Have you ever noticed how noisy the world has become?

A constant barrage of information: Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube videos, the next must-read book.

Like a Dyson vacuum cleaner on full blast, we are now hoovering up every bit of information we can get our hands on.

And, if I’m being honest, I’ve been guilty of it.

Over the last few months, I’ve been consuming information at an unsustainable rate.

Every spare second became an opportunity to ingest something new.

Whether I was going for a walk, driving the car, or even sitting on the toilet (because, let's be honest, that's prime scrolling time), every moment felt like another excuse to consume more content.

And what was the result? Anxiety? Through the roof. Restlessness? Off the charts.

My mind was so cluttered, I couldn’t think straight—let alone be creative.

It was like trying to write poetry in the middle of a Metallica concert!

But through this chaos, a simple truth became abundantly clear: we need space.

Our minds need space, and our creativity needs space.

So, if you’ve been glued to the news on your phone, this post may hit hard for you.

The Art of Slowing Down

One of the biggest downsides of not playing the game of always being tuned in is that life will feel boring.

How can I go for a run and not listen to my Spotify playlist?

How can I go for a walk without listening to a podcast?

I could use this time to learn! 

One of the most profound moments I’ve experienced in the last five years was on driving to Cornwall.

It was so profound because I didn't do anything.

I didn’t listen to music, didn’t play a podcast, didn’t put on an audiobook. I just drove for three hours.

It was during those long, uninterrupted silent moments that ideas began to flow—the names of Hypnos and Moksha and even the name of the business itself, No Ordinary Moments, came from these long, uninterrupted moments of space.

One of my favourite quotes is: “Music is the space between the notes.” — Claude Debussy.

Clarity can only come when you switch off the inputs and allow your mind to roam freely.

The constant inputs just distract us from avoiding ourselves and our emotions that are trying to surface.

We live in a world obsessed with speed—faster internet, faster news cycles, faster lives. But the best things often come when we slow down.

In this day and age, choosing this way of being may even be described as “boring,” but just like our previous elixir, we can reframe this time for opportunity for discovery, intention, creativity, and invention.

We allow new thoughts to form, and we allow ourselves to confront those suppressed emotions we have buried under distraction.

The truth is, our constant chase for that next dopamine hit is actually making us less happy.

Yeah, you read that right. The more we chase that quick check of information, the more we tip the scales toward pain.

Anna Lembke, the author of Dopamine Nation, talks about how our brains crave balance.

When we engage in activities that provide a quick dopamine rush—like scrolling through social media or binge-watching shows—we spike our dopamine levels, temporarily feeling fantastic.

But here’s the catch: once that high fades, we often find ourselves crashing into a low, feeling unmotivated or even a bit down. We can call this the “dopamine hangover” or “dopamine debt.”

It’s when your brain has become so accustomed to instant gratification that it needs a bigger and bigger fix just to feel anything at all.

This means that everyday pleasures—like going for a walk, enjoying a good book, or watching the sunset—might not hit the same way they used to.

It’s like getting used to the thrill of skydiving; after a while, jumping out of a plane just doesn’t seem as exhilarating anymore.

This sound familiar, right?

So what's the solution?

Well, here’s one for you to try this week...

A Dopamine Detox: The Low-Information Diet

The next time you go out for dinner, take a moment to notice something funny.

You could all be having a wonderful, deep conversation—talking about life, love, or whether pineapple belongs on pizza.

Then, suddenly, one brave soul needs to fact-check something, and out comes the phone. Just like that, it’s a digital domino effect!

One person checks their screen, and suddenly, everyone else thinks, “Oh, I guess it’s phone time now!”

The conversation starts to fade, and before you know it, you’re surrounded by a table of people more interested in scrolling than in each other.

My dad has a simple rule for this: no phones at the table. It works.

But here’s the experiment: for one week, try a “low-information diet.”

What does that mean?

It’s simple...

For six days out of seven, you are going to drastically reduce the amount of information you consume.

Instead of giving in to the constant urge to consume, you are going to say no. 

Understand that saying no to a quick hit of dopamine is going to be really uncomfortable.

By doing this, you're reclaiming your power. You’ll no longer be a slave to the dopamine hits of instant gratification that come from checking notifications or refreshing your feed. 

Now, here’s the fun part: for your act of bravery, reward yourself with a designated “treat day”—kind of like a cheat day on a diet!

Choose one day a week to watch your favourite YouTube channels, catch up on podcasts, or indulge in a Netflix marathon.

But for the other six days? Give yourself room to breathe!

You’ll be surprised at how much more intentional your content consumption becomes when you actually look forward to it, rather than mindlessly absorbing whatever pops up.

The Music in the Space

When everyone else is rushing, dare to slow down.

When everyone else is consuming more, dare to consume less.

When everyone else checks their phones at the table, dare to put yours away.

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

In a world where attention is the most valuable currency, the most rebellious thing you can do is to be intentional with yours.

So, for the next week, try it.

Turn down the noise.

Let the music—the real music of your own ideas and creativity—surface.

Trust me, it’s been there all along, waiting for you to listen.

There are No Ordinary Moments :)

With love and a deep breath,
Chris xx

"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone"

 

- Blasie Pascal