Let’s Refocus How We Consume Content

The amount of content that is produced on a daily basis is far greater than any one person is capable of reading in a day. I, like many, have spent countless hours consuming updates with the hopes of staying current with the times. However, over the past several years, I’ve realized that this is absolutely exhausting. I dislike a lot of the content I have read on major news websites. Most of it hasn’t provided the value I was seeking. A majority of the time I was thinking, “Why am I paying any attention to this?”
It doesn’t help that in this digitally dependent age, our phones are constantly buzzing with the news of the world. This access to information has led many people to frequently check news platforms for information or get updates of anything and everything. It seems like there’s also a growing expectation to know everything. What I have realized is that for me, most of this information is forgotten within hours or even a few days. It doesn’t stay relevant very long.
So I have drastically reduced my time spent on news platforms. I don’t receive constant updates throughout the day anymore. I don’t spend countless hours scouring news websites. I have completely changed my method for content consumption and as a result, I feel more focused, driven, and happier.
Why is that?
To start off, I have learned to be okay with not knowing everything going on and I would rather focus on the things that are important to me.
Therefore…
I consume what is important for me
Instead of generalizing and reading everything, I have picked a few topics that are important to me. Therefore, I focus on healthcare, technology, and some politics. To limit how much I read, I rely on media sources that provide concise, daily newsletters. One that I highly recommend is Axios. By spending 30 minutes every morning, I get all the updates I want in a fun and engaging manner. If I want to delve any deeper, I can.
I listen to people
If there is something that I did miss, I am definitely going to hear about it from my peers. I can get the scoop and if it is very important, I can research it further on my own time. Most of the time, this isn’t necessary.
I read to understand the why
Personally, I need context so I love understanding why people do the things they do or why current systems are the way they are. Why is the healthcare system the way it is? What are the macro trends impacting the world today? How can I better understand human behavior? My desire to understand the world around me on a larger scale has helped me the most in understanding and interpreting the shifts. In order to get this understanding, I read..a lot. I’ll read articles on Medium, books, conflicting perspectives, etc. Understanding the why instead of just the what has provided way more value than any fleeting news has.
Nevertheless, I still think news is important but the problem is that it isn’t personalized. By taking a more personalized approach to my content, I have gained so much that will help me on my own path. Therefore, instead of blindly consuming, I urge everyone to figure out their own goals and then determine the news and types of content that best align with them. Let’s all learn how to use the right information to push forward with laser precision.
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