How to make use of your wasted time?
Have you ever thought of a way to make a good use of your wasted time? (i.e driving, doing house chores, cooking etc...)
I started listening to podcasts about a year ago, and I have realized how much I enjoy them. There is so much out there to learn about! Podcasts offer a vast amount of topics and for the most part, they’re free! There truly is something out there for everyone, even for web developers!
Podcasts have been around for some time now, but I’ve been late to jump on the train of making them a part of my life. I've personally learnt a lot by listening to podcasts, things like Greek mythology, politics, history, philosophy and technology!
Many studies have been done on the benefits of podcasts, and what they do for people mentally. One study proves that podcasts stimulate mental imagery more intensely than watching or reading, and cause listeners to have to pay more attention. Since people listen to podcasts instead of watching them, it forces listeners to use their imagination and build the pictures in their mind. Thus, people who listen to podcasts regularly have a stronger and more vivid imagination.
Podcasts also help us become better listeners. Since they are all about listening, they helps us have a greater appreciation for simply listening. Podcasts allow us to become a part of what we’re listening, and trigger us to listen, pay attention, and then use our imagination to form pictures of the story of what you’re listening to. Podcasts stimulate different parts of the brain, forcing us to actively listen, especially when it’s a topic we’re truly interested in.
Another great benefit of listening to podcasts is that you can learn new things. Although it is such an obvious, simple idea, it is absolutely worth mentioning! Podcasts come in a variety of lengths, so it’s easy to listen to an episode even if you only have a half hour. If you don’t finish listening in one sitting, they’re always at your disposal on your phone, computer, or tablet to pick back up! They are a great use of time, as they allow you to become more involved and educated in areas that spark your interest.
There is nothing to lose by making podcasts a part of your regular lifestyle, and everything to gain. Whether you want to learn a new skill, keep up with the news, handle your finances better, or just need a pep talk, there is a podcast out there for you! It’s truly amazing, and we have these resources at our fingertips for absolutely no cost! Find something you’re interested in and if you’re not already start listening today!
I use Castbox for listening to podcasts which is a free application to use. Spotify is also another popular platform for listening to podcasts. you can easily download them from Google Play Store or Apple Store.
To get you started here are some of my favourite podcasts:
Developer Tea Podcast: Developer Tea exists to help driven developers connect to their ultimate purpose and excel at their work so that they can positively impact the people they influence. Developer Tea is a short podcast hosted by Jonathan Cutrell (@jcutrell), co-founder of Spec and Director of Engineering at PBS.
Syntax Podcast: Full Stack Developers Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski dive deep into web development topics, explaining how they work and talking about their own experiences. They cover everything from JavaScript frameworks like React, to the latest advancements in CSS to simplifying web tooling.
JavaScript Jabber Podcast: JavaScript Jabber DevChat.tv. Weekly podcast discussion about Javascript on the front and back ends. Also discuss programming practices, coding environments, and the communities related to the technology.
Revisionist History Podcast: Revisionist History will go back and reinterpret something from the past: an event, a person, an idea. Something overlooked. Something misunderstood.
Stuff you Should Know Podcast: If you've ever wanted to know anything about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
