It's not a bad idea. I've gone cold turkey from politics and news for months at a time when I feel like it's taking up too much time.

But I do enjoy trying to understand what's happening, why it's happening, and what happens next. Since I enjoy it, I don't consider it a complete waste of time.

As for taking action, I think it's important that I do take action, but it's not clear what actions can make a real difference. I think understanding what is going on can help with figuring out which actions are effective and coming up with new ideas.