Intentional Filtering System
We live in a world that’s just overflowing with choices. Want to watch a show? Take your pick from Netflix. What should we eat? Plenty of options from restaurants and food delivery services around to choose from! Even Information is in abundance - just look at the amount that’s floating around the internet!
We all lead busy lives, so I try to make the best of the free time I have. When I finally have that time, I tell myself ‘OKAY! It’s time to do something productive - don’t waste this precious time!’ 2 hours fly by and honestly, that little amount time just isn’t enough to achieve what I want to do! How the hell do I get more time!?
Even after re-adjusting, re-prioritizing and implementing time hacks, time is still scarce. Instead of solving for the lack of time, the next best thing I try to do is to be incredibly intentional about things I choose to do. I want to lead a purposeful and meaningful life so - I’m picky about EVERYTHING. The clothes and shoes I buy / wear, the food I eat, the money I spend, the friends I associate with, and yes - this is especially case for the information I consume!
Information is like food. You are what you consume. Tell me what you pay attention to, and I’ll tell you who you are - David Perell
So how do I navigate my way through with the abundance of information on the internet?
I’ve found that having an intentional filtering system helps tremendously.
Having this filtering system is really akin to having a mini angel on your shoulder - it’s the rational, logical and sensible side of you. ‘ Save up! Do you REALLY need to upgrade your apple watch now? Your old one is working fine! Focus and get this task done, play later and you’ll be happier!’
The mini devil is your lazy, impulsive side is telling you to take the easy way out of things. ‘BUY THIS! EAT THAT! OOO… INSTAGRAM STORY OF CUTE PUPPY… WATCH NOW!’
Before jumping into making a ‘rash’ decision, these are some questions the mini angel in me asks:
On consuming content 📲 (youtube videos, books, articles, podcasts):
1) Does this resonate with me in some way?
2) Is it adding any value to me? Will I learn something new? Has it been recommended to me by someone who I respect / more than 1 person?
3) Am I able to somehow turn this piece of content into an article or newsletter I can share?
On food choices 🍜 :
1) Will I enjoy it?
2) How nutritious is this meal? (Depending on the answer, I’ll proceed to make my choice on whether to order extra protein or veggies)
3) Will I regret it? Is it worth the calories?
On purchasing stuff 💸 :
1) Do I really need to upgrade (especially if my current one is working well)? I’m trying to only upgrade my stuff once it breaks (but I don’t think I can wait that long. One can try ;P )
2) Do I really need it?! Will I use it often? How many times? (Think clothes, cool lego nanoblocks, new nintendo switch games)
3) Do I have space for it in my room?!
Just some examples, but you get the idea. This applies to most other situations as well, you just have to ask yourself the right filtering questions with the circumstance. One more pro tip on filtering that I picked up from Tiago Forte (the creator of the second brain) from his article on ‘The Secret of Read It Later Apps’
Procrastination is the most powerful force in the universe. It will find a way..(to disrupt you in whatever you are doing).
I have a different approach: waiting periods. Every time I come across something I may want to read/watch, I’m totally allowed to. No limits! The only requirement is I have to save it to Pocket (a read it later app), and then choose to consume it at a later time.
There’s only one rule: NO READING OR WATCHING!
Bringing this back to filtering, not only am I saving time and preserving focus by batch processing both the collection and the consumption of new content, I’m time-shifting the curation process to a time better suited for reading, and (most critically) removed from the temptations, stresses, and biopsychosocial hooks that first lured me in.
I am always amazed by what happens: no matter how stringent I was in the original collecting, no matter how certain I was that this thing was worthwhile, I regularly eliminate 1/3 of my list before reading. The post that looked SO INTERESTING when compared to that one task I’d been procrastinating on, in retrospect isn’t even something I care about.
What I’m essentially doing is creating a buffer. Instead of pushing a new piece of info through from intake to processing to consumption without any scrutiny, I’m creating a pool of options drawn from a longer time period, which allows me to make decisions from a higher perspective, where those decisions are much better aligned with what truly matters to me.
Time buffers really help. Ever notice, when you’re trying to procrastinate, every article, video, app or website looks interesting? Honestly, everything else besides the task you are supposed to focus on is much more enticing at that moment. Once you force yourself to save the content for later and revisit it when you are not pressed for time, you’d be amazed at how much you’re actually NOT interested in.
Time buffers also work if you’re contemplating buying stuff (especially if it’s damn expensive)! I’ll usually take a step back and walk away to look at other things. Sometimes I’ll even sleep over it! There are instances I wake up and I’ll be sure that I want it. Other times, I’m like eh… I could do without it, and i just ignore it.
Do you have a filtering system of your own? What’s it like? I’d love to hear more and learn about it so I can continually improve my own filtering system!
-
If you found this article interesting, you may also be interested in my other article on The Pareto principle: 80/20 Rule
