[PODCAST 112]: How to Make It Easy to Consume Awesome Information

As we continue to create posts, podcasts, videos, online programs, and training resources at LearnDoBecome, we know it can start to feel overwhelming.

Today I’m sharing four ways you can easily organize the information you get here at LearnDoBecome (or from other sources!) so that you can get all the benefits–without the “drain.”

At the bottom of this post, I’m going to include some additional support materials (about how I use Evernote, make time to read, and organize my mind), but by the time you get to those links, you’ll know what to do with them!

These principles I’m discussing today are what make it possible for me to read, listen to podcasts, watch videos, attend conferences, and learn as much as I can–and then use those things as FUEL. But that wasn’t always the case.

As I moved into adulthood–got married, finished college, had our first baby, and moved with Eric to Northern California to start his first job, I used to read one book at a time (if that), and I didn’t even want to learn more because my brain didn’t have anywhere to “put” the information. I felt frustrated with myself, frustrated with other people for trying to shove more information at me, and frustrated with my situation that seemed to lack the progress and momentum I was craving.

Those were hard, hard years. But once I learned how to organize my mind so that the information could just “flow,” I felt like I’d unclogged my mental vacuum, and then the momentum for which I’d been searching finally came.

I am hopeful that these four ideas will help you today!

(1) Save links and downloads in a way that you’ll be able to get BACK to them within 30 seconds, if you wanted to do so.

Sometimes you know you could just go to a specific channel or website and use their search function. That’s great! But if you want to make sure you can locate a specific piece of content or information, you could do the following:

• screen shot an audio book or podcast episode and put it in Evernote with the appropriate keywords
• make a list of favorite websites and bookmark them by category within your browser
• create a collection of favorite links all kept together in a searchable note–also labeled with key words,  or
• gather screen shots around a specific topic into a labeled photo album on your phone

Specifically for LearnDoBecome, if you use Evernote, Google Drive, or the Notes app on your phone, you could create a folder called “LearnDoBecome,” and store any of our worksheets, downloads, links, etc. in there–again using keywords so they’re easy to locate using the search function.

(2) Create routines for consuming certain types of media–and keep a prioritized list of resources to fit those categories.

For example, let’s say you get the emails from LearnDoBecome that feature our podcast episodes and video trainings. Instead of making those “tasks,” you could create a daily podcast-listening routine, and a daily video-training-consumption routine.

Then–noted wherever you list your podcast-listening routine, for example–you could jot down a specific episode or two you really wanted to listen to that week. Or you could just open your podcast app, where you ONLY have a handful of subscriptions that deserve your focus right now.

In your video-training routine, you could list any paid programs, YouTube videos, or topics you want to research during that time. I have a list of favorite online yoga videos, for example, so I can just open that note, click on the video I want (labeled with a few keywords, how long the video is, etc.), and I’m good to go!

I do the same thing with books. I have a prioritized list of the books I think will make the greatest impact in my life right now, and when I read each day, I draw from that list. And when I go to the library, I have a list of ideas!

The reason I like this process is because then it doesn’t matter how many books, podcasts, videos, etc. I hear about. I just process them into my “resource library,” and the best ones most often bubble to the top. As long as I know I have reading, listening, and watching time baked into every week, I know I’ll make progress on my learning goals. (And THAT is how my life has transformed over the past 10-15 years.)

(3) Create a “Current Project” for any high-priority, multi-step tasks you want to get across the finish line.

If you’re in “exploration” mode–which is how I would most often categorize my learning activities, then the routines explained above are typically sufficient. But if you’re in a course (let’s say you’re part of our STEP program, and you’re building your Command Central), then you make “Build My Command Central” into one of your 7-8 monthly PROJECTS, and you work from a list of Next Actions to get them done.

That course could still be listed in your podcast and/or video routine, but you’re not leaving the completion of the course to chance. If it’s on your Current Projects list, it will actually get done.

I’ll include more on that with a link at the bottom of this post–and an invitation to our free training, “How to Finally Stop Drowning in Piles,” if you’re new here!

(4) Rely on your “Someday List.”

This can be a digital or paper note–or a list you keep inside a project management tool, but honestly, having an awesome “Someday List” will bring an added level of excitement and momentum to your life.

The reason it’s so powerful is because even if a book, podcast, video, course, etc. isn’t right for you “right now,” you have full confidence that you won’t forget about it if it’s listed on your Someday List–which you can review monthly quarterly, annually, or just whenever you have free space in your brain.

I like to organize my Someday List into sub-categories, so I have things like books, podcasts, YouTube channels to explore, etc., but I also have business ideas, family activities, opportunities for higher education, skills to develop, and more.

Bringing it all together…

The fact of the matter is that our brains can only process a certain amount of information each day. That’s why it’s so powerful when you simplify your wardrobe, clear your desktop and counters, reduce the number of email folders, minimize the number of decisions you need to make at work, and teach your children to share in the family work.

The full Steps to Everyday Productivity system teaches you how to apply the whole framework to your life of things to focus on daily, weekly, and as needed, but even without that whole system, if you can create simple habits that open up brain space, your capacity to learn will increase exponentially. And with that increase in capacity, you’ll find yourself waking up excited…ready to learn, do, and become.🙂

LearnDoBecome Challenge: Are there any books, videos, podcasts, courses, or resources you’d like to explore more deeply? Take a few minutes to write them down into digital or paper notes that are sorted by category type. Then make sure you have routines to support your learning process!

Related Links:

How to Organize What You Learn Into Evernote

The App I Use to Organize Practically Everything

How to Make Time to Read – Part 1

How to Make Time to Read – Part 2

How to Unclog Your Mental Vacuum

Current Projects Template / Next Actions List Video

Free Community Facebook Group 

Have you had a chance to join our free class that will introduce you to our Steps to Everyday Productivity program? If not, we’d love to see you there! Sign up here!