In short: If you use a tool more to consume than to create something with it, you either should ditch the tool, or rethink how you use it.

There are so many tools out there today, especially digital tools that allow us to create new worlds, make what we have in our minds real, create communities where we can be together and work on something together.

But often these tools are mostly used for consumption, for scrolling through them and not doing anything with it. We use them for watching something without then having learned anything. Or we use them for looking things out without it changing the way we do something. 


I believe that if we use a tool, it should help us to create things be it something visual, be it something tangible, be it a community.

But if it leads us to consume more, then maybe we don't need that tool. Or at least we need to rethink how we're using that tool.

Obviously, I'm not perfect in this. I'm also using the tools that I create with to consume. That's also why I've started a one year ten minute smartphone challenge a few weeks and months ago.

Action question

I think it's an important question to ask ourselves are the tools that I have helping me create or helping me consume?


Transcribed with AI
This article is based on an audio recording that I transcribed with Apple's Voice Memos app. I then reviewed and improved the text by hand.