This is a wonderful call to action. I feel a marked difference on days spent creating prior to consuming--I feel lighter and more clear-eyed. The past few weeks have been consume gluttonously and then maybe (just maybe) create. This is a great reminder for me to make a change, thanks Arman!
Glad this could serve as a helpful reminder Will. Its so tempting to consume all day and hope you have a little energy left to create but it doesnt work for me. If I dont create first, I wont create at all.
The downside about habits is that we start to do them unconsciously whether theyre good or bad. Sometimes we need a little nudge to shake things up. Glad you enjoyed it John!
My wife developed the routine of getting up and creating for between 1-2 hours first thing each day, which I’ve since adopted. I totally feel like, after I’ve put in so much energy to creating, I’m much less drawn (and too tired for!) more consumption.
your wife is a wise woman and so are you! haha thats a good point. i still like to consume like a mad man but it feels like ive earned it if i put in my creative gym sesh first.
On a darker note, I recently realized that one of the huge reasons I used to consume so much was to mask pain and exhaustion. I am currently on medical leave for Long COVID -- a leave I probably should have taken a month or more before. Instead, anytime my body tried to communicate how deeply it was unwell, I’d throw on an intellectually demanding podcast (eg Joscha Bach) to numb myself, then just push through. It was frightening: it felt like a reflex I didn’t even have control over, like breathing in after you breathe out.
I also have observed myself using consumption as a way to soothe an underlying anxiety around what I’m creating, rather than addressing it head on.
It’s uncomfortable to talk about, but as folks like DFW pointed out, I think the age of mass media consumption leans into more vulnerable aspects of us, not just our lack of discipline or resolve.
oh wow im sorry to hear that but thank you for sharing. thats a deep realization i had never even considered but now that you mention it im sure i do the same.
youre right. everytime i had a second of down time i instantly search for a new podcast or youtube video to numb the boredom.
one thing ive found to help is doing a 24 hour tech fast every once in a while where i dont give myself permission to use any technology whatsoever.
I've never done a tech fast, but it sounds like something I could definitely benefit from!
On another note, I'd like to challenge a bit of the language & assumptions behind your appraisal of your consumption, if I may be so bold as to offer some thoughts contrarian to Western paradigms:
The phrase you wrote, "numb the boredom", is a bit of a fascinating oxymoron that opens up a deeper insight. Thank about it: boredom, in general parlance, corresponds to a lack of desirable stimulation. So to "numb the boredom" would only *decrease* stimulation, thus increasing boredom (and intense boredom is incredibly unpleasant, as MrBeast reminded us last month :P)
So that can't be what you meant... so what did you mean?
Looking at my own experience, at least, I think what we call boredom is a misnomer -- more specifically, we're placing boredom on the wrong spectrum.
Let me explain: in the millennia-old formulation of the mind found in Buddhism, boredom lies on a spectrum, the other end of which is agitation. But Buddhism (specifically their five hindrances concept) also provides another spectrum, which I think is what you actually were referring to: the desire-aversion spectrum.
We don't put on a podcast because we lack stimulation. We put it on because we are either instinctively hoping to fulfill a desire (increase knowledge, feel connected, feel engaged, etc), or resist something (the feeling of aimlessness, anxiety, unpleasant sensations, etc).
The unquestioned Western perspective assumes we consume because we are bored, because we need more stimulation. On a deeper level, I think we consume because we are seeking desires that lie in the future, or wish to resist what exists in the present moment. That's why your article's advice is so helpful: the act of creating, which is less about the actual output, brings us to a conscious, active connection to the here and now.
Love the theory! And I’ve been trying to implement it. Also, consume with creation in mind: consume to learn and spark your own creativity...so it’s not in vain...
Its one of the best decisions Ive made it quite some time. Thats a good point too. It gives a whole new frame to consume with a greater purpose in mind.
Agreed. It's impossible not to consume, but the order and what we consume makes an impact. For example, writers should consume writing, podcasts, articles etc. so that they can broaden their material and add depth to their arguments.
yep, thats where i come up with most of the topics i write about. its also fun finding old or forgotten writers that could spark a new idea in us to further explore.
Love this 'create then consume' idea, and when I find myself unexpectedly out of bed before the rest of the world, it's what I tend to do. Trying to implement it as a rule wouldn't hurt...
fully agree!!! I love the habit of creating something!!
It allows us to consume guilt free knowing weve done our creative duty beforehand.
Create, THEN consume. A gospel to live by.
The world would be a better place if more people lived by this mantra.
Fo sho.
This is a wonderful call to action. I feel a marked difference on days spent creating prior to consuming--I feel lighter and more clear-eyed. The past few weeks have been consume gluttonously and then maybe (just maybe) create. This is a great reminder for me to make a change, thanks Arman!
Glad this could serve as a helpful reminder Will. Its so tempting to consume all day and hope you have a little energy left to create but it doesnt work for me. If I dont create first, I wont create at all.
I really like this idea, little mindset shifts like this can be all that's needed to replace an unwanted habit with something we do want.
The downside about habits is that we start to do them unconsciously whether theyre good or bad. Sometimes we need a little nudge to shake things up. Glad you enjoyed it John!
My wife developed the routine of getting up and creating for between 1-2 hours first thing each day, which I’ve since adopted. I totally feel like, after I’ve put in so much energy to creating, I’m much less drawn (and too tired for!) more consumption.
your wife is a wise woman and so are you! haha thats a good point. i still like to consume like a mad man but it feels like ive earned it if i put in my creative gym sesh first.
Haha I guarantee you she’s the wise one ❤️
On a darker note, I recently realized that one of the huge reasons I used to consume so much was to mask pain and exhaustion. I am currently on medical leave for Long COVID -- a leave I probably should have taken a month or more before. Instead, anytime my body tried to communicate how deeply it was unwell, I’d throw on an intellectually demanding podcast (eg Joscha Bach) to numb myself, then just push through. It was frightening: it felt like a reflex I didn’t even have control over, like breathing in after you breathe out.
I also have observed myself using consumption as a way to soothe an underlying anxiety around what I’m creating, rather than addressing it head on.
It’s uncomfortable to talk about, but as folks like DFW pointed out, I think the age of mass media consumption leans into more vulnerable aspects of us, not just our lack of discipline or resolve.
oh wow im sorry to hear that but thank you for sharing. thats a deep realization i had never even considered but now that you mention it im sure i do the same.
youre right. everytime i had a second of down time i instantly search for a new podcast or youtube video to numb the boredom.
one thing ive found to help is doing a 24 hour tech fast every once in a while where i dont give myself permission to use any technology whatsoever.
hope you feel better soon!
I've never done a tech fast, but it sounds like something I could definitely benefit from!
On another note, I'd like to challenge a bit of the language & assumptions behind your appraisal of your consumption, if I may be so bold as to offer some thoughts contrarian to Western paradigms:
The phrase you wrote, "numb the boredom", is a bit of a fascinating oxymoron that opens up a deeper insight. Thank about it: boredom, in general parlance, corresponds to a lack of desirable stimulation. So to "numb the boredom" would only *decrease* stimulation, thus increasing boredom (and intense boredom is incredibly unpleasant, as MrBeast reminded us last month :P)
So that can't be what you meant... so what did you mean?
Looking at my own experience, at least, I think what we call boredom is a misnomer -- more specifically, we're placing boredom on the wrong spectrum.
Let me explain: in the millennia-old formulation of the mind found in Buddhism, boredom lies on a spectrum, the other end of which is agitation. But Buddhism (specifically their five hindrances concept) also provides another spectrum, which I think is what you actually were referring to: the desire-aversion spectrum.
We don't put on a podcast because we lack stimulation. We put it on because we are either instinctively hoping to fulfill a desire (increase knowledge, feel connected, feel engaged, etc), or resist something (the feeling of aimlessness, anxiety, unpleasant sensations, etc).
The unquestioned Western perspective assumes we consume because we are bored, because we need more stimulation. On a deeper level, I think we consume because we are seeking desires that lie in the future, or wish to resist what exists in the present moment. That's why your article's advice is so helpful: the act of creating, which is less about the actual output, brings us to a conscious, active connection to the here and now.
wonderfully insightful comment David. appreciate you sharing. you make some good points.
in regards to the tech fast - i would 100% recommend trying it out. easily one of the best personal experiments i did last year.
youre right about the numbing boredom part. i didnt realize the mistake until you elaborated on it so thank you!
in the end i think it all comes down to being more present because the now is the only time that ever exists.
Such a good point. Thank you for helping remind me of that with this post, and providing some practical ways to do it!
Love the theory! And I’ve been trying to implement it. Also, consume with creation in mind: consume to learn and spark your own creativity...so it’s not in vain...
Its one of the best decisions Ive made it quite some time. Thats a good point too. It gives a whole new frame to consume with a greater purpose in mind.
Great topic to address. I made the same note to myself a while back. In today's world, it's easy to be sucked into the vacuum of consumption.
Thank you Niall.
"sucked into the vacuum of consumption" is a fantastic way to put it.
I don't want to kid myself and say I'll only create and never consume, but I think the order you do it in still makes a big difference.
Agreed. It's impossible not to consume, but the order and what we consume makes an impact. For example, writers should consume writing, podcasts, articles etc. so that they can broaden their material and add depth to their arguments.
yep, thats where i come up with most of the topics i write about. its also fun finding old or forgotten writers that could spark a new idea in us to further explore.
Totally Arman! Inspiration can literally come from anywhere :)
Love this 'create then consume' idea, and when I find myself unexpectedly out of bed before the rest of the world, it's what I tend to do. Trying to implement it as a rule wouldn't hurt...
seems like you already knew the value of this practice even if you didnt have a name for it.
i think there's something magical about those early hours in the day when you have no commitments or distractions yet. thats my sacred time to create.
Hey nice essay!
greatly appreciated my friend