The Secret Power of ‘Read It Later’ Apps - Forte Labs

The Secret Power of ‘Read It Later’ Apps - Forte Labs

Reading is a powerful tool that allows us to think another person's thoughts. It requires us to immerse ourselves in someone else's paradigm, which is the first step in letting go of our own. In today's world, the ability to read is becoming a competitive advantage. It is becoming increasingly valuable to have the capability to sit quietly and direct our focused attention for sustained periods of time.

However, our attention spans are diminishing. Google found that increasing the number of search results per page caused 20% of people to drop off. The fear of cognitive dissonance at not being able to finish a long article or book keeps us from even starting it. Uncompleted tasks take up mental space and limit our clarity and focus.

This is where 'Read It Later' apps come in. These apps, such as Pocket, allow us to save articles and other long-form content for later consumption. They help increase our consumption of substantive content and provide a better filtering system. Instead of pushing new information through without scrutiny, these apps create a pool of options for us to choose from. This allows us to make decisions from a higher perspective, aligning with what truly matters to us.

One of the benefits of using these apps is the ability to easily highlight and share key passages. However, it's important to note that Pocket is not the best tool for organizing highlights. Instead, exporting highlights and key passages to a tool like Evernote can provide better organization and accessibility.

Not only do these apps increase our consumption of long-form content, but they also allow us to learn faster. By assimilating and building on the ideas of others, we can incorporate their lessons and experiences in a fraction of the time it would take to make those mistakes ourselves. Ideas have a network effect, and the human brain is the only tool capable of creating and accessing these networks on demand.

Incorporating the use of 'Read It Later' apps into our daily lives can have a significant impact. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to make the most of these apps:

1. Use a task manager: To avoid procrastination, integrate the use of 'Read It Later' apps into your task manager. This way, you can schedule dedicated time to read and process the saved content.

2. Create a to-read pile: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending list of articles, create a to-read pile in your 'Read It Later' app. This allows you to have a pool of options to choose from, giving you the freedom to make decisions based on what truly interests you.

3. Be selective in what you save: Use the filtering capabilities of these apps to save only the most substantive and relevant content. Avoid the temptation to save everything, as it can lead to information overload and diminish the benefits of using these apps.

In conclusion, 'Read It Later' apps have the power to enhance our reading experience and increase our consumption of substantive content. By utilizing these apps effectively and incorporating them into our daily routines, we can gain a competitive advantage in our ability to think critically and learn faster. So take advantage of these tools, create a to-read pile, and be selective in what you save. Happy reading!