10 Benefits Of Consuming Educational Content [And 5 Ways To Effectively Do So]14 min read

We are curious beings. We always want to learn something, be it

• “Making delicious Egusi soup tutorial”
• “Quickest way to make 2 million naira without doing anything?”
• “How to look like Kate Henshaw in my 50s?”
• “Tips and tricks of getting a first-class degree”

We live in a fast-paced society with a lot of goings-on poking our attention. So we want to know how to make achievements – sometimes in less time and with little effort.

Maybe we already have a little idea of how to get something done but we want to cement our confirmation bias first.

Whatever the case, we tend to seek educational information so we can have an edge given the situation. 

It can be;

• to stay updated with trends so we do not feel left out of a conversation,
• to carry out a task effectively, or
• to solve a problem 

Etcetera

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of consuming educational content and how not to make it counterproductive (because it can). 

What is an Educational Content?

Educational content refers to any type of content that teaches an audience about a particular topic or subject. They may do this by describing, explaining, or giving instructions – mostly to solve a problem or answer a question. 

You can consume educational content by reading, listening, or watching them.

Bear in mind;

• Reading can help you to improve your comprehension, expand your vocabulary and immerse yourself in the author’s world and experiences. 
• Listening can help you to understand the nuances of language and to pick up on important details that you may have missed when reading. 
• Watching educational content can help us to gain a visual understanding of a topic and can provide an engaging way to learn. It can also help you to pick up on subtle nonverbal communication in body language, voice tonality, etcetera. 

Whichever way you consume educational content, it can help you to know more about a topic.

5 Educational Content Examples

The following are some examples of educational content;

1. Books

Whether you’re reading it in a hardcopy or e-book format or listening to an audiobook, books are a wonderful go-to educational content for thorough enlightenment.

Some of them include; 

• Finance books such as “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
• Relationship books such as “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman 
• History books such as “Africans: The History of a Continent” by John Iliffe

Also Read: How To Cultivate The Habit of Reading

2. Social Media

WhatsApp, Twitter, and other social media including YouTube are great platforms to access educational content. 

These can be in form of;

• Infographics
• Video tutorials or training 
• How-to posts
• Tips and tricks
• FAQs
• Hacks
• Q&As
• Live sessions

Etcetera

Content creators mostly post snippets of educational content and then refer you to a website for details.

Also Read: Social Media tips for individuals

3. Blog Posts

Like on this website, blog posts are a form of digital article, journal, or news piece published online. 

They are usually educational and have more depth than social media posts.

Sometimes, multiple blog posts can be combined to create a book.

4. Courses

Educational courses may offer a wealth of resources, including books and videos, which provide comprehensive and extensive knowledge. They are usually more expository compared to the other forms of educational content. 

Many courses are certified (i.e. give you a certificate upon completion) which helps improve your resume and professional eligibility. While others grant you lifelong access to a variety of valuable resources you can always access at your leisure. 

[A wonderful example is the Pawns Writing Program. If you want to improve your writing and make money from it, check it out here (Click here]

5. Email Newsletters

These are information-packed bite-sized pieces sent to subscribers. 

While they are usually sent directly to your mail, some can still be accessed online – a good example is Substack newsletters. 

6. Podcasts

Podcasts are digital audio files that can be streamed or downloaded online. 

They are a very great medium to consume rich educational content because they are commonly produced as a series or collection. A good example is the Tea With Tay podcast.

10 Benefits of Educational Content

The popular axiom, “knowledge is power” is true (even though Cersei Lannister disagreed with Petyr Baelish).

The following are some of the benefits of consuming educational content;

1. You become a better version of yourself

You are what you consume.

According to Mel Robbins, Behavioural Activation Therapy suggests that “The more you ACT like the person you want to become (even when you don’t feel like that person yet), the quicker you become them.”

And to “act” efficiently, you need to know how to act and the ramifications of that particular action. This is why consuming educational content is important. 

It can make you build your strengths and improve on your weaknesses. You tend to think better and act better. 

I like consuming educational content because it reminds me of and shapes me into the kind of person I want to be.

For example; since I got Dick David’s Simple and Elegant Art of Writing Program (and started implementing all I learned), I’ve improved mostly in my critical thinking and communication skills which have improved my rationality, built healthy relationships, and made money writing among other innumerable benefits. 

2. You gain valuable knowledge that earns you respect

You may likely feel foolish or intimidated when you converse with someone more knowledgeable than you.

That is because you may not have heard such information before or at least not from their perspective. 

But consuming educational content can make you knowledgeable about several topics, including those that interest you, thereby enabling you to effectively engage in a conversation about the topic.

Depending on how vast you are in a subject, you can become an authority or expert in it and people will reach out to you for queries and presentations concerning it. 

And when they get enlightenment from you, they respect you for it.

3. It provides you with entertainment

Educational content can be entertaining if you’re learning about a subject you enjoy. And most of them are intentionally made humorous. 

So even in your leisure time or when you’re bored, you can still consume such educational content for fun. 

4. It improves your critical thinking and analysis

Subjects concerning religion, politics, and “toxic” masculinity & feminism among others can be controversial. People are usually sentimental about them and mostly come to irrational conclusions.

Consuming educational content can enable you to have a better perception of matters like this and enables you to have rational decision-making and problem-solving skills which usually serves you better. 

5. It can reduce your stress

The troubles of life can be daunting and the best option is not to run from them completely but to retreat and give yourself some space to relax and gain a better perception. 

As discussed in point 3, educational content can be entertaining which enables your brain to release endorphins and help alleviate stress. 

This puts you in a good mood and improves your social prowess since you emit positive vibes and energy. 

6. It can boost your confidence and self-esteem 

It is usually an exhilarating feeling to learn something new especially if you’ve been wanting to do so for a long time and didn’t have access to educational content that proved helpful. 

This can boost your confidence and self-esteem mostly when it is something a lot of people do not know. It feels like you got yourself a treasure – so exciting. 

7. It can help you make money

Educational content creators, whether they are writers, vloggers etcetera, also consume educational content as you cannot pour from an empty cup. Consuming educational content enables them to provide offers that convert sales and build income. Ergo if you’re a creator, you also have to be a consumer. 

Likewise, you can make money when you charge for the knowledge you have amassed from consuming educational content when businesses consult you for your expertise.

8. It can improve your relationships and connect you to more people

When you consume educational content, you contribute positively to people either with your knowledge or the skills you’ve learned. This makes you an asset that compels people to desire you around.

It will also connect you to more like-minded people and as “iron sharpeneth iron”, you get to bring out the best in each other through a symbiotic relationship. 

Also Read: How To Make Friends

9. It can lead you to expository discovery and urge you to learn more 

Consuming educational content can lead to a snowball effect. It points you to other quality materials – helping you discover things you didn’t know you didn’t know.

For example, in my early stages of learning barbing, I learned to cut the trending hairstyles and give great fades from a lot of educational how-to posts on Instagram and YouTube.

I also found the Simple and Elegant Art of Writing Program helpful when I wanted to improve my writing.

Both discoveries made me have a positive feedback loop. Because as I got better at learning, it encouraged me to learn more – consuming more and more educational content.

10. It improves your resume

As earlier discussed, educational content in the form of courses can improve your resume and professional credence when you’re certified upon completion. 

It’s a wonderful way to enhance your CV and increase the likelihood of being employed in a company or gaining a promotion. 

Since it also improves your value, you tend to get clients willing to pay high fees for your expertise or personal service. 

Recommended; The Importance of Lifelong Learning

5 Tips To Effectively Consume Educational Content

Irrespective of your area of interest – art, music, fitness etcetera – you can consume a variety of educational content related to your niche to widen your horizon on the subject by taking advantage of your curiosity.

However, consuming educational content can be counterproductive if not done right. Because it can be as fun as it can be addictive.

Most people suffer from information overload while others obsess over and pride in just knowledge acquisition without implementation – “Everybody is so myopic and ignorant. They don’t know what I know. They should all revere me.”

In actuality, true learning happens when you implement the knowledge you amass.  

Besides, nobody cares about how much you know but how much you have done because that is what brings impact and builds your reputation and legacy. 

“After all said and done, more is said than done.”

The following are ways you can effectively consume educational content;

1. Consume responsibly

As with food and drinks, there is the propensity to go overboard with how much and how often we consume educational content. 

For example; when we consume educational content on social media, we tend to become aloof and engage in mindless scrolling jumping from one content to the next. 

This encourages the need for attention management to consume educational content responsibly. 

2. Pimp Your Social Media Algorithm

In the Writing Program, I got from Dick David, there’s a package called Pandora’s Box (Sounds exciting in a spooky way right? I felt the same way when I first saw it too. Lol). In it, I found the book, “My Phone Is My Bestfriend” which he authored. 

It was highly educational. I learned how social media works and how to pimp the algorithm to suit my best interests and be more beneficial whether as a creator or consumer. 

This got my social media algorithm from showing content of comedy and hot girls to educational content related to leadership, philosophy, fitness etcetera.

Social media algorithms tend to show you content based on your likes, search queries, and creators/influencers you follow. So, be mindful of those.

Also Read: How Building A Personal Brand On Social Media Improves Your

3. Skip contents that you don’t properly understand

During exams in secondary school, my teachers used to tell us to skip questions we can’t seem to recall the answer to at the time and revisit it after we finish with the ones we are confident about. This procedure is also useful for learning. 

When you read a passage in a book or consume any other form of educational content you don’t understand, you can skip it – but keep it at the back of your mind as it may be useful. 

The good thing is; it plants a seed in you and lays a small foundation to build upon. Sooner or later after you’ve advanced your mind, you may revisit the content or stumble upon a similar topic and understand it. Then comes the feeling, “Oh. So that’s what (s)he was talking about?”

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

– Heraclitus

4. Be Present and Intentional

Many people tend to forget a lot about what they learned from the educational content they consume. This is because they were passively consuming it rather than being active. 

While there may be subconscious effects of consuming educational content, we get the most out of it by being actively involved. 

This entails that you;

• have a purpose, e.g. to become a better writer, to understand the psychology of people, to make money, and so on,
• stay focused and attentive,
• take notes and summarize,
• try to recollect the lessons,
• have the intention of sharing your knowledge with someone,
• articulate how to implement the lessons in your daily life

(Etcetera)

Also Read: You’re a Product of Your Beliefs [This Is How To Ensure Your Beliefs Are True And Helpful].

5. Skip contents that don’t interest you 

It is okay to skip or ignore educational content that doesn’t align with your interest.

Identify what you want to be known for and have a tunnel vision of becoming a master in that field by constantly learning about it and ignoring what is unrelated. 

Conclusion

Knowing more is always better than ignorance, as it is not a valid justification for your wrong actions.  And in a world that is changing rapidly, we have to keep learning to thrive. This is why educational content is so important.

Now that you know what educational contents are, their benefits, and how to effectively consume them, endeavor to implement as much as you learn.