Podcasts Over Netflix: Using Podcasts to Live with Intention 

In a time where the world seems to know so much about mindfulness, many people forget to be mindful about what happens around them in their day to day life. This is partially because of all of the distractions coming our way, especially coming from social media, which I discussed in another blog post. 

Like many, I want to make every moment count, and live intentionally. But it takes practice. There is one distraction that I seemed to never get hooked on, but I've watched hundreds around me waste hours on...

You know the drill. 

It's the weekend, you find yourself with some downtime. You go onto Netflix, and tell yourself that you'll only watch one episode. Next thing you know, the sun has set and you've just finished the newest season of that show. 

While I personally don't find myself getting sucked into this indulgence, I can understand why people do. One reason Netflix is  so addicting is because of analytics. When you watch something, Netflix runs analytics to track every way you’ve interacted with it. They keep data on when you pause, replay, and stop the show, and at what scene in the show. They correlate it with similar content you’ve also watched, and they create a profile about who you are based on the shows you watch. Then, they recommend new shows that suit your interests, and even create original content. This original content is based on statistics about their viewers! Original shows like House of Cards were curated not because they thought it was a good idea, but because their data says their viewers, statistically speaking, will enjoy a show exactly like this. 

These analytics explain exactly why Netflix teared down the traditional cable industry some years back. As an avid technology user, this interests me. If you want to learn more about this, check out this article from Huffington Post. My favourite podcast creators actually have a documentary on Netflix. This is a great segway into podcasts if you are a Netflix addict. Their documentary is called Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. 

Living with Intention

I’ve tried many things to unwind, but one thing that I have always found helpful is podcasts. See, podcasts are different from traditional media (radio, television) in some ways.

1) Podcasts for Multitasking 

Some say they don't like to multitask, but podcasts might change your mind about this. I like podcasts because I am able to passively listen to them when I want to multitask; in fact, I think many podcasts are meant to be passively listened to. You aren't obligated to put all of your attention into actively listening, yet you will still gain some value from listening to it before it is done. You can be on your daily commute, making food, or trying to fall asleep. All it requires is your ears. Podcasts make you feel productive, almost as if someone is talking to you as you're accomplishing all the other things on your to-do list. I prefer to digest lighter topics when multitasking, like daily news, meditation practices, and concepts I'm interested in. If you miss a small part of these types of podcasts, you don't have to replay it, you can just keep listening. One podcasts I never get tired of is the The Minimalist podcast. I mentioned their documentary before, and honestly out of all the podcasts I listen to, this is one I keep going back to. Minimalism is an interesting lifestyle - the motivation behind this concept is to get rid of physical clutter (items and possessions) so that you can make room for the things that matter in your life. What those things are depend on your individual needs. If you are interested in listening to podcasts but don't know where to start, this is what I'd recommend, especially because they don't put any advertisements, they are authentic and easy to listen to, while also easy to tune out when multitasking. 

2) Podcasts for Niche Topics

The second reason podcasts are different than traditional media is this: while Netflix puts most of their focus on fictional people and revamps of older TV series, and while radio shows are just a group of people talking to the general population in their proximity, podcasts take a different approach. Podcasts typically revolve around a specific topic or niche. Categories of podcasts cover any realm of concepts - educational, stories, news & politics, lifestyle & health, business & technology, and so on. This gives the listener the opportunity to choose exactly what we want to hear about. For those who might be interested in meditation, a great start would be the Headspace app, which is not necessarily a podcast, but follows the same structure. Headspace works on the principle of allocating just a small amount of time every day to meditation and mindfulness practices. The trial provides a very beginner look at meditation, but even the most advanced meditator can use it to improve. I used this podcast to begin meditating when I was having problems sleeping, but now I even enjoy listening to it before bed. 

3) Podcasts for Less Blue Light

Third, and probably my favourite: no blue light! We all hear about how harmful blue light is to our sleep patterns. But we can't help ourselves anymore. As a student, as an employee, or just as a regular person, it is damn near impossible for me to have less screen time in a day. In a typical week, I work on a computer, I study on a computer, and I attend classes where professors lecture from a Powerpoint presentation. Oh, and my assignments? They take tens of hours to complete! All while looking at a screen. This is not even including my cell phone, which as most millennials, I use too much. Podcasts alleviate this overwhelming amount of blue light by allowing me to digest media a different way. I especially enjoy listening to them at night-time when I am trying to sleep, because it removes the temptation of looking at my phone. A funny podcasts that I discovered and actually works for me is Sleep With Me, a podcast where a guy tells stories so boring that they put you to sleep! I'm not kidding, it works.