The Secret Power of ‘Read It Later’ Apps: Increasing Consumption of Long-Form Content and Better Filtering for a Smarter Workflow

The Secret Power of ‘Read It Later’ Apps: Increasing Consumption of Long-Form Content and Better Filtering for a Smarter Workflow

In our fast-paced digital world, the ability to focus and direct our attention for sustained periods of time has become increasingly valuable. The quality of our workflow's outputs is directly impacted by the quality of our inputs. It's a simple concept: garbage in, garbage out. This is where 'Read It Later' apps come in, offering a solution to help us optimize our consumption of long-form content.

One of the biggest challenges we face in consuming long-form content is filtering through the vast amount of information available to us. Relying solely on our friends as filters for new ideas can keep us in a perpetual state of ignorance. Google's research has shown that increasing the number of search results per page from 10 to 30 only took half a second longer, but caused a 20% drop-off rate. This highlights the importance of efficient filtering and curating of content.

Another barrier to reading in our fragmented timescape is asynchronous reading. Starting something and not being able to finish it can be deeply unsatisfying and can clutter our minds with uncompleted tasks, limiting clarity and focus. Read It Later apps address this issue by allowing us to save our progress in an article and pick up where we left off at a different time or on a different device. By clearly marking items as "read" once we're finished, these apps help us maintain focus and reduce cognitive dissonance.

But why use a Read It Later app instead of a task manager to keep track of content? The answer lies in the need for focus. When we want to sit down and read, the last thing we want is a list of tasks reminding us of everything we're not doing. Read It Later apps provide a dedicated space for saving and organizing content, separate from our task management systems, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the reading experience.

In addition to facilitating focused reading, these apps also enable better filtering. Procrastination is a powerful force, and simply saving content for later consumption can be a way to combat it. By adopting a waiting period approach, we give ourselves the freedom to save interesting content but delay consuming it until a more suitable time. This approach not only saves time and preserves focus but also allows us to make decisions about what to read from a higher perspective. We can curate a pool of options over a longer time period, ensuring that our reading choices align with what truly matters to us.

However, it's important to be mindful of becoming overly dependent on Read It Later apps. As our world transitions from a container-based model to a stream-based model, with an overwhelming amount of information to absorb, we must strike a balance between consuming and curating content. Exposing ourselves to diverse streams of information is crucial for learning and gaining new perspectives. The faster the stream, the more novel ideas and perspectives we encounter. We can also learn faster by assimilating and building upon the ideas of others. Incorporating their insights and experiences can save us time and help us avoid making the same mistakes.

Ultimately, reading is a powerful tool for expanding our minds and challenging our paradigms. It allows us to think another person's thoughts and gain new perspectives. The process of reading and assimilating ideas requires time and effort, but it can lead to radical empowerment and the ability to choose the paradigm that best aligns with our purpose. By embracing uncertainty and letting go of our own preconceived notions, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities for growth.

In conclusion, Read It Later apps offer a secret power for optimizing our consumption of long-form content. By using these apps, we can increase our focus and attention, improve our filtering and curating abilities, and ultimately enhance the quality of our workflow. To make the most of Read It Later apps, here are three actionable tips:

1. Utilize asynchronous reading: Save articles and content that you couldn't finish for later consumption. This will help you maintain focus and reduce cognitive dissonance.

2. Adopt a waiting period approach: Instead of consuming content immediately, save it for later and choose to consume it at a more suitable time. This allows for better filtering and decision-making.

3. Balance consumption and curation: While Read It Later apps are helpful for organizing and saving content, be mindful of becoming overly dependent on them. Expose yourself to diverse streams of information and assimilate the ideas of others to enhance your learning and growth.

Incorporating these tips into your workflow can help you harness the power of Read It Later apps and optimize your consumption of long-form content. So go ahead, save that interesting article for later, and embark on a journey of expanding your mind and challenging your paradigms.