. We operate three businesses – Shapiro Holistic Health and Chiropractic, Fusion Health APC, and Synergy Health MSO, where we seek to improve and change the lives of our patients and those we have the privilege of crossing paths with. My healing and mentoring journey began around 5 years old when I discovered that I was put on this planet to help others. I knew I was different, unique, and gifted. I did not see the world the same way everyone else did, and recognized I was meant to do so much more. I began to research, spending a lot of time reading & asking a lot of questions to anyone that wanted to share stories about their life experiences. I am a dreamer and had a unique relationship with the dream world. My very real, vivid & lucid dreams began turning into out-of-body experiences and unexplained occurrences. I began doing my own dream interpretations to look for patterns & a new way of deciphering life. Family members were part of many different religions, so I was educated in Catholicism, Buddhism, Metaphysics, and Native American culture & beliefs. Along the way, I took up multiple mentors that cultivated my growth and expansion of my gifts, allowing me to focus on my potential and purpose. As an adult, coworkers were unloading their life stories, internal secrets, and things that had not been shared or even spoken out loud. I began to share those experiences with my aunt & Reiki Master/Teacher, Carmen. In 2012, Carmen told me, “I think you are ready to walk the path I always knew you were meant to walk”. That saying began my obsessive journey into Reiki, Spirituality, Psychology, Intuition and Psychic gifts, Meditation and Mindfulness, Past Lives, Consciousness, Energy Medicine, Mysteries of the Universe, Moon and Sun cycles, Astrology, Numerology, Oracle Cards, Shamanism, & so much more. My journey has helped me to assist patients, clients, families, and friends discover who they have been, who they are, and who they want to become. I am expanding my reach and educating others by authoring Musings of a Flexible Being, and I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Thank you! Theresa Martinez-Shapiro Flexible Being Website: www.flexiblebeing.com Socials: Facebook: @flexiblebeingonline Instagram:@theresamartinezshapiro Instagram: @flexiblebeing
