Curate the Content You Consume: A Journey to Mindful Learning
Read, Watch, Learn, Apply
Dear Curious Minds,
Welcome back to another free edition of Learning to Learn Well! In this edition, we dive into the art of curating the content you consume. Pretend you are a gardener, carefully selecting the seeds to sow, and that you can curate what, when, where, why, and how you consume content.
Curating is essential to bringing more purpose to your life and your ability to be creative in the work you do. Spending time online consuming content, no matter what generation you’re from, takes a substantial part of your day.
Social media alone makes up a huge percentage of time spent on devices.
Social Media Use by Age/Generation
Generation Z (those born after 1997) spent an average of 3 hours daily on social media.
Millennials (1981-1996) aren’t far behind, with an average of 2 hours and 15 minutes daily.
Generation X (1965-1980) spent an average of 1 hour and 30 minutes daily on social sites and apps.
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) spent approximately 1 hour daily on social media.
Credit: What’s the Average Time Spent on Social Media in 2023?
Have you considered how much time you spend on apps other than social media, like games or entertainment? Combining it with your social media usage on your device could easily amount to over 5 hours per day.
This newsletter edition will focus on the types of content you focus on and where you can narrow your focus away from needless time spent browsing on your device.
You should always aim to be mindful in your learning journey. Let’s set out on it together.
The Power of Deliberate Consumption:
In an era flooded with information, curation becomes paramount. It's not about the quantity but the quality of content you engage with. Think of yourself as a knowledge connoisseur, handpicking the most succulent fruits from the vast orchard of information. This goes for every type of content that you are consuming, whether that's through the blog posts you read, the newsletters you subscribe to, or the social media accounts you follow.
Try following people who post valuable content relevant to your goals on social media.
Or you could limit or completely stay away from social media and dive into deeper content in books or longer-form videos on YouTube.
There's so much more value packed in longer-form content. I recommend checking out these three creators for high-value, long-form content:
Joel Miller at
on SubstackErik Hoel at
on SubstackGreg Ashman at
on SubstackNicolas Cole at
on SubstackSubstack Writers at
on Substack
Quality Over Quantity:
Imagine a jeweler meticulously choosing gems for a necklace. Similarly, you're crafting your intellectual necklace. Opt for content that adds value, challenges your perspectives, and nurtures curiosity. A few high-quality sources can enrich more than a deluge of random information.
I have seen some creators on TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts that create great educational content, but unfortunately, it can lack a lot of depth and be way too easy to slip into the bad habit of doomscrolling.
The Art of Filtering:
Curating content isn't just about inclusion; it's about exclusion, too. Just as a curator selects artwork for an exhibition, you filter out the noise. Unfollow unproductive social media accounts, unsubscribe from irrelevant newsletters, and refine your virtual environment for optimal learning.
This is crucial because minimizing distractions and optimizing learning sources is vital to applying lessons in life.
Balancing Breadth and Depth:
The art of curation involves a delicate balance. A well-rounded understanding enhances cognitive flexibility, while depth in chosen subjects yields expertise.
One way you can improve your depth is by reading/watching multiple sources about the same topic while experimenting with what you learn along the way. At the same time, you want to continue learning about fields outside of your interest to broaden your understanding of the world and cross-pollinate your unrelated knowledge with your existing knowledge in another field.
Keep on digging deeper and deeper into the topic so you can use that knowledge in your life. Knowledge is only worthy if you’re able to use it so be wise to choose to dig deeper into it.
Mindful Consumption for Mindful Learning:
Mindful learning starts with mindful consumption. Treat your intellectual diet as you would your physical diet. Is it nourishing? Is it balanced? Does it align with your goals? These questions guide your curation process, ensuring that what you consume fuels your growth.
Consider your time spent on consuming your learning materials as well. You need to balance it with the rest of your daily schedule and goals. Rather than spending your whole time learning, leave time for doing something https://learningtolearnwell.substack.com/p/learn-by-doing-doing-is-different with the knowledge you’re learning.
The Ripple Effect of Conscious Consumption:
Your curation choices have a ripple effect on your learning ecosystem. Like planting native species to support a local ecosystem, your curated content nurtures your intellectual growth. It influences conversations, enriches insights, and enhances problem-solving abilities.
In Conclusion:
Dear readers, the act of curating the content you consume isn't just about information; it's about cultivating a mindset. It's a declaration that your learning journey is a conscious choice, guided by your aspirations and values. So, as you navigate the vast sea of information, remember, you're not just a consumer – you're a curator, shaping your intellectual landscape with care and precision.
Curate mindfully, learn deliberately, and let your journey to mindful learning continue to flourish.
Warm regards,
Matt