--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm going to proportion more time to…" description: "\"I'm going to proportion more time to organizing and taking action and less time to passively consuming news that is dispiriting me. Part of this will b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/steve-almond-9602_action_i-m-going-to-proportion-more-time-to-org_2027842.jpg" --- # I'm going to proportion more time to organizing and taking… ![“I'm going to proportion more time to organizing and taking action and less time to passively consuming news that is dispiriting me. Part of this will be to get off social media. I know social media is just a tool, but we've been using it in a way that has transformed us from a nation into an…” quote by Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/steve-almond-9602_action_i-m-going-to-proportion-more-time-to-org_2027842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/steve-almond-9602_action_i-m-going-to-proportion-more-time-to-org_2027842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/steve-almond-9602_action_i-m-going-to-proportion-more-time-to-org_2027842.jpg) > “I'm going to proportion more time to organizing and taking action and less time to passively consuming news that is dispiriting me. Part of this will be to get off social media. I know social media is just a tool, but we've been using it in a way that has transformed us from a nation into an audience, passively spectating our own ruin.” [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritize active creation over passive consumption; reduce news and social media to reclaim agency and avoid despair. **In simple terms:** Do more, consume less; avoid passive despair. Key Takeaway Limit media time, focus on action. Themes productivity media mental health agency Mood determined concerned Type motivational practical When to use this quote - work tasks - family time - creative hobbies - community involvement - news reading Key Concepts behavioral economics digital minimalism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How will you measure productive time? - What replaces the news you stop reading? A Different Perspective Complete disengagement may isolate you from important information. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Consuming News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consuming-news-2551478/) [Dispiriting Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispiriting-social-3707743/) [News Dispiriting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news-dispiriting-3707744/) [Social media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-media/) [Taking action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-action/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twitter/) ## Related quotes > [So many people are looking for news on the go. If you really want to understand the world, you're not going to by consuming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-norris/so-many-people-are-looking-for-news-on-the-go-if-you-really-want-to/) [Michele Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-norris/) > [One of the things I try to do - and I always regret when I'm not doing it - is I try to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/one-of-the-things-i-try-to-do-and-i-always-regret-when-i-m-not-doing/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [News in general doesn't matter most of the time, and most people would be far better off if they spent their time consuming less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-williams/news-in-general-doesn-t-matter-most-of-the-time-and-most-people-would/) [Evan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-williams/) > [People are consuming the news that is comfortable for them, not necessarily the news that is real or that they need to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/people-are-consuming-the-news-that-is-comfortable-for-them-not/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [“Courage is taking action in the presence of risk, in spite of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-platt/courage-is-taking-action-in-the-presence-of-risk-in-spite-of-fear/) [Sean Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-platt/) > [Many people think passion is a fuzzy feeling that makes taking action effortless. 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It's taking action today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-lowry/on-dreams-only-one-thing-supersedes-the-importance-of-thinking-about/) [Vincent Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-lowry/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## More by Steve Almond > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [The single biggest reason I got my stories taken in various literary magazines - and I want to stress this - is because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/the-single-biggest-reason-i-got-my-stories-taken-in-various-literary/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [I do think, as crazy as it sounds, that sports is an addiction and that it should be accorded some of the same supports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/i-do-think-as-crazy-as-it-sounds-that-sports-is-an-addiction-and-that/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [“Music has become more pervasive and portable than ever. But it feels less previous in the bargain. 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But that’s what makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/why-are-people-so-fascinated-by-how-to-eat-valomilks-she-said-well/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [“The connection being that in my head all language began in song and that the best stories inevitably reutrn to song, to a state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/the-connection-being-that-in-my-head-all-language-began-in-song-and/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [“But I come to stories in the naked hope they will fuck me up .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/but-i-come-to-stories-in-the-naked-hope-they-will-fuck-me-up/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/nothing-on-earth-so-beautiful-as-the-final-haul-on-halloween-night/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [“This was one of those mid-thirties moments when you take a look at the stale, half-chewed bagel your life has become and kiss jealousy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/this-was-one-of-those-mid-thirties-moments-when-you-take-a-look-at/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [“My own kind. I'm not sure there's a name for us. I suspect we're born this way: our hearts screwed in tight, already a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/my-own-kind-i-m-not-sure-there-s-a-name-for-us-i-suspect-we-re-born/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) [Explore all 71 Steve Almond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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