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Abstract

id="517c">Other times, I am looking to engage with the writer in the comments. This can also sometimes lead to ideas for new articles.</p><p id="bdd4">But if at any point I feel like my time is being wasted, I’m done. Medium is crammed full of content. I’ve got no time to waste on boring or badly-written articles.</p><h1 id="34e2">Too many Medium comments to reply to</h1><p id="f732">Some writers don’t bother engaging with their comments. This is a mistake. If one of my articles gets lots of comments, I consider writing a follow-up. Sometimes, a back-and-forth discussion provides enough material for a new article.</p><p id="c243">But sometimes, commenters can be troublesome time-wasters. It’s important to know when to stop if things are getting too personal or going around in circles.</p><h1 id="1c44">Too many ideas for things to write about</h1><p id="2c4a">I find it easy to come up with ideas for articles. And if I ever do get stuck, YouTube can be a great source of inspiration.</p><p id="7fd2">So, with limited time, what should I write about? Again, it’s all about priorities. When I’m writing, I want to feel excited about it. If not, it’s a waste of my time.</p><p id="3b52">I often remove reasonably good ideas from my list. Why? Because I know how easy it is to find something better. I also sometimes abandon articles during writing or editing, for the same reason.</p><h1 id="3ff1">Too many TV shows to watch</h1><p id="2f23">I don’t watch many TV shows. Usually, I like to watch them before bed, which is why I prefer comedy. I like to laugh and get into a good mood ready for sleep. So, I don’t tend to watch dramas or movies. Dramas are too serious for bedtime and movies are too long.</p><h1 id="8a6b">Too many podcasts to listen to</h1><p id="7fd3">There are two situations when I listen to podcasts:</p><ul><li>When I’m out on a walk</li><li>When I’m in bed</li></ul><p id="0548">If I’m out on a walk, I tend to prefer serious discussions. For example, Sam Harris or Jordan Peterson, or any podcasts about interesting facts.</p><p id="9785">If I’m in bed, I prefer something funny. For example, Richard Herring.</p><h1 id="4958">Too many things to do at the weekend</h1><p id="c8e8">I spend so much time in front of a computer, in my spare time I like to get outside. I also enjoy being on my own a lot, or with a small number of people. So

Options

, crowded indoor socialising is not something I’m not going to waste my time on.</p><h1 id="075b">Too many places to go</h1><p id="80e3">I like exploring the British countryside, or a nice town or city. I don’t need to visit everywhere in the world. I don’t need to travel far. I just need to feel like I’ve had a nice day out.</p><p id="e125">Sure, I’m not the most widely travelled person, but so what? Do I need to be?</p><p id="12d8">If I want to go somewhere very different to where I live, I occasionally visit London. <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/articles/populationestimatesbyethnicgroupandreligionenglandandwales/2019#:~:text=London%20was%20more%20ethnically%20diverse,%2C%20and%20Indian%20(7.0%25).">There are a lot of different ethnicities there</a>, so it has a far more multicultural feel than my town.</p><h1 id="a3a6">Too many people to meet</h1><p id="e974">I do like people, but in small doses, and the right type of people. I like kind people, gentle people, calmly happy people, artistic people, interesting people, and oddballs. I don’t like obnoxious extroverts or stupid people. I don’t like manipulative, spiteful or overly competitive people.</p><p id="9ff4">I don’t have time for everyone, but that’s fine. The few people I do have time for are enough for me. And when they’re not around, I get by okay on my own.</p><figure id="868d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*rbiQ_MyQNfdDpLremyG15w.jpeg"><figcaption>(If you’re on the Medium mobile app, you may have to switch to a web browser to subscribe)</figcaption></figure><div id="a2a2" class="link-block"> <a href="https://edward-john.medium.com/the-5-laws-of-stupidity-according-to-italian-historian-carlo-cipolla-9f178d584147"> <div> <div> <h2>The 5 Laws of Stupidity, According to Italian Historian Carlo Cipolla</h2> <div><h3>#5: Stupid people are the most dangerous people on the planet</h3></div> <div><p>edward-john.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*cTbuDeL_lFYKNK9o_n4Wbw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

There’s Not Enough Time for Everything — But Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing

When time is short and we’re spoilt for choice, we can be choosy

These days, I find myself constantly spoilt for choice:

Too many YouTube videos to watch
Too many Medium articles to read
Too many Medium comments to reply to
Too many ideas for things to write about
Too many TV shows to watch
Too many podcasts to listen to
Too many things to do at the weekend
Too many places to go
Too many people to meet

Priorities and time limits

There’s simply not enough time to do all the things I could do. Or even all the things I might want to do. So I figure out what my priorities are and then set time limits for them.

If I know I have a limited time to spend on something, I know I need to be choosy. Then, once the time is up, I leave the rest.

When looked at in this way, things become simpler. I’m less likely to feel overwhelmed or stressed. It’s just a fact that many lower priority things won’t be attended to.

Too many YouTube videos to watch

When I’m on YouTube, I want to be entertained or informed. If a video does both, that’s even better. I try to avoid videos that don’t do either of those.

Sometimes I also browse YouTube for ideas for Medium articles. But the same type of approach still applies. I ignore any videos that don’t fit with my goal.

Too many Medium articles to read

Like YouTube, my goal with Medium is to be informed or entertained.

But also, I am on the lookout for inspiration for my own articles. Sometimes I read something which sparks a related idea. I might then stop reading the article as it’s served its purpose already.

Other times, I am looking to engage with the writer in the comments. This can also sometimes lead to ideas for new articles.

But if at any point I feel like my time is being wasted, I’m done. Medium is crammed full of content. I’ve got no time to waste on boring or badly-written articles.

Too many Medium comments to reply to

Some writers don’t bother engaging with their comments. This is a mistake. If one of my articles gets lots of comments, I consider writing a follow-up. Sometimes, a back-and-forth discussion provides enough material for a new article.

But sometimes, commenters can be troublesome time-wasters. It’s important to know when to stop if things are getting too personal or going around in circles.

Too many ideas for things to write about

I find it easy to come up with ideas for articles. And if I ever do get stuck, YouTube can be a great source of inspiration.

So, with limited time, what should I write about? Again, it’s all about priorities. When I’m writing, I want to feel excited about it. If not, it’s a waste of my time.

I often remove reasonably good ideas from my list. Why? Because I know how easy it is to find something better. I also sometimes abandon articles during writing or editing, for the same reason.

Too many TV shows to watch

I don’t watch many TV shows. Usually, I like to watch them before bed, which is why I prefer comedy. I like to laugh and get into a good mood ready for sleep. So, I don’t tend to watch dramas or movies. Dramas are too serious for bedtime and movies are too long.

Too many podcasts to listen to

There are two situations when I listen to podcasts:

When I’m out on a walk
When I’m in bed

If I’m out on a walk, I tend to prefer serious discussions. For example, Sam Harris or Jordan Peterson, or any podcasts about interesting facts.

If I’m in bed, I prefer something funny. For example, Richard Herring.

Too many things to do at the weekend

I spend so much time in front of a computer, in my spare time I like to get outside. I also enjoy being on my own a lot, or with a small number of people. So, crowded indoor socialising is not something I’m not going to waste my time on.

Too many places to go

I like exploring the British countryside, or a nice town or city. I don’t need to visit everywhere in the world. I don’t need to travel far. I just need to feel like I’ve had a nice day out.

Sure, I’m not the most widely travelled person, but so what? Do I need to be?

If I want to go somewhere very different to where I live, I occasionally visit London. There are a lot of different ethnicities there, so it has a far more multicultural feel than my town.

Too many people to meet

I do like people, but in small doses, and the right type of people. I like kind people, gentle people, calmly happy people, artistic people, interesting people, and oddballs. I don’t like obnoxious extroverts or stupid people. I don’t like manipulative, spiteful or overly competitive people.

I don’t have time for everyone, but that’s fine. The few people I do have time for are enough for me. And when they’re not around, I get by okay on my own.

(If you’re on the Medium mobile app, you may have to switch to a web browser to subscribe)

The 5 Laws of Stupidity, According to Italian Historian Carlo Cipolla

#5: Stupid people are the most dangerous people on the planet

edward-john.medium.com