Content Nutrition: What are You Feeding Your Mind with
Being healthy is a trend. I bet you’ve scrolled through hundreds of oatmeal bowls and quinoa salads on Pinterest and Instagram. We obsess over what kind of food’s gonna make you live longer; what’s gonna give you that energy to be the most interesting person in the room; what’s gonna give you a body that can make you internet famous.
But what about your mental health? What are you feeding your mind?
The Content Diet
Just as a healthy body needs a balanced diet, your brain relies on the quality of the content you consume daily.
Eating a doughnut won’t instantly make you overweight. But the habit of eating doughnuts will. Similarly, watching a few Reels from the group chat won’t give you ADHD. But getting used to scrolling through the endless streams of short content can leave you feeling unfulfilled and mentally drained.
Mind Games: The Hidden Influence of Algorithms
What do you think is funny? Drunk people? Memes? A cat failing to jump? It depends. Everybody has their own perception of the world and their own preference.
Our brains are wired this way. We have these cognitive biases — mental shortcuts that help us with our decision making.
However, algorithms exploit these biases, feeding us a steady stream of content tailored to our existing preferences, particularly on platforms like YouTube.
Without conscious awareness, we can find ourselves trapped in echo chambers, where our exposure to diverse perspectives and new ideas becomes limited. This narrowed worldview can hinder our ability to think critically and empathetically.
Level Up Your Feed
Just like junk food, meaningless content tastes good in the moment, but it leaves you feeling empty afterwards. Your brain needs a well-rounded content diet!
Luckily, when it comes to YouTube, there’s a world of enriching content out there. Culture, hobbies, entertainment — the key is to diversify your media diet.
Need some inspiration?
- Culture: Vox, NowThis, Wisecrack
- Hobbies: Outdoor Boys, Peter McKinnon, Brandon Sanderson
- Entertainment: Screen Junkies, First We Feast, Yes Theory
Remember, it’s not just about what you watch, but how you watch it. Be intentional. Set aside time for your mindful chillax.
You can outsmart the endless stream of clickbait and time sinks!
Here are a few more tips for YouTube:
- Actively use the Subscriptions section: I bet you know some interesting channels that you thought had some quality content. Don’t leave everything up to the algorithms.
- Use the Watch later option. Clean it up if it’s cluttered with some videos you thought you’d watch 3 years ago. Be intentional with it and keep a library of 3–5 videos you can come back to.
- Set specific times for watching videos.
- Turn off notifications.
Whether it’s on YouTube or any other platform, engage in conversations online, share your thoughts, and debate ideas. Connect with others who share your passion for mindful media consumption.
Take Charge of Your Content Journey
You’ve got the tools. Curate your media diet with intention. Prioritize quality over quantity. Seek out content that challenges and inspires you.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Every mindful choice you make adds up.
Remember, you’re not just a passive consumer. You’re a critical thinker and an active participant in the digital world. Take charge of your content nutrition journey and feed your mind the good stuff!
If you’re interested in this topic, you can join the subreddit I created: r/ContentNutrition
