Try this to overcome information overload? (alfred, logseq, readwise, etc)

Information overload is treated as a dopamine-and-busyness problem, not a lack of content. The core claim is that people keep consuming “pleasure-dense” information—like choosing gummy candy over broccoli—because the brain rewards entertainment and novelty, which can slide into compulsive scrolling and shallow attention. The fix proposed is an “information diet”: intentionally selecting what to consume, then using tools to digest it into usable knowledge.

The framework starts with a practical analogy to eating. Just as a healthy diet depends on choosing unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods, a healthy information intake depends on choosing less “processed” material that stays closer to original meaning. Highly processed information is described as dense but “kind of empty,” leading to “information obesity”—a state where people may feel informed yet miss basic facts or accept falsehoods. The emphasis is that the problem often isn’t volume; it’s skewed selection and presentation.

To operationalize selection, the transcript introduces “RROIT” (reading return on invested time). Before consuming a book, podcast, or course, the decision question is the purpose: Is it for fun, to improve at a current job, or to learn a new skill? Another selection lever is context—matching what gets read to the environment and the moment, so learning fits real life rather than becoming another idle tab.

After selection comes “chomping,” the consumption layer, where different media types get different tools. Books often start with Audible (audio-first, with human narration), especially when the goal is entertainment or broad subject exposure rather than heavy note-taking. For text-based material, Speechify is used to “chug” PDFs with adjustable reading speed and a highlighting aid, designed originally for dyslexia and ADHD. Kindle is positioned for relaxed reading, while Air is highlighted as a podcast highlighting app that can connect directly with Overcast. For articles, Instapaper is used for offline reading, highlighting, and note capture without distracting ads.

Then “saliva” is the knowledge capture layer: Readwise turns highlights from many sources into an organized center and supports resurfacing via daily emails and space repetition. It integrates with sources including Twitter, Apple Books, Kindle, Instapaper, Pocket, PDF highlights, and Hypothesis (via a Chrome extension highlighter). The workflow also includes exporting highlights into tools like Evernote, Notion, and Obsidian.

Finally, “small intestine” is where the second brain lives—note-taking and knowledge management apps such as Alfred, Obsidian, Logseq, Notion, and Rome/Research (as named). Alfred is described as a fast search and retrieval layer for questions and definitions, while “Magnets” is used to snap windows so notes and source material can sit side-by-side. The overall goal is digestion: internalizing information so it becomes time-tested wisdom, not just stored fragments.

The closing message ties the system back to identity: the result is an “info vegan” mindset—conscious consumption—paired with a warning that even educational spending can become waste if time and attention aren’t protected. The proposed antidote to overload is slower, purposeful intake and a pipeline that turns highlights into long-term recall and usable thinking.