Why watching Self help videos isn’t helping : missing piece of growth! 🌱📈

Hi you,

We are officially in the new year, and this, our very first blog, aims to put your focus back on your promised track, your goals, and your commitments. Let’s see how.

We all love feeling the joy of being productive for a while, a whole day, or a whole week, and I am all for it. Even as a kid, I always read or watched videos or listened to people go on and on about being productive and its effects on our lives. In fact, the very first book that got me into reading was related to productivity.

I am a person who feels awful to have taken time out to watch a movie or go out if I had stuff lying around to do, even if what I was gonna do otherwise was procrastinate.

So, as I cope with that guilty feeling (of procrastination or not being motivated enough to get enough done) I developed this new habit. (If you have watched “Dear Zindagi” movie, there’s a very relevant dialogue to this: Notice, whenever you see a new pattern being formed in your life.) I noticed the pattern a bit early on, but since it was my guilty pleasure which somehow, at times was getting me all worked up to get my stuff done, I ignored it: It was BINGE WATCHING SELF HELP CONTENT ON YOUTUBE.

I know I am not alone.

It begins innocently—just one YouTube video to learn something new. Two hours later, you’ve watched six, but your to-do list remains untouched.

Nowadays, it’s my “me time”, which is quite often not gonna lie. As I mentioned I noticed it in its beginning stages (that a habit is being formed) but I mistook it for a good habit, that I’m watching uplifting content rather than low-vibe movies or binge-watching Netflix or wasting my time in other nonproductive ways.

However, I finally realized that I was still in the same boat just painted slightly differently. I was still spending an equivalent amount of time binge watching rather than acting or actually learning.

Yes, I know the theory, yes I am motivated but how will I use all of that if I’m just consuming and consuming endlessly?

I finally became aware of it as a serious problem, a few days back, when I was physically exhausted from watching videos all day and doing some light work and I wondered why I felt exhausted if I had an easy day and why can’t I enjoy another cup of tea with another video now before I finally start work.

The answer was abundantly clear.

I was tired exhausted and fatigued by constant binging of content, at this point who cares what the content would have been? Yes, a violent show or low-vibe content would have got me here sooner, but I’m here, the position hasn’t improved, and that’s when I finally recognized it as a problem and rectified it (or at least in the beginning stages of rectifying it).

And I am gonna share how I did that here on:

The Illusion of Productivity
My example is a classic case of both: FALSE AND TOXIC Producitivity.

False productivity

It refers to activities that feel productive but don’t contribute meaningfully to your goals or desired outcomes. It’s a trap where the appearance of being busy or learning replaces actual progress. Like binge-watching “how to” videos but not applying any of them in reality, excessive planning without implementing any of it, or Busywork: Focusing on low-priority tasks instead of important ones (e.g., color-coding a planner rather than completing a project), etc.

Whereas,

Toxic Productivity

Toxic productivity is the obsessive need to always be productive, to the point where it harms your mental and physical health, relationships, and overall well-being aka “Workaholism”. This includes not taking proper rests, overworking on tasks that are already completely just to redo or keep correcting aka perfectionism, or setting unrealistic expectations and goals, and not saying no even when overburdened because work feels rewarding or as in my case feeling guilty or anxious to chill out or rest for a while even when you are physically sick, etc.

These can show up in different ways in different people. I am not saying I’m a workaholic person, because I am not and I am quite fond of rest and enjoyment and leisure. However, I do relate to the guilt part of not working as per my ideal standards and of course for today’s issue at hand “Replacing that guilt by watching content I love which is related to productivity or work”.

This is not just limited to binge-watching shows, as I mentioned both of these illusive productivity hacks can manifest in different ways, for example, browsing on Pinterest for ideas, reading self-help books all day every day with no actual use of the learning, replacing important tasks like a workout, cleaning, socializing, or actual work with their replacements that give a sense of working but are not real work, endlessly planning every detail and not executing, etc.

Harmful Effects of False Productivity

Although it doesn’t need to be stressed or even mentioned—as we all know the bad effects of the same (I guess that’s why you even clicked on this because you know how it’s harming you and you seek ideas that might work to let go of this habit)—but to mention a few: false productivity often leaves us trapped in a cycle of guilt and self-doubt.

You stay busy all day, yet the lack of meaningful progress creates a sense of wasted time and erodes confidence in your ability to achieve goals. This frustration intensifies into burnout, as energy spent on low-impact tasks leaves you drained but without the satisfaction of real accomplishments.

Over time, the fear of taking action creeps in, with endless planning and preparation replacing execution, fueled by perfectionism and the fear of failure. This also results in many mental health issues. Decreased motivation follows, as the gap between effort and results widens, leading to apathy and disinterest in impactful tasks.

False productivity can also steal your sense of purpose, as chasing external validation makes you lose sight of what truly matters, leaving you feeling disconnected from your values.

Relationships suffer too, as prioritizing trivial tasks over personal connections creates emotional distance and isolation.

Worst of all, the joy of the process is lost, turning once-enjoyable activities into monotonous chores, making it harder to celebrate small wins or savor growth. Just like the videos after a while felt repetitive and disengaging, making me spend more time there finding new types or new content on the same topic, etc. It’s a vicious cycle, but recognizing these effects is the first step toward breaking free.

The Appeal of Informative Videos

Learning this way becomes a tool of procrastination, which wasn’t even the “real” learning of any kind. YouTube brilliantly capitalizes on our innate curiosity by crafting engaging thumbnails and intriguing titles like “10 Habits of Highly Successful People” or “The Science of Staying Focused.”

These videos promise valuable insights, hooking viewers into believing they’re investing in self-improvement. The platform triggers a dopamine loop, where consuming information feels rewarding at the moment, even if it doesn’t translate into tangible outcomes. This cycle creates the illusion of productivity—watching one video leads to another, as we convince ourselves that we’re “learning.”

However, this often serves as a procrastination tool, allowing us to delay meaningful action under the guise of preparation. The paradox is that while these videos can be enlightening, they frequently end up as distractions disguised as self-growth.

The Hidden Cost of Overconsumption

Overindulging in informative content comes at a significant cost. Hours spent passively consuming videos can drain your time and energy, leaving you feeling exhausted but with nothing tangible to show for it. This mental overload often results in analysis paralysis, where an abundance of ideas and strategies makes it harder to decide on or commit to a course of action. Worse still, this habit can impact self-esteem. Despite dedicating time to seemingly productive activities, the lack of real progress can lead to frustration and feelings of inadequacy.

Things that can help in Breaking the Cycle

Now to tackle solutions, here’s what I have implemented to help with my addiction :

• Habits

The first and foremost thing that helped was my non-negotiables. I have spoken about non-negotiables in my previous blog on planning.

Step-by-Step Planning for 2025 Goals 🎉

To summarize, a non-negotiable list of habits are those that cannot be compromised on, no matter what the situation is.

For example, reading 10 pages a day even when you are on vacation, or brushing twice daily, etc. These form your habits and lifestyles after a few days of being consistent, and because you do them every day they become automatic.

The way these habits can help with our issue in hand is by getting us out of the loop of one video after another and finally doing something else.

Since they are automatic you don’t feel the dread or procrastinate on them, hence they can prove to be the best tools to get out of that binge zone and do something else.

To make it more effective use the habit pairing method from the book Atomic Habits i.e you can pair two or more things together to save time and get more done efficiently, but here we are using that method to trick us into jumping onto the second task paired with the non-negotiable habit to start a new cycle and not go back to binging. And usually, if you pair it with something enjoyable but active, you are more likely to stay at your tasks for longer and not wanna binge.

I believe making exercise a non-negotiable habit can help us a lot here, something I’m working towards personally. It will get you moving and make you focus on the actions, elevating your happy hormones to help you be more productive in general. Based on a personal observation, I have had a productive day almost every time I have worked even if it was yoga, cycling, or going for a run.

• Limited or intentional screen time

I guess this is pretty obvious, but I had to mention it. If you are aware of this problem, this is probably the first thing you must do. You can use tools like YouTube timers or Pomodoro techniques to control viewing time.

• Active learning: Notes making to make it actionable

This is something I do. Make notes. If you are watching something informative and feel that you are not zombie watching but the information is worth your time then just grab a notebook, or even a notes app, and write down whatever you learn. I have a whole notebook dedicated to this process, and I invested time in it to make it all pretty to romanticize the process.

This not only helps you come back to the information anytime you need instead of having to watch the whole video again but also helps you get out of the binge mode, because trust me you wouldn’t wanna make notes of more than 3 videos a day.

Another thing you can do is, implement those tips immediately rather than waiting for the right time. Or make it a goal to not watch another video until you implement those things you learned that day or have made them a habit. What’s the point of one video after another if you never use their learnings?

Some video examples (for intentional learning): Tutorials for a specific project, practicing alongside a video, or watching something to solve a pressing problem, help you get over this habit quicker in the initial days, so you can quickly apply these and move to next so it doesn’t feel like a big change.

• Make it a reward rather than a habit.

This step is for people who hate the idea of giving it up completely because of any of the reasons like its become a habit or an escape, etc. Make it a reward, if you do not wish to get rid of it completely.

Reward yourself with a YouTube video or any other, post you check off one of the tasks on your to-do list and then force yourself to stop and complete another task to earn the reward.

I like to throw my favorite beverage of all time “Chai” in there to celebrate that small win. Usually when you do this, and if the video you are watching is motivating enough (like I watch productivity vlogs) it hypes you up even more to get your work done.

Slowly, you will not even need this reward, rather have different types of reward systems ready for example, meditation or going out with friends for a small coffee break or walking your dog in your favorite outfits, or anything you enjoy. Enjoy it without harming you.

• Out-of-box activities

If you ever catch yourself in this vicious cycle and none of the tips here work, just switch to something completely out of the blue for you.

Something you have never tried before or wanted to do for a while but haven’t. Forget all the excuses your brain would give you to not do it and all the reasons binge is easier or better. Just go for it. For example redecor your space if you haven’t for a while and have no intention, or bake something or simply lay in bed getting bored for a while without any gadgets a paintball game, or an escape room, try a new app or a new café, etc.

You were anyways going to spend some time that wasn’t productive might as well use it to explore a different angle of life which ultimately breaks the cycle and helps you get back to your productive zone.

• Meditation and non-gadgeted walks

With all that being said, I hope you know by now how important these two activities are. If you do wish to take or follow something from this blog, follow this one. It has always helped me.

Just sit for a 5 or 10-minute meditation, guided or non-guided, and relax. I can assure you when you wake up from that or after you come back from your digital free walks, you will not want to engage in such stimulating activities like binging, etc for a while, at least half an hour. Not to mention these benefits on your mental and physical health. Do give this a shot.

• Journal Distinguish between productive learning and overindulgence.

If you are ready to understand your problem at a deeper level then sit with it for a while, and figure out where this need urge, or habit comes from. Is it some attachment issues? Is it quick dopamine hits you crave i.e. rewarded without getting tedious work on your to-do list done? Why are you binging.

Following these answers, ask deeper questions like :
o Is this directly applicable to my current goal?
o Am I balancing learning with doing?
o How can I get rid of it?
o What steps got me here and how to get back?

• Other Ways

Set Intentional Goals: Focus on actions that align with your values and priorities.

Embrace Imperfection: Shift from preparation to execution, even if it feels messy at first.

Celebrate Progress: Recognize small wins to rebuild confidence and motivation. If you haven’t jumped back into the habit for a whole day or a few hours, celebrate!!

Stay Mindful: Regularly reflect on whether your activities align with your purpose.

Rebalance Relationships: Prioritize time for loved ones, even amidst tasks.

Set Intentions Before Watching: “What do I need to learn right now?” versus aimlessly browsing.

Curate Your Feed: Unsubscribe from channels that encourage overconsumption and follow creators who focus on action-oriented content.

Break the cycle with new non-screen dopamines like exercising, painting, vlogging yourself, out-of-blue activities, cooking, painting your nails, etc.

The Power of Doing Less Reflects on Minimal Productivity: “Sometimes, doing less but with greater focus yields more.”

On an ending note: Mindful content won’t be the one that will put you in a cycle of binge, it will force you to improve your life through the actions it teaches you to apply in your life and you will only do justice to it by doing so. Just like this blog (ps: a shameless promotion nevermind 😉)

So, this is how I hoped to put you back to your goals by being productive for real taking proper rests, and not falling into the trap of false productivity.