When you read vs. when you watch.

How a recent lesson on habits kept me on track with my morning routine.

Most content creators are always trying to balance getting their message across and keeping things entertaining, which is great because that's a tried and proven way to attract the audience's attention. While entertainment is good, it can sometimes distract from the main message. For example, being entertaining can sometimes overshadow the main message, making it harder for the audience to focus on and, much less remember the key information. 

If I were to estimate the level of entertainment in video content compared to written material, I'd comfortably go with an average of around 40% in video and 5% in written content. This indicates that the message in video content is often diluted. So, even if you start watching a TikTok video intending to learn something because the title suggests educational content, you risk just being entertained instead.

But aside from that, I've come to realize that written content is not only easier to memorize but also easier to annotate for future reference. Whether it's highlighting text on a digital device or making notes in a physical copy, reading allows for a deeper engagement with the material. In my experience, reading makes learning more effective than any other form.

How a recent lesson on habits kept me on track with my morning routine.

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After reading Atomic Habits by James Clear, I've embraced the power of small but consistent routines. The other day, I woke up later than planned and considered skipping some of my morning routine to save time. But then I remembered a statement by Mr Clear: "It's better to do less than you hoped than to do nothing at all." With this in mind, I quickly adjusted my routine to fit the limited time I had, ensuring I still made the most of my morning. I was impressed with myself for recalling such a timely piece of wisdom—then I remembered I not only highlighted it in the book but also wrote it on a sticky note and stuck it in my mirror.

This experience solidified the difference between passive watching and active reading; while watching can be engaging, it's through reading that ideas become deeply instilled, allowing us to recall and apply them when we most need them.