Producing > Consuming.

It’s easy to feel productive when you’re consuming productivity advice. Or “productivity porn”, as I call it these days.

It’s easy to feel entertained when you’re consuming the latest TV show. It’s easy to feel smart when you’re reading what a great mind wrote.¹

Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.

– Albert Einstein

Of course you should be curious as to how you can get your daily chores done in a more efficient manner, so consume that piece of productivity porn. Of course you should take a break from producing and watch a show to wind down. Of course you should take in evergreen truths when you’re looking to find inspiration for your own thinking.

The right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy.

So read, watch, listen—but take time to think!

1. I’m aware of the irony of quoting right after stating this. Smart, huh?
2. Thanks to FG for making this reminder for my desk at work.