How do you stay in the know of current events happening in the world? Perhaps you watch the news on tv, read the news on publication websites, read headlines on social media. This habit is usually so engrained into our lives that we don’t think about it.
Staying on top of creative industries is no different. You simply need to integrate some study time into your days. People ask me often how I stay up-to-date with so many subject areas. Let me be clear, I don’t know everything; but below are ways I stay current with technology, coding frameworks, design trends, productivity tools and everything creative.
Speedy Consumption of Books and Articles
I leverage my Kindle to devour books at a rapid pace, extracting key insights by highlighting important sentences that I can reread later—my favorite feature about the Kindle. There’s something about increasing the font size on a Kindle that makes me read faster. It’s less overwhelming and easier to comprehend a few sentences per page.
Additionally, I scan through curated websites that host relevant blog posts and news articles, ensuring I’m constantly exposed to fresh perspectives and emerging ideas. I have a bookmarks folder in my browser called “Read + Learn,” and in here I have subfolders with websites for scanning topics about Business, Design, Web Development, Tech and Leisure. Keeping your bookmarks organized will inspire you to learn, so take some time to tidy up if you need to.
If I find an article really interesting to me I’ll save it to my Instapaper app. This app allows you to save any page on the web, but it’s best used for saving articles. There’s a highlighting feature here too. Worth checking out.
Scrub Through Video and Audio
I optimize my time by speed-viewing YouTube videos from reputable channels. By adjusting playback speeds and scrubbing through content, I absorb information swiftly without sacrificing comprehension.
How do I do this? If you’re watching video on a phone, tap to the right or left side of the video to forward and backward a few seconds. If you’re watching on a computer, use your left and right arrow keys. If you’re watching on tv, use your left and right arrows of the remote. If a video has labeled chapters, you’ll see these in the timeline and can speed to the sections of your interest. Speed watching will change your world, trust me.
When it comes to audio-only content, I make the most of my driving commutes by listening to podcasts, transforming idle moments into opportunities for learning and inspiration.
Follow Worthwhile Social Media
Social media gets a bad wrap sometimes, but if you use it intentionally it’s a great way to stay current in creative work. I personally find Instagram to be a good tool for learning, but you need to be strict about what you follow.
I don’t follow many “friends” that are personal to my life (I really don’t care about what people are eating at each meal. Am I the only one?). I don’t follow politics or celebrities. I keep my account clean by following reputable people (primarily authors, podcasts and great designers) who teach about marketing, design and business. I also follow accounts that inspire me, such as those who teach about art history, great thinkers and thought-provoking podcast clips.
Cultivate Relationships
Engaging in meaningful conversations and forging connections within my fields of interest is invaluable. By connecting with professionals and enthusiasts alike, I gain firsthand insights, exchange ideas, and remain attuned to industry developments.
Being around others in the field also sparks an energy to continue learning. It’s a great pick-me-up that inspires you to continue getting better. If you’re wondering what kind of relationships to cultivate, check out my article “5 Essential Relationships Needed for Personal Growth.”
Participate in Conferences and Events
Attending conferences independently allows me to immerse myself in the latest industry trends, connect with thought leaders, and gain actionable insights that I can integrate into my creative work. If you’re introverted like me it can be challenging to get yourself to attend an event, but it’s always worth it in the end. My article “5 Tips to Make the Most of Networking Events” provides some ways to be ready.
There are many virtual events out there, but if you can attend in person I recommend this route. You connect with people more easily, it’ll give you confidence to be in the social environment, and it has more energy. The vibe of being around other learners will inspire you to take your learnings and apply them into your work.
Reflective Writing and Hands-On Practice
Writing extensively not only helps me articulate my thoughts but also facilitates deep reflection on the concepts I learn. By documenting my learnings and experiences, I solidify my understanding and identify areas for further exploration. Moreover, I reinforce my knowledge by actively applying it through personal projects, honing my skills and staying creatively engaged.
I write in a variety of ways. I handwrite with paper and pen (classic). I also handwrite and sketch on my iPad with apps like Notability. Lastly, I have highly organized notes in an app called Notion (which is an app I can’t really live without). With Notion I can capture images. The reality is that I use my phone camera more for capturing notes than of people and places. Well, okay, I have a lot of pictures of my cat.
Conclusion
In essence, a multifaceted approach to staying current in tech and creative industries allows you to embrace diverse learning modalities and foster a curious, growth-oriented mindset. It doesn’t take much time to implement this practice. Find a way to make it a habit. Even just 15 minutes a day can provide great insights. If you’re truly interested in learning you’ll find the process to be enjoyable, not a chore.
So discover how best you like to learn, and put a short time block in your calendar. Learn something cool each day.
Interested in what I’m learning and what tools I’m using? Be sure to sign up for the Sunday Study. Each week is filled with the latest BrandRoots article and links to what I’m exploring. It’s a cool thing to study, so join me each week.
