🎃 October: Output

Too much learning without action leads to overload. Let’s change that.

A few weeks back, my colleague, Andrew, dropped a line I haven’t stopped thinking about:

“Too much learning without an outlet to apply it can lead to overload.”

I’ve been turning that over in my head ever since. Mostly because I recognize myself in it. I am a world‑class content hoarder. I’ll happily consume 17 podcasts on a topic, read a dozen articles, maybe even buy the book … and then hit peak overwhelm when I don’t apply any of these “learnings.” 🙃

It feels good in the moment (like I’m stockpiling knowledge points in some invisible game). But then I look at the pile and realize I’m not actually better at the thing. I’ve just become very good at pretending future‑me will apply the knowledge.

Spoiler: She doesn’t.

So this month, I’m inviting you to do something with the things you consume – to take whatever you’ve already got and put it to work. Even if it’s messy, small, or half‑baked.

🔍 The illusion of competence

There’s a sneaky mental trap we all fall into when we consume too much without creating: the illusion of competence. Saving stuff, binging videos, or scrolling articles can feel productive. Your brain gets a little dopamine hit that says, “I’m learning! I’m making progress!” But often, it’s surface‑level. Psychologists have shown that passive review creates familiarity, not mastery. It tricks us into believing we know something well, when in reality we haven’t tested our ability to recall, explain, or apply it.

That’s why you can highlight every page of Getting Things Done and still end up with 243 tasks in your inbox – because you never actually did the weekly review. Or listen to hours of longevity podcasts and still never leave your desk for a walk.

Without actively wrestling with the material (by teaching it, writing about it, or trying it), you don’t escape the illusion.

The only antidote is output.

Even a scrappy reflection, a messy sketch, or a tiny experiment breaks the spell and shows you what you truly understand (and what you don’t).

🚀 Three ways to flip from consuming to creating

Overload is definitely real (trust me, my saved folders are a graveyard of good intentions). Things get a whole lot clearer the moment you stop stockpiling and actually try something out. Here are three distinct ways to do that:

1. Label the thing you’re actually learning

Instead of vaguely “consuming” content, give it a name. What’s the skill or change you’re aiming for? For me, it might be learning to paint with watercolors, figuring out how to dress less 2016, or experimenting with AI to supercharge our content processes. When you label it, you set a target. Suddenly, it’s not just another mindless article or video – it’s material feeding into something real you’re trying to achieve.

2. Make the action embarrassingly small
Lower the bar so far that it’s basically underground. What is one tiny action you can take based on what you’ve learned?

• Try the breathing technique you heard about on that podcast right now instead of looking up a 40-minute YouTube tutorial.

• Explain the concept of that article out loud to your dog while making coffee.

• Use that AI tool you bookmarked, even if it’s just to Ramble your grocery list.

3. Borrow constraints from real life
Nothing kills the vagueness of “someday” like setting a deadline or a limit. Set a date and turn your new idea into a one‑day experiment, a ten‑minute journaling session, or a quick accountability demo sent to a friend. Carving time and applying constraints make it more likely you’ll do it.

One of the easiest ways to start applying what you’ve learned is to raid your own saved pile. This month, instead of stacking more content on top, try going back into the archives.

Maybe it’s an article you never opened, or a podcast you loved so much you said, “I have to listen to that again, properly this time.” Whatever it is, it’s already caught your interest. Now’s the time to do something with it.

🧮 Where to revisit your saved stuff

We all have little treasure troves of “saved for later” or “revisit” content. Check places like:

• Your bookmarks bar (yes, that dusty folder at the bottom)

• Links dumped into Todoist without context

• Kindle, Instapaper, or Readwise highlights

• YouTube “Watch Later” playlists

• Downloaded podcast episodes

• Articles stashed in your notes app of choice

• Screenshots clogging up your camera roll

• That stack of half‑read books by your bedside

Try adding some of these as tasks in Todoist with a due date, so they actually see the light of day instead of languishing forever (yes, you could finally watch that TED talk from 2021).

Because chances are, some gems are hiding in plain sight – a quote you needed, an idea worth testing, or even just the right nudge to get you moving.

Who knows? October might be the month one of those forgotten saves, paired with a bias for action, creates the spark you’ve been waiting for.

"Too much learning without an outlet to apply it can lead to overload."

Andrew Gobran (a very wise colleague)

On the YouTube 📹

We just published a video on task batching. In plain terms: Stop scattering your attention all over the place. Instead of ricocheting from email to reporting to coffee and back again, group the same kind of work together and blitz through it in one sitting.

It makes your day less whack‑a‑mole, more calm assembly line.

Save this if you like, but don’t forget to actually watch it – and more importantly, try it.

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Name at least one thing in the comments that you’re going to actively apply yourself to this month. I’ll do the same. 👇

Here’s to an October of actioning our learnings. No more passive scrolling and saving.

Naomi (real human) and the Todoist team

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