Productivity – Jerad Hill Blog

Stop Fighting the Social Media Algorithms; Do This Instead!

Posted on November 30, 2023November 30, 2024 by Jerad Hill

We’re constantly bombarded with information tailored to our interests and behaviors. This personalized experience, primarily seen on social media platforms, results from sophisticated algorithms designed to capture and retain our attention. While seemingly harmless, these algorithms play a pivotal role in shaping our online experience, often at the cost of our productivity and well-being. Hear me out:

The Mechanism of Distraction

At the heart of the problem are the algorithms created by social media companies. These platforms offer ‘free’ services, but the actual cost is our attention, monetized through the ads we are served. The more time we spend on these platforms, the more ads we see and the more revenue these companies generate.

These algorithms are meticulously designed to learn from our behavior. They analyze vast amounts of data to predict what might keep us engaged next. Whether it’s a video, a post, or an advertisement, the content is tailored to hook our attention and keep us scrolling.

The Personalization Trap

A key feature of these algorithms is the personalization of content. Search results and news feeds are no longer a one-size-fits-all but are uniquely tailored to each user. This personalization is based on our previous interactions, searches, likes, and even the amount of time we spend on certain posts.

While this can lead to a more enjoyable user experience, it also creates an echo chamber, reinforcing our existing beliefs and interests and keeping us engaged in the platform longer.

The Human Cost of Algorithmic Efficiency

It’s essential to recognize that these algorithms are not neutral. They are designed with a specific goal in mind: to maximize the time we spend on the platform. If these algorithms were personified, they would be the individuals we avoid in real life – those who distract us and derail our productivity.

Yet, we continue to engage with them daily. Each time we unlock our phones and open an app, we willingly enter a battlefield where we are outmatched. These algorithms know our weaknesses and our preferences and are constantly learning how to keep us engaged.

A Biblical correlation would be likening the algorithm to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The serpent was there to distract Eve and get her to sin. She could have avoided the serpent but chose to engage with it. The serpent’s famous line rings true today: “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4 ESV), but we do die a little bit when we give into the algorithm, allowing it to carry us away for hours on end.

Fighting Back Against the Digital Serpent

How do we resist the lure of these digital serpents? Here are some strategies:

Set a Physical Timer: Limit your social media use by setting a physical timer. Place it out of arm’s reach so you’re forced to physically move when it goes off. This break can help snap you out of the scrolling trance.
App Deletion: Consider deleting social media apps from your phone. They can still be accessed via a computer for necessary check-ins, but removing them from your phone eliminates the temptation for mindless browsing.
Accountability: If self-regulation fails, enlist the help of friends or family. Share your screen time statistics with them and allow them to hold you accountable.

Towards a Healthier Digital Life

Algorithms, especially with the advancement of AI, are becoming more sophisticated. The real challenge, however, lies in mastering our minds. Instead of succumbing to the easy escape of scrolling, we can choose healthier alternatives like engaging in conversation or journaling.

With time and conscious effort, we can break free from the hold of these algorithms. By developing new habits, we can reintegrate social media into our lives in a balanced and healthy manner, ensuring that we use technology as a tool, not as a master.

Making the Most of the Last 10% of the Year: A Journey of Realistic Goal Setting and Achievement

Posted on November 24, 2023November 30, 2024 by Jerad Hill

As we approach the final 10% of the year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on our journey through the past months. We start with a burst of enthusiasm each year, setting lofty goals and resolutions. Yet, often, these ambitions get sidelined by the hustle of our daily lives. It’s easy to underestimate the effort needed to achieve these goals, leading to a cycle of discouragement and, eventually, abandonment of our aspirations.

The opinions of others also influence our journey. Sometimes, well-intentioned but unhelpful comments can make us feel isolated in our pursuit of personal goals. This can be a significant deterrent, but it doesn’t have to define our journey.

Embracing Realistic Outcomes

As we navigate the last stretch of the year, it’s crucial to reassess and rewrite our goals with a realistic lens. For instance, I aimed to run 1,500 miles as a new runner but faced many setbacks, some health-related and some emotionally related. As of writing this, I am shy of 800 miles. If I ran an average of three miles per day, I could easily reach 900 miles. A partially achieved goal is infinitely better than one wholly abandoned.

Breaking Down Goals into Manageable Tasks

Reflect on your original goals and deconstruct them into smaller, more manageable tasks. Prioritize these tasks by ease of completion and their significance in achieving the overall objective. Which of these can you accomplish before the year ends? This approach allows for a more focused and achievable path to your goals.

Accountability and Motivation

Engage someone you trust to keep you accountable. Regular check-ins with this person, who has the authority to call you out on excuses, can be a powerful motivator to stay on track.

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Visual Tracking and Progress

Tracking progress is vital. Utilize apps or systems like a streak tracker or a personal log. I use Notion to log my progress, and I even redesigned my iPhone’s home screen to display my weekly running and cycling miles. Visual feedback is a great motivator and helps in recognizing your efforts.

Creating Systems, Not Just Goals

The failure to reach goals is often not about the goal itself but the need for a system to achieve it. Prioritize time for your goals, schedule dedicated slots on your calendar, and minimize distractions. This structural approach is critical to turning aspirations into achievements.

Managing Demotivators

Be cautious about who you discuss your goals with. Some people, even unintentionally, can demotivate you. In my experience, focusing conversations with such individuals on their lives rather than my goals limits the opportunity for discouragement. Celebrate your achievements with them once your goals are reached.

As we make the most of this year’s final 10%, let’s also use this time to plan for the following year. Think about setting sustainable and reachable goals, building systems that support these ambitions, and surrounding ourselves with positivity and motivation.

Remember, it’s not just about reaching the finish line; it’s about the journey, the learning, and the growth that happens along the way. Let’s stride into this final phase of the year with determination and emerge stronger, wiser, and ready for the challenges ahead.

Let’s make these last months count and set the stage for a successful, goal-oriented new year!

Analog/Digital Journaling in Goodnotes

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Jerad Hill

Earlier this year, I decided to take a break from using computers and phones for my journaling. I was having a tough time trying to make it work online. I tried different apps and websites, but none felt right. I missed seeing all my thoughts and ideas in one place. More importantly, I felt disconnected from the information I was entering into the apps I used. That’s why I returned to using good old paper and pen.

I picked up bullet journaling and spent the whole year writing down my thoughts, feelings, and everything happening around me. Every filled page felt like an accomplishment. It was a significant change from when I started a journal and left it unfinished.

But even with the joy that came from writing on paper, I knew I had to find a way to make digital journaling work for me. After some experimenting, I found a way to make a digital journal that fits my style. So, I said goodbye to my last paper journal. Now, I had a digital space that felt just as personal and unique.

I used Adobe Photoshop to create a digital journal template with everything I needed – a section for my top three tasks of the day, a place to note my biggest win, a space for a daily Bible verse, and a notes section. I could even add pictures and bookmarks, making it a lively space for my daily thoughts.

Using Goodnotes on my iPad and an Apple Pencil, I can update my journal throughout the day, adding tasks and notes wherever I am.

The digital journal solved some big problems. I didn’t have to carry a bulky book around. Plus, finding old entries was a breeze. Everything was always with me, on my phone or tablet, ready to be looked at whenever needed.

Even though I loved writing on paper, going digital made more sense. I still get to write, but now it’s easier and more convenient.

I want to share this experience with you. I’ve made my digital journal template available for anyone interested. It combines everything I’ve learned and created to make journaling work for me digitally without sacrificing the joy of writing. The template easily imports into popular apps like Goodnotes and Notability.

Happy journaling!

The Freedom in Disconnecting: My Journey Away From Social Media

Posted on October 7, 2023 by Jerad Hill

In the age of digital ubiquity, the pressure to maintain an omnipresent virtual persona is overwhelming. As content creators, the social media platforms we adorn seem to be directly proportional to our reach and influence. A narrative I, too, was enveloped in until the clarity of disconnect revealed a contrasting truth.

The Allure and Illusion of Omnipresence:

Several years into the social media revolutions by platforms like TikTok and the evolving dynamics of Twitter, a subtle estrangement emerged. A feeling exacerbated by the ephemeral buzz surrounding platforms like Clubhouse and Threads. These once all-consuming platforms seemed to lose their luster almost as swiftly as they gained it.

As one who has navigated these virtual terrains, the echo of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) was a familiar resonance. The incessant need to be plugged in, to catch every wave, was an undercurrent that directed my need to be included in the conversation.

The Revelation:

However, a revelation in September changed the course. My absence from social media, rather than a void, became a source of profound liberation. TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook – their exit from my daily routine unleashed an avalanche of time, energy, and depth in connections.

In this newfound space, reading flourished, journaling turned introspective, and content ideation transformed from hurried to thoughtful. A realization dawned – my professional stride was unhampered, if not enriched, by this disconnect.

The Myth of Universal Utility:

The myth that ubiquity on social media platforms equates to genuine connection and professional growth was debunked in my journey. Each tweet crafted, every post curated, became a testament to time and energy that could have been channeled into creating substantial, lasting value.

Twitter and its counterparts, while entertaining, did not align with my strengths and interests or foster business growth. The narrative of necessity, peddled by social media advocates, crumbled under the weight of personal experience.

The Path Forward:

The essence of meaningful engagement and productive creativity, I propose, is rooted in intentional and focused interaction. It’s about dissociating from platforms that are energy drainers and unaligned with individual strengths.

Identify one or two platforms that resonate with your skills, foster genuine interest, and hold the engagement promise. Remove social media success as an initial goal. Being so selective makes the path to meaningful connections and creative freedom more straightforward.

The Liberation:

Letting go of constant notifications and needing to be everywhere online led to a sense of freedom. Without the fear of missing out, there was more room for focus, productivity, and real connections.

In the narrative of social media engagement, less proved to be more. The trade-off between the illusory world of virtual omnipresence and the profound depths of focused, intentional engagement was not just necessary but unequivocally liberating.

Conclusion:

Choosing to be selective and focused in content creation is uncommon but valuable. It involves the bravery to step back from constant online presence, make wise choices, and connect more deeply. This approach helps content creators find their unique voice and make a lasting impact beyond temporary trends on social media.

How to Build an Interactions Calendar in Notion

Posted on September 9, 2020February 26, 2025 by Jerad Hill

How effective are you at remembering things people tell you? If you’re like me, some things slip through the cracks. When I first started using Notion, I would add important things people shared with me to my Daily Log. That didn’t give me an easy way to look back on interactions with people to refresh my memory.

That led me to create my Interactions Calendar, where I log meeting notes with clients, important happenings in people’s lives close to me, and even things my wife and I talk about on date nights. I want to be the kind of person who remembers what people share with me, which takes intention. I tried doing this in journals, but you can’t search a journal as easily as you can Notion.

Check out my latest video where I break down how I use my Interactions Calendar. Also included in the video is a link to the template for my Interactions Calendar. I hope it helps you keep your interactions organized.

New to Notion? Download it here.

I have several Notion tutorials and templates available to help you get started using Notion.