Morning/evening routine: reflecting on my media consumption
As a journalist writing for a subscriber-only publication, I often think about what our readers would want to pay for.
So I decided to reflect on my media consumption, trying to figure out why we read/watch/listen to certain content.
Morning routine
When I wake up, I would want to read something peaceful. I hate to read disturbing news first thing in the morning. I have a quick read of the food section of NYT, or the New Yorker.
When I go for a run, I listen to Spotify playlists. Their playlists are curated well, but sometimes it is a hustle to find what I want to run with.
There should be a better way to discover new music. Spotify playlists are nice, but it is a hustle to find a good one that matches my current mood.
I usually put on a classical/coffee house playlist while I eat breakfast. It helps me relax and prepare for the day.
I like to flip through physical magazines during breakfast. Monocle is one of my favorites. I like the mix of thoughtful articles, beautiful pictures and some ideas to live a happier life.
I’d like to find more indie magazines for breakfast time, but it is hard to browse and find one. Stack does a nice job curating, but it is a little expensive for international readers like me.
I open Stoop inbox to check newsletters. I’m recently into Sidekick, as it is full of good recommendations/links. It lights up my mood with nice combinations of life hacks, and things to read/watch.
I’m also a fan of Casey Newton, as his take on Platformers is always insightful. So does Nathan Baschez from Divinations. As a strategy nerd, I like his clever application of classic strategies to the latest business models.
Evening routine
I read books (kindle) in a bathtub. I want to learn something, but also hoping to relax.
I listen to meditation before bed. Currently I’m using 10% happier and Insight Timer.
I wonder if I can look up or sort teacher’s voices by accents. An Aussie accent soothes me, and other people would have their preferences.
I listen to podcasts to fall asleep. The Kitchen Counter is my recent favorite. Calm and not too loud. Food is always a soothing topic.
There should be better ways to find podcasts I like. I listen to podcasts during lunch and dinner, while I do some chores and to fall asleep. The type of content I want differs each time, and it is a hustle to find the right one each time. At least I want to organize them in different folders/categories.
Jobs to be Done
Looking back on my media consumption, I mainly read/watch/listen to stuff for the following reasons:
- to learn: morning read, morning newsletter/headline check, lunchtime podcast. I want to know about interesting things occurring outside my world, and some tips to live a happier, more productive life.
- to relax: breakfast, after work to wind down, in a bathtub, bedtime. Something soothing and not too hard to digest. Visually pleasing.
Am I catering to someone’s needs with the contents I produce? In my next post, I want to dig deeper into what benefits I can provide as a journalist.
