My browser was basically a graveyard. Choosing what to read felt more draining than reading itself. I realized I didn't actually want to read most of those articles - I just didn't want to miss the 10% that actually mattered.
So I changed the order. I started filtering everything through a ~3-minute audio breakdown before deciding whether to read it in full. I started doing this manually with ChatGPT, and that was enough to notice a pattern: for most long-form content, three minutes is enough.
A short breakdown gives me the core ideas, hidden assumptions, and counter-arguments without the fluff. Anything longer starts to feel like a "half-read" that doesn't actually save time. Three minutes seems to be the sweet spot for a Go/No-Go decision.
The signal improves a lot when you include discussion threads from Hacker News or Reddit. An article is one perspective. Comments expose the gaps and highlight the actual signal before you ever commit to a single tab.
I eventually automated this for myself, but that part isn't the point. This changed how I deal with information. I no longer feel the need to "finish" my backlog; I just need a faster way to tell what deserves my attention.
I don't try to read more anymore. I just commit less often.
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