You should read less

Quality not quantity

Hey there —   

We assume books are like money, subscribers, and puppies – more is always better. But reading a lot isn’t always a good thing.

Hear us out.

When you go online it seems like the internet is exploding with content encouraging us to read more. We see articles on how Bill Gates reads 50 books a year or public challenges like ‘52 Books in 52 Weeks’.

But chowing down on a buffet of books can actually decrease our chances of remembering or understanding what we’ve read. And when we’re just in it to hit a quota, reading loses its purpose.

It’s not about reading more. It’s about reading better.

Mindful reading means optimizing for comprehension – not speed. In fact, novelist Alexander Olchowski launched an entire campaign called ‘The Slow Book Movement’ (sound familiar 😉?) in 2008 to promote mindful reading.

Looking to become a better reader? Try these tips for a deeper reading experience:

✍🏼 Take notes while reading. Grab a pen and highlighter as you go through the text. Scribble notes, ask questions, and summarize each chapter. This is how reading goes from a passive to an interactive experience.

🙅 Avoid comparison. If you feel bad when someone flexes on Instagram that they’ve read 100 books this year, remember – it’s not about the number of books but how you read them.

📴 Keep your phone in another room. You don’t have as much self-control as you think. Avoid the temptation of disrupting your reading flow by checking your DMs by ditching the phone for a sec.

Just because you can listen to books at 1.5X speed doesn’t mean you should. As Henry David Thoreau once said:

“Books must be read as deliberately and reservedly as they were written.”

We need time to digest new ideas, so slow down to savor what you're reading. It's not only the best way to absorb information, it's how reading will get you where you want to go.

How to Slow Down Time and Live Longer

Article | by Peter Adeney

Time is a matter of perspective. We have the power to speed it up or slow it down.

And while we can’t bend the fabric of space to stop time (yet), we can engage in new experiences that make life feel vibrant and long-lasting. To do this, blogger Peter Adeney recommends breaking your brain's autopilot routines.

It can be as simple as trying a new machine at the gym or getting bangs. The more unfamiliar, the higher chance you’ll actually remember life’s moments.

How to Write a Cover Letter and Not Hate the Process

Article | by Morning Brew

Cover letters get a bad rep for being considered ‘useless,’ but it’s like flossing – if you learn to do it right, it can make a big difference. 🦷

In this article, Mattison Merritt breaks down the exact cover letter she used to land her job at the Morning Brew. Contrary to what we’ve been taught, the best cover letters ditch the jargon and aren’t longer than 250 words.

If you’re applying to jobs (or even sending cold pitches!) steal Matty’s formula to stand out from the crowd.

Written by Alice Lemée