How AI saved me from doomscrolling

Here's the thing: I am addicted to YouTube. It's not just me, though. I spend hours wasting my time on videos I really don't care about Lots of people are glued to TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts—you name it. And let's face it, many of these videos are a waste of time. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy scrolling through memes, but I also appreciate self-help videos to learn and grow constantly. The thing is, finding valuable content amid the endless stream of videos can be challenging.

So, how does AI help?

My secret weapon: Gemini.

It's owned by Google, which owns, you guessed it, YouTube. It helps me quickly skim through content. And rule out what is worthwhile to watch, what I have already know, and what is utter garbage content.

How do I use this?

It's very simple, I run a YouTube video through Gemini. It gives a synopsis of the content that's short and simple enough to read in passing. This way, I can decide if the video is worth my time before diving in.

Gemini isn't perfect; however, sometimes I get incorrect results for example:

This is the link I posted:

And this is what I got:

Gemini does this type of wacky stuff every now and then. Fortunately, this seems like a technical issue that will be fixed in the coming months. Additionally, long-form content isn't the only thing people watch, Gemini can't read short-form content on different platforms. At the very least I can still shave a few hours off that would have gone wasted to watching pointless videos.

Here are some other universal tips I would recommend:

1. Take a mindfulness break: After studying, rather than going on your phone to scroll through social media, pause for a moment. Take a few deep breaths, stretch, or go for a short walk.

2. Create a 'Watch Later' list: Instead of watching videos as they come up, add them to a 'Watch Later' list. This way, you can prioritize watching content that adds value to your life during a designated time.

3. Delete social media for a few days: If you find yourself spending too much time on social media, try deleting the apps for a few days. This break can help you regain control over your time and reduce the compulsion to constantly check your feeds.