The invention of the telephone marked a radical change in the way we engage with content. In general, we want things fast, instantaneous and without interruptions. And to a large extent we get exactly what we want. Our news apps are updated with lots of new content every hour and breaking news even has live text updates. We live in an era of painless convenience.
This type of lifestyle is great for some, but not for all. In fact, it can often have negative consequences for our mental health and the way we interact with others. In recent years, I have tried to fight against it with active decisions to follow a different path. This included turning off notifications on my phone, deleting social media apps, and dedicating times of the day to using my phone. I'm far from perfect, but I'm pleased with the results so far.
One of the apps that has helped me compartmentalize my day more effectively is Pocket application. How does this help? I often spend ten or fifteen minutes reading a few articles online, but that doesn't give me enough time to read everything I want in that sitting. Pocket allows me to save these articles for later so I can read them when I'm ready.
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This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps we couldn't live without. Read them all here.
One of the best things about Pocket is that it works on all my devices, so it's ready to go when I need it. For me, the two most common places I need it are my phone and my laptop. Pocket takes the form of an app for your phone and an extension for your browser, but on both platforms the process is remarkably similar.
On both platforms, when saving, Pocket gives you the option to add tags. I don't usually use them, but if you save a lot of articles regularly, these tags will help you find what you want to read more quickly. They will also be very useful if you are looking for content that you saved a long time ago.
So it's up to you when you decide to advance the articles. If you've tagged them, you can choose to read articles on similar topics all at once, something I love to do. Alternatively, if you like a mix of themes, simply work your way from top to bottom.
I like to find a time each day, usually right before bed, to catch up on the day's saved content. The kids are in bed, I'm settling in for the night, and everything in the house is calm. Having saved a set of articles already saves me from having to scroll pointlessly while trying to find something interesting.
I also love the features dedicated to focused reading. Not only is there a dark mode and dedicated source options, but there's also a cool playback option. Obviously, it's not the most natural reading, but it's a great option if you feel too tired to focus on reading.
Pocket has helped me feel more aware of the content I consume. It keeps me more focused at other times of the day and allows me to enjoy the content infinitely more than if I rushed through it.
Download the pocket app at iOS either Android