Podcasts Can't Compare to Thinking
Over the past few years, I have struggled to break my addiction to podcasts. Don't get me wrong. I still think that they are an incredible way to stay up-to-date on current events, learn something new, and be entertained. Unfortunately, it can become increasingly tempting to listen to a podcast at every opportunity.
Podcasts trick you into believing that you can multi-task while listening to them. It is one thing to fold laundry while listening to the news of the day. It is quite another to do anything involving thought while tuning into to a podcast.
Podcasts consume your mind. If you are paying attention to them, you cannot think about other things. Often times, I try to listen while I work on something else. This only leads to limited attention being paid to the podcast and a decrease in quality of work. Be careful to not let podcasts eat up your productivity.
That is one issue with podcasts, but I think there is a deeper one. It becomes very easy to flip on something to listen to every time you get a spare moment. You should be cautious with this.
Podcasts can steal all of your time for thinking. Do you ever let yourself just sit alone with your thoughts? This is valuable time and can be some of your most creative. I have heard it referred to as recreational thinking.
Next time you have a spare moment and are tempted to listen to a podcast (or watch TV, scroll through social media, etc.), take 5-10 minutes to think. Think about your dreams, your failures, your successes. For those of us who are obsessed with productivity, it can be difficult to pause. Nevertheless, it is necessary and can have a tremendous impact across your life.
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