Digital consumption keeps me from getting better at my job

Digital Overconsumption and “Fake Productivity”

• Many relate to consuming “educational” content (videos, blogs, posts) that feels productive but doesn’t translate into doing real work.
• Several note the trap of chasing productivity systems, “internet diets,” tools, and thought-leader advice instead of actually building things.
• Overabundance of information leads to FOMO, endless bookmarks/tabs, and a sense of always being “late,” which discourages deep study (e.g., sticking with a book for months).

Discipline vs. Deeper Causes

• One camp emphasizes pure discipline: just stop consuming, like quitting junk food; greatness requires sacrifice.
• Others argue this is incomplete or harmful, especially for people with ADHD, depression, or poor executive function; they need tailored strategies, not shaming.
• Some reject “champion” or hustler ideals altogether, advocating “everything in moderation” and questioning why life must be optimized so hard.

Consumption vs. Creation: Practical Strategies

• Suggestions include:
  • Digital declutters and “information diets.”
  • Deleting social media accounts, using dumb phones, blocking sites, or using tools to limit video/social feeds.
  • Setting “budgets” (e.g., 1:3 rule: 10 minutes of input → 30 minutes of hands-on work), reflection, note-taking, and connecting ideas across sources.
  • Tying learning to concrete projects and problems rather than open-ended browsing.
• Some use LLMs or curated HN/reddit feeds more deliberately, but acknowledge these can also become time sinks.

Social Media, ‘Good Content,’ and Self-Delusion

• Debate over whether HN/Reddit are fundamentally different from other social media; some see them as “healthier,” others call this self-deception.
• Distinction is drawn between content that nourishes long-term growth vs. short dopamine hits, though what counts as “good” is contested.

Work, Focus, and Collaboration Patterns

• Pair/mob programming and “body doubling” are praised for preventing distraction and raising focus, especially for ADHD.
• Others find mobbing performative, creativity-killing, or exhausting; benefits depend heavily on implementation and voluntariness.

Career Growth vs. Optimization Anxiety

• Several argue that simply showing up consistently, doing solid work, and building relationships matters more than constant self-optimization.
• There’s discussion about workplaces where productivity is vs. isn’t tied to job security, and how that shapes motivation and burnout.