Second Cup: Scroll better

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Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeart Radio.

Good morning.

This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

Today's tip is to scroll better.

There are some points in all of our lives

when we are going to be spending mindless time on our phones.

Figuring out how to upgrade that time just a little

can make life feel more satisfying.

So I know there is a lot of literature out there

on how to break up with our phones or kick the phone habit.

I know this literature contains a lot of good ideas.

We all should spend less time scrolling.

But the truth is that there are some points

in our ordinary daily existences.

When we are going to wind up wiling away time

on our little devices.

Maybe you are suddenly waiting in a line

that you didn't foresee.

Maybe you are watching a kid who is playing semi-independently.

You can't get up to get a book or magazine

without changing the situation.

So there you are.

Fones make these little boring moments,

a little less boring.

So rather than just lament our phone addictions,

maybe it is possible to spend these little online moments

a little more wisely.

We can scroll better even if we are scrolling.

For instance, I have noticed that the comments

on well-moderated blogs or in any sort of closed community

are often more wholesome than the comments on social media.

The Patreon community for my other podcast,

Best of Both Worlds,

will often have long and helpful discussions

with 80 comments or more.

Reading those can definitely fill some scrolling time.

I also enjoy reading say the 100 helpful comments

that often follow a post by the Frugal Girl on her blog.

So why not read some old school blogs

or join some closed but active online communities

and read through those comments?

You just might learn something.

I have also realized that social media algorithms

can easily redirect me from what I was hoping to see.

Online retailers, on the other hand,

want to keep you focused.

So I have been spending some scrolling time

doing the equivalent of window shopping.

For instance, I've been looking through galleries

of miniatures at Factory Direct Craft.

Creating miniature rooms is a new hobby of mine.

So I scroll around and look at prices and styles

on a dozen little mini dishwashers.

Is it a great use of time?

No, but it feels a little less icky

than some of the name calling I see on Twitter.

If you tend to check email while you are playing

around with your phone,

then you might try to make your inbox a little more engaging.

For instance, you might subscribe to some interesting newsletters.

And of course, if you like to scroll around,

you can buy subscriptions to newspapers

like the Wall Street Journal or The New York Times

and read real articles

rather than people's idle speculations

on their Instagram pages.

In any case, I'm sure we should all spend less time

on our phones.

I also recommend putting e-books on your phone

and spending some time that you would be scrolling

reading books instead.

But all that said, if you are just going to scroll,

there are still ways to make this a better experience.

So best to avail ourselves of those.

In the meantime, this is Laura.

Thanks for listening.

And here's to making the most of our time.

Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.

If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback,

you can reach me at Laura at LauraVandercam.com.

Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Media

or more podcasts from I Heart Media,

please visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Hey listeners, as we begin a new year,

it's a great opportunity to think about

what your year of you could look like,

especially if going back to school is one of your goals.

Today's tip is powered by National University,

an institution built around helping busy professionals

make progress without sacrificing their priorities.

National University's flexible online formats,

four and eight week courses, and monthly class starts,

let you start sooner, finish faster,

and learn on your schedule.

And right now, they're offering the year of you scholarship,

providing up to $6,000 each year

for eligible bachelor's and master's students

who apply by March 31st.

With more than 150 degrees, credentials,

and certificates available,

NU has a program that aligns with your next step.

Start your year strong at nu.edu.

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This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.