Why learning is so important to me since leaving college

When I was in college, I took for granted what it meant to be surrounded by an education-driven environment, constantly being encouraged by lecturers to learn, question, and build a foundation of knowledge. After graduating, I quickly realised that once you step outside of formal education, learning becomes your own responsibility.

At the beginning of my 9–5 career, my days blurred into routine, which involved completing tasks, heading home, eating dinner, scrolling on my phone, and eventually going to bed. While I was learning from my work and taking away insights and findings, I wanted to explore more of the marketing industry. I started to crave the same sense of curiosity and growth I once had in college.

So, I began reintroducing intentional learning into my daily routine, starting with my screen time. I calculated how many hours I was spending on my phone each day and looked at the type of content I was consuming. Then I asked myself one question: “How does this benefit me personally and professionally?”

When I realised that most of what I was watching either triggered self-comparison or acted as a form of procrastination, I made the conscious effort of changing the type of content I was consuming. I began swapping short-form, passive scrolling for long-form, intentional learning. Instead of losing time on TikTok, I turned to SubStack and started reading articles that interested me. I subscribed to marketing newsletters and read them with my morning coffee. I replaced aimless scrolling on my commute with podcasts that challenged my thinking. And before bed, I swapped my phone for a book.

Within weeks, I started to notice a change, not only with increased daily learnings but I noticed my focus sharpened. My memory improved. My sleep became more regulated. I felt calmer, more confident, and more in control of my thoughts. I was learning more about marketing but also about myself and how certain habits that I had built over the years were holding me back.

That transformation sparked my interest in neuroscience and the science of how our brains actually work. I began to understand that productivity, creativity, and emotional balance all stem from how well we care for our brain. By focusing on brain health through what I consume, how I rest, and how I learn, I’ve found a deeper sense of clarity and purpose, both personally and professionally. Now, continuous learning isn’t just about improving my skills as a marketer: it’s about training my mind to be stronger, more adaptable, and more resilient in every part of life.

I'd be lying if I said I completely stopped scrolling through Tik-Tok and Instagram but the difference is I'm now aware of it and make it a point to limit my time I spend on the apps. The content we consume shapes our thoughts, influences our mood, and ultimately directs our growth. We live in a world where we're constantly consuming information, it's important to ask yourself "what am I learning from watching/reading this?". I recommend starting small, look at your daily routine and start to notice when you pick up your phone to mindlessly scroll. Then slowly start replacing it with content that is going to help build your mindset and improve your learning.

Here are some examples of media I've been consuming instead of 'doomscrolling' that you might find useful if you're interested in the same things I'm interested in:

• Marketing Brew Newsletter: https://www.marketingbrew.com/

• Marketing Week Newsletter: https://www.marketingweek.com/marketing-news/

• Uncensored CMO Podcast by Jon Evans

• Thats What I Call Marketing by Conor Byrne

• This is Marketing by Seth Godin

• Influence: The psychology of persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini PH.D.

• How to build a Story Brand

• Blue Ocean Strategy

• The Mel Robbins Podcast

• Aspire with Emma Grede Podcast

• The Huberman Lab Podcast by Andrew Huberman

• How to stop being a loser podcast by Bella Dane (Bella is also a content creator I follow on Tik Tok. Tip: If you find yourself constantly reaching for TikTok, find content creators that post content that's educational and beneficial for your personal and professional growth. Whenever I find myself stuck in the Tik Tok trap I watch Bella's content and instantly become motivated to step off the app and consume content I know is going to be overall more healthy for me to consume.)

• SubStack Articles: https://substack.com/explore