I was almost asleep when I woke up with a jolt.

I often sleep listening to YouTube videos. The practice has two folds advantage. One, I can listen to the videos that I can’t somehow fit in my day. Second, I fall asleep without any problem.

Side Note: When you get to my age, insomnia can be a real issue. Although I have no problem sleeping most nights, listening to soothing music, spiritual talks, or long boring interviews help.

This particular night I was listening to Paul Jarvis interviewing Marie Forleo in his usual excited self. Marie Forleo, named by Oprah as a thought leader for the next generation, a perfect match to Paul Jarvis in exuberance, said something which brought me out of slumber, into the real world.

She said, “Create before you consume.”

Her advice made sense. As soon as they wake up, most people check their mobile phones even before they head to the bathroom. Particularly the younger generation.

Not me, though.

I didn’t care much for social media. My mobile phone hardly had any apps. It was there for one single purpose — to make phone calls if needed.

But it was a good piece of advice nonetheless, and I stored it in some corner of my mind and went back to sleep.

I am from Julia Carmen’s era, where writing morning pages first thing in the morning was drilled into us. For years, I have trained to plonk myself in the bed and write even before I have a cup of tea because making a cup of tea means seeing the clutter in the kitchen and forgetting the train of fresh thoughts that appear from somewhere deep inside you.

I love my morning writing time. After years I have been able to train my family not to disturb me in the mornings. It is my creative hour.

There was not much for me to check on social media anyway. Until lately, when I set myself a challenge to post a small piece of writing and a sketch on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn at the start of this year. Now each morning, I wake up and wonder has anyone said anything about last night’s post.

I have fallen into the same trap of checking social media in the morning.

It had a subtle effect on my productivity.

I barely noticed it first.

But it became evident that I was writing less and reading more.

The more I read other people’s material, the less confident I felt writing my own thoughts.

Then this morning, my brain, in its usual mysterious way, brought forth Marie Forleo’s words — Create before you consume.

It will be my mantra now.

Create before you consume.

Until I have built it into a habit.

Create before you consume.

A habit so strong, that I don’t fall into the trap of consuming before I create.

Create before you consume.

We can’t shun social media from our lives, but we can control it.

Create before you consume.

And that is what I am going to do.

Create before you consume.

Photo by Laura Highgrace on Unsplash