Less Consumption, More Creation

Why you might want to scale back the amount of information you consume each week.
Getting Started with Sketchnoting (Free Download): geni.us/Wo6w
My name is Doug Neill and I'm passionate about helping others reach their full creative potential. I teach a skill called sketchnoting (also known as visual note-taking and graphic recording), which for me is a gateway to doing better work. Check out the resources below for more info.
** Resources **
Getting Started with Sketchnoting (Free Download): geni.us/Wo6w
An Introduction To Visual Note-Taking: geni.us/DFJw0
Sketchnoting In The Classroom: geni.us/0jlmV
How To Make Sketchnote Videos: geni.us/uzXlBq
Learn a New Language with Sketchnotes: geni.us/iuAFK
Build an Online Course with Sketchnotes: geni.us/4zfvYA
Learn In Public: geni.us/SdNM9
The Verbal To Visual Community: geni.us/tyI2N8a
*Our Website*
www.verbaltovisual.com/
I've chosen to not be on any social media platforms other than KZbin.
To stay in touch via email, subscribe to my newsletter: geni.us/nwHp

[@YuriPavlov]

It's a very topical issue, I often have the illusion of progress in what I do -- when in reality what I do is passively absorb info and forget it. Your thoughts resonated a lot with me, thanks Doug!

[@verbaltovisual]

Oh yes, I'm familiar with that illusion of progress! Sometimes just thinking about a next step makes you feel like you've done it, but it's the actual follow-up that matters.

[@SpareKingdom]

@@verbaltovisual what an insidious trap.This is why notdoing and nonaction are so powerful. The down time for mind integration of the energy and information of life is so necessary to seeing our way clearly. Bravo Doug!! money bags.

[@chrisclarkx]

Consume -> Process -> Create I love this. To really know you learned something is to teach it, and what’s more exciting than creating something out of what you enjoyed consuming. Great topic !

[@billtotman]

Thank you, this was timely for me - planned rest is important to every aspect of our lives.

[@shelleyroy9667]

Doug as an educator and Pedagogical Coach I find the one activity we often short change is processing. As you said - processing usually leads to greater implementation. Metacognition is the cement of learning.

[@verbaltovisual]

Great point, Shelley. "Metacognition is the cement of learning." Love that.

[@PawsAndFinsNewsy]

I need this content. Eversince my life got good enough for me to afford having free time, there's this feeling of dissatisfaction. I did everything. I listened to my favorite songs, watched my favourite movies, I even worked out. But there's still that terrible feeling at the end of the day. It feels like I wasn't doing enough. Then, things changed when I came back to song writing. Everytime I'm done with my writing session, I feel satisfied and free.

[@dt1902]

I have been focusing on consuming less and producing more since the beginning of the year. Glad to see that you reinforce that thinking and guidance via sketchnoting. Thank you.

[@verbaltovisual]

Happy to hear that this reinforced the habit of focus that you’ve been developing this year!

[@waynewrz]

Love your thoughts here Doug. I sometimes find myself reading books but realizing that I'm not putting things into practice. Love your intentionality in what you take in and what you're doing with it.

[@MohamedAKarim]

Can’t agree more! As always Doug, you ROCK!

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks Mohamed!

[@apprenticerocker9885]

Your article is fresh oxygen for me: people keep bragging on how many books they read and the self help industry keep pushing the "fact" that people who reads more books (without mentioning the quality of said books) are going to be more successful, since I prefer to invest my off work time and my mental energy mostly into crating (now I'm building a GPS data processing app) and learning practical skills (to date I'm learning a new tool for my software development job, crocheting and... sketchnoting from your basic course) and then enjoy some needed downtime I always feel left out and in a certain way "inferior" and I wonder how these people can implement even just a fraction of what they read so hearing someone who shares my "less consumption more creation" philosophy is very refreshing.

[@autodidatasacademy]

I think like the language learning stuff you need to go back with a frequency in mind, so if you learning too much and are unable to practice and make of the which you learn a habit, so you need to make a better plan. So for exemple, quantifie the amount of hour you will reserv to make the habit stick. Doing that problably is gonna make more clrear what you should be doing with your spare time. I loved your vídeo, and a hug from Brazil. I really like the system that you use, in some of my vídeos a use mind maps and it is very helpfull tô make the content more clear.

[@verbaltovisual]

Couldn't agree more! Glad you've found a good use for mind maps too, and thanks for the kinds words :)

[@CJoyArt]

This is a valuable video in that I would also like to find the sweet spot between consumption and productive time. This video was definitely worth my time.

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks Carole, and good luck finding that sweet spot!

[@mirzabaig4711]

Thanks very much for this man. I needed to hear this.

[@verbaltovisual]

Glad to hear it struck a chord!

[@shadoxxx166]

Thanks. I think we share so much in common. I'm a visual guy too.

[@prashansasingh5083]

Lesson: you can apply minimalism in all areas of your life. It will eventually help you be more efficient which would lead you to focus on few things and get desired results.

[@verbaltovisual]

Well put!

[@phildelgiudice3448]

Great advice and I too was filling quiet spaces with too many inputs. Thanks!!

[@Nour-ld7ii]

Brilliant video and useful information! Thank you!

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks Nour!

[@lubas9978]

Just sharing an observation: I just watched one of your videos made as a digital sketch note video and this "analog" one. I like this style way more, it somehow makes me more focused. 🤔

[@veronicaveintimilla8478]

This is great! I certainly could spend more time processing and creating. I realize I consume a lot of new info through videos and podcasts but almost zero time implementing it

[@verbaltovisual]

Thanks Verónica, glad to hear this resonated with you!

[@matthewgoetzka8855]

This makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the vid!

[@verbaltovisual]

Glad to hear it Matthew!

[@TheClanFollows]

I always love the irony of watching a video on my down time telling me to stop watching videos and start DOING something

[@multipassionproject]

Woah, I was just taking about this. Sketchnoting sounds like it'd benefit me.

[@adityavikhe1503]

Doug I was facing so many mental problems, and you just solved approximately half of it. You helped me to remember the biggest thing one can ever understand, "Quality over quantity!!!". You are doing a fantastic job, my well wishes are with you. Thanks!

[@jclil516]

Thank you so much for the timely advice

[@insight3973]

Another great video, I'm enjoying your channel very much.

[@insiderperson18279]

Talk about synchronicity, this relates to what I've been thinking about the balance between theory vs. practice. Good stuff! 👍

[@elgabenedicta]

This is such a great and timy reminder for me! Thank you.. I am fully aware that I always want to get more and more information but I need to focus on the implementation of the information in my life. Thank you!

[@seehumor2647]

I appreciate the content - people truly need to be conscious of how much they are creating vs. consuming! I discuss this idea a bit in the last video on my channel as well - For me right now I'm focused on content creation way more than consuming content. I want to encourage others to get to the same stage!

[@marisanicolepesa3239]

Thank you for this timely reminder, Doug!! I've found myself almost afraid to not be interacting with new ideas/music/history/etc. on the daily, which of course is not doing my brain or confidence any good. But here I'm still wondering if this directive -- I should apply or put into practice everything I consume -- creates an unhealthy space for why/how we seek out new ideas/perspectives? Even the language "consume" makes knowledge a commodity. Don't get me wrong, I like your emphasis on quality over quantity, especially as we navigate digital spaces and media deliberately designed to be addictive! But I'm wondering how you (or others) decide when a story/podcast/conversation/song/etc. requests, so to speak, a sketchnote? Or when that knowledge will affect you on a deeper level if you don't try to map it all out?

[@yohanesliong4818]

Thank you

[@latebloomer7607]

Amazing video

[@m.y.mohamedparvees5098]

A nice video gives new advice.

[@mariolima3804]

Obrigado pela explicação, por muito tempo convivia com o mesmo problema. Agora esta explicação me trouxe uma nova luz de conhecimento prático

[@apfelsinenliese7000]

I know this. See, I'm a teacher and the internet is FULL of great ideas. And it dawned on me that I need to stop looking at all these blogs and videos in my free time, because they overwhelmed me. BUT, what do I do instead now? Because I had gotten used to relaxing while looking at all this "eye candy" well designed pages or listen to podcasts. And now I find myself not knowing what to do with white spaces. What do you do?

[@AteMyPhone]

In the video you mentioned podcasts that you listened to that help you develop your visual skills. Do you have any recommendations? I listen to them as i work or at school and i would love to listen to some new ones!

[@MindsetBliss]

Thank you Doug! Less consumption, more doodles. : )

[@HindiMeTayari]

Please make sketch for humanity subject related also cause ,effect, important, example, timeline, cycles etc...

[@scrutinizer8]

Hey, could you share what kind of pen you use?

[@verbaltovisual]

My Sketchnoting Toolkit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGnEnoqGpdV2r7s

[@naimrahman1578]

For the algo!!

[@98505177229850590818]

It’s more about create vs consume .. We consume too much but don’t create anything

[@pastorjustin419]

Unfortunately, I had to turn this off because it was in my drop-off and super important. Will come back when rested

[@monmioamio]

Diminishing returns? You’ve been listening to too many business podcasts 😁

[@verbaltovisual]

Haha, touché!