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It's funny how this seems to be a form of meditation. It seems like an incredibly useful tool for the modern age. I wonder sometimes just how the brain manages

It's funny how this seems to be a form of meditation. It seems like an incredibly useful tool for the modern age. I wonder sometimes just how the brain manages to deal with the influx of all these new, abstract ideas on a daily basis. Doesn't seem like there's much time to digest it all. But if this works, if it really is an effective tool for learning, I could see it as a good way of bringing clarity into your life as your brain synthesizes patterns and makes sense of what it's been working on for the past few hours. The indecisiveness that people often report feeling during the day may just be a lack of time spent consolidating all the information you've acquired up to that point. Maybe it's a sign you need to take a step back and do absolutely nothing.

ThouYS 7y ago
That's also the one interesting argument against podcasts. That they take the last remaining moments of doing nothing (vacuuming, doing the dishes, commuting,...) Especially interesting since one of the most popular podcasts is also run by a very reflected meditation proponent (Sam Harris).
- qwertox 7y ago
  It's funny you mention this, I've been thinking about this lately. I make a 1.1 hour sporty bike ride every day and listen to podcasts while doing so, but I'm often asking myself if I should just not do that and instead listen to myself. The same goes for falling asleep, where I used to listen to podcasts but they got replaced by YouTube videos which I just listen to. I remember the time when I dealt with my thoughts before falling asleep. That was maybe 10 years ago. And kids nowadays will probably never get to know that feeling.
  - porknubbins 7y ago
    I’ve never been able to “deal with my thoughts” and also get sleep so since I was able to read I consume fiction before bed to wipe the mental slate clean. Before it was books, now mostly audiobooks or occasionally music so I can keep it dark for my wife. If I can’t do this its usually 1-3 hrs of brain processing worries from the day, next day etc. There must be others like me who can’t just turn off instantly.
    - varrock 7y ago
      You're not alone. Sometimes my day continues in bed. I'll even think of things I need to do the next day, turn over to my phone, and write it down so I don't forget. I, too, need something to distract me in order to really wind down.
    - endtime 7y ago
      FWIW, I'm very similar. I find that the light pollution of a fully dimmed screen in night mode, reading light text on a black background, is negligible. (FWIW I mostly read in Pocket.) That amount of light doesn't keep me awake, let alone my wife. I think headphones would disturb me much more.
  - rb808 7y ago
    I'd think you'd be better off listening for trucks. :)
- jonfw 7y ago
  One thing I like doing with podcasts is pausing them often to consider my own position. Form my own argument- given the new information I've just obtained. Often times the wheels just keep turning and I'll forget I was even listening to a podcast, and spend the majority of the time listening to myself think. I absolutely agree with the argument you mentioned with short term tasks like vacuuming, dishes, etc. If you don't have time to get fully invested (over an hour) it's much better to just listen to your own thoughts.
  - brador 7y ago
    Most podcasts can be easily listened to at 2x speed. You quickly realise how useless many of them are.
- FreezerburnV 7y ago
  Depends on the podcast maybe? The only ones I currently listen to are D&D podcasts so it’s not like I’m learning anything. It usually makes me want to do work on my own D&D campaign and be creative instead, if I’m not just enjoying listening to it.
- rimliu 7y ago
  I enjoy long walks (30-100km) so they take me from 4 to 18 hours. I see them as a kind of meditation so I don't listen to any podcasts or even music during that time. I feel it would be wrong somehow.
clarry 7y ago
> Maybe it's a sign you need to take a step back and do absolutely nothing. I do that every once in a while. After enough of it, I end up feeling full of inspiration and desire to start working on something. It's a good way to kickstart little personal projects. Only problem is the amount of downtime needed for that effect seems somewhat long. I wish I could do it more often.
- wensley 7y ago
  I found commuting on a train was really good for this. I would purposefully never look at my phone and just stare out of the window. I really miss that time now that I work from home.
  - CGamesPlay 7y ago
    Switching to a "remote work" career was similarly hard for me for this reason. I find it's helpful to "fake a commute" and go for a walk before working. The walk is mindless, just letting my mind drift, but gets my blood flowing and mind ready for the day.
    - mertnesvat 7y ago
      > The walk is mindless, just letting my mind drift Agree on that, I tried switching to the running to make this time more productive but it wasn't the same, somehow walking has a special place between getting relaxed and active for my body.

ThouYS 7y ago

That's also the one interesting argument against podcasts. That they take the last remaining moments of doing nothing (vacuuming, doing the dishes, commuting,...) Especially interesting since one of the most popular podcasts is also run by a very reflected meditation proponent (Sam Harris).

qwertox 7y ago
It's funny you mention this, I've been thinking about this lately. I make a 1.1 hour sporty bike ride every day and listen to podcasts while doing so, but I'm often asking myself if I should just not do that and instead listen to myself. The same goes for falling asleep, where I used to listen to podcasts but they got replaced by YouTube videos which I just listen to. I remember the time when I dealt with my thoughts before falling asleep. That was maybe 10 years ago. And kids nowadays will probably never get to know that feeling.
- porknubbins 7y ago
  I’ve never been able to “deal with my thoughts” and also get sleep so since I was able to read I consume fiction before bed to wipe the mental slate clean. Before it was books, now mostly audiobooks or occasionally music so I can keep it dark for my wife. If I can’t do this its usually 1-3 hrs of brain processing worries from the day, next day etc. There must be others like me who can’t just turn off instantly.
  - varrock 7y ago
    You're not alone. Sometimes my day continues in bed. I'll even think of things I need to do the next day, turn over to my phone, and write it down so I don't forget. I, too, need something to distract me in order to really wind down.
  - endtime 7y ago
    FWIW, I'm very similar. I find that the light pollution of a fully dimmed screen in night mode, reading light text on a black background, is negligible. (FWIW I mostly read in Pocket.) That amount of light doesn't keep me awake, let alone my wife. I think headphones would disturb me much more.
- rb808 7y ago
  I'd think you'd be better off listening for trucks. :)
jonfw 7y ago
One thing I like doing with podcasts is pausing them often to consider my own position. Form my own argument- given the new information I've just obtained. Often times the wheels just keep turning and I'll forget I was even listening to a podcast, and spend the majority of the time listening to myself think. I absolutely agree with the argument you mentioned with short term tasks like vacuuming, dishes, etc. If you don't have time to get fully invested (over an hour) it's much better to just listen to your own thoughts.
- brador 7y ago
  Most podcasts can be easily listened to at 2x speed. You quickly realise how useless many of them are.
FreezerburnV 7y ago
Depends on the podcast maybe? The only ones I currently listen to are D&D podcasts so it’s not like I’m learning anything. It usually makes me want to do work on my own D&D campaign and be creative instead, if I’m not just enjoying listening to it.
rimliu 7y ago
I enjoy long walks (30-100km) so they take me from 4 to 18 hours. I see them as a kind of meditation so I don't listen to any podcasts or even music during that time. I feel it would be wrong somehow.

clarry 7y ago

> Maybe it's a sign you need to take a step back and do absolutely nothing. I do that every once in a while. After enough of it, I end up feeling full of inspiration and desire to start working on something. It's a good way to kickstart little personal projects. Only problem is the amount of downtime needed for that effect seems somewhat long. I wish I could do it more often.

wensley 7y ago
I found commuting on a train was really good for this. I would purposefully never look at my phone and just stare out of the window. I really miss that time now that I work from home.
- CGamesPlay 7y ago
  Switching to a "remote work" career was similarly hard for me for this reason. I find it's helpful to "fake a commute" and go for a walk before working. The walk is mindless, just letting my mind drift, but gets my blood flowing and mind ready for the day.
  - mertnesvat 7y ago
    > The walk is mindless, just letting my mind drift Agree on that, I tried switching to the running to make this time more productive but it wasn't the same, somehow walking has a special place between getting relaxed and active for my body.