We're Drowning in "How-To" Advice: Why You're Stuck Despite the Books, Podcasts, and Access to Experts.

Create real change with less "self-help" and more doing.

For many including myself, it might be time to ask ourselves if we might benefit from a bit less "improvement" information.

And if you're asking yourself if this is a personal-development article arguing the benefits of cutting back on personal-development articles. It is.

For months, my goal has been to write fiction. It's a well defined goal, it's measurable, and every day I know the most important thing I can do to advance toward my that goal is to WRITE. Put words on the page.

Despite this awareness, when I compare hours spent writing vs. hours spent ingesting information on the process of writing (and the 25 other things in life I'm interested in), the latter beats out the former more days than I'm comfortable admitting.

It's paradoxical procrastination.

Far more than our parents' generation, our bookshelves have become filled with non-fiction titles which, despite what the author might argue, are generally "self-help." Be it business, leadership, fitness, investing strategies, ways to become more efficient, and 101 other ideas from the “Worlds Best” that more often result in a forgone to-do lists than ever serve as an agent for change.

"How to Think More Like This" and "The Subtle Art" of that.

With social media, we take in more of the same. We’re told how sitting in cold water is the difference between where we are and where we need to be. Guru’s tell how we’re going to die if we don’t get more protein and how we’re one real-estate investment away from financial freedom.

For those tackling military separation, many will leverage LinkedIn in search of access to those who are where we aspire to be. All the while taking in more “Habits of Highly Successful People” that distract us from making progress toward our real goal.

To top it off, many of us now listen to self-enhancement podcasts while driving or during exercise. Podcasts with inspiration for new diets, ways to transform your business, and the reasons your morning routine and lacking supplement regimen are holding you back.

The problem with all information, perhaps has less to do with the information itself, and more to do with the sheer volume we're taking in.

The dosage is too high.

I can point to 2-3 non-fiction titles on my bookshelf that have undoubtedly changed the way I think about life and my career. I have half a dozen podcasts saved in a text thread I listen to every couple months when I want to feel inspired or pull myself out of a low point.

This uptick in health and performance optimization we’re seeing is generally a good thing. The problem arises when we surround ourselves with it at all times.

Making the most of it is likely correlated to our ability to discriminate, to be selective.

I’ve found, 95% of the information we're talking about falls into one of three categories: Enhancing one's physical health, professional development, and cognitive strategies/mental framework information.

If our goal is to not just take in information but increase the rate at which information consumed converts to real change in everyday life, we must go slower.

Select a singular practice or single change from each of the above categories. One adjustment correlated to physical health, professional advancement, or one change when it come to cognitive strategy.

Write them down.

"Become a better leader by implementing a daily practice of x."

Related to the changes you decide on, by all means, buy the book , listen to the podcast, follow the subject matter expert on social media. But perhaps most importantly, eliminate all "self-improvement” information unrelated to your singular goal until the practice becomes habit. Second nature, performed without thought.

Then do it again.

This means three significant changes you're trying to make simultaneously. That’s more than enough to keep you busy.

Operating in this guarded, un-distracted fashion should free up time that can be reallocated toward making real change.

We've heard the mantra, "If everything is important, then nothing is important."

If you're unconvinced, make your next "self-improvement" book "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. Among many other things, Pressfield tells us, we often associate procrastination with obvious culprits of distraction, our time spent watching Netflix, sleeping past our alarms, or waiting for some eventual reality before we start doing the "thing" we want to do. In reality, Pressfield argues, we often procrastinate by participating in productive activities. That way we still feel a sense of accomplishment and have justification for not actually doing the real work.

Exercising when we should be writing the book. Instead of starting the business, we take a year to read books about starting a business, telling ourselves research is a prerequisite to the actual work.

If your goal is to make a change or start something new, there's more information than ever to help you; use it to your advantage. Be careful, however, not to allow time spent in "research" mode, to exceed time spent in "action" mode.

Hour-long debates on the merits of eating meat vs. not eating meat, reading "The Ultimate Guide to Unlocking Success," and the "The Holy Grail of Investing," are likely not the difference between where you are today and where you want to be.

Do the work. Start the thing.