Welcome to the Elevated Edit Podcast.

I'm your host Blakely Ramsey and the goal of this podcast is to discuss all things personal development, wellness and the art of editing your life in an elevated way.

From mastering morning routines to mastering your mindset, we're going to sift through the.

Noise and empower you to take elevated action.

Make sure you catch the show notes for all the details.

Enjoy the show.

Lets have a conversation you probably didn't expect, but you might need.

If you have been feeling bloated from too many how to's and still not making the progress that you know you're capable of making, you might be in an input hangover.

You may be asking Blakely what is an input hangover?

This is a very loose made up definition.

But an input hangover is a foggy mental state that is caused by consuming too much content without taking the time to integrate and execute or reflect.

Now this is not going to be a productivity shame session.

This is just going to be a loving wake up call to help you actually win.

So y' all know, the ideas for my podcast usually come from my own personal experiences and since it is mid year and I am quickly coming up on the 100th podcast episode.

That is so crazy and there's so many of you who have been listening since day one and if you have, I love you so much for that and thank you.

And if you're brand new here, I love you just the same.

Thank you for joining, but I have just really sat back and reflected on a lot of things and thought about a lot of things and if you don't know me, I am very honest with myself, sometimes brutally honest to a fault.

But I looked at my really big goals that I have for the second half of this year and I really reflected on what January to the end of May 2025 looked like for me.

And when I tell you it has been absolutely life changing, that is without a shadow of a doubt a complete understatement.

My life has done a complete 180 from January until now.

I am truly a completely different person and when I sat back and looked, I have had a lot of really positive input this year.

That was something that I made a not necessarily New Year's resolution, but I did make it something that I wanted to be highly aware of for this year.

So I wanted to monitor what I watched on TV and the music that I listened to and the podcasts that I listened to and the people that I surrounded myself with and the news that I allowed in my brain just Anything that was coming into my world, I wanted to monitor and not necessarily have this sense of false positivity like, oh, I only want happy things to come into my world.

But I only wanted to take advice from people who were where I wanted to go or living lives that I wanted to live, or we're thinking from an abundance mindset and not a victim mindset.

And I just had a very specific way that I wanted to look at the world.

And I knew in order to look at the world in that way, I needed to consume the right content.

So listen to the right audiobooks and podcasts and coaching and all the things.

And it has been so transformational for me to experience that the last six months.

It really, truly has.

But as I sit here and I can actually see the goals that I have for the second half of this year up on the wall, it's the first thing I see when I walk in the office, and it's the last thing I see when I leave for the day.

So I'm constantly reminded of these goals.

They're right at my face.

I have.

They're very lofty, and I know that I can accomplish them.

So some of them are a little bit of a stretch, and they are pushing me outside of my comfort zone, but I know that I can accomplish them.

And I sat here and I was like, okay, if I'm going to accomplish these goals, I'm not going to be able to keep living the same life I'm currently living now.

You know, it's time for me to step into a new level.

It is time for me to, you know, step into the next era of myself, whatever that looks like.

And so this last week, I had a really just honest conversation with myself about what that was going to look like in terms of where am I headed, what do I need to be doing, what are my actions need to be looking like.

And if you have listened to this podcast before, I have talked about doing a time audit.

This is something that I started doing back in 2020.

I think I did my first time audit during COVID which was very interesting because there was a lot of nothing going on in my schedule during that time.

But it did help me to enforce that habit.

And so every, you know, six months or so, I do like to do a time audit and just see where I am wasting time, see where I'm really proud of where I'm spending my time, and just have a full awareness of where I'm actually spending my time and not where I'm telling myself that I'M spending my time or trying to convince myself that I'm spending my time.

And so this last couple of weeks, I've been doing a time audit and the results were honestly not super surprising.

But when you see the numbers, sometimes it is a little shocking to, I don't know, just to see it versus knowing, having an idea and like seeing it on paper.

And so I did a time audit and I my calculations came out that I was spending roughly three to four hours per day consuming content.

And when I say content, I don't just mean scrolling on TikTok and scrolling on Instagram.

I mean listening to audiobooks, listening to courses, watching, you know, inspirational YouTube videos, and learning specific skills.

And this three to four hours does not include the time that I'm getting coached.

And it didn't include the time I was reading physical books.

So this was just videos, audiobooks, podcasts.

And when I saw that number, I was like, what in the world?

Like, yes, in a perfect world, I would be able to spend three to four hours a day consuming high level content.

But what I realized was really damaging about that was that all of the content was not about the same thing.

So I have been doing a lot of research on cognitive overload here lately, but I was also, you know, listening to all these other different things.

And then I'm wondering why I'm not implementing at the level that I know I'm possible of.

You know, I'm like, yeah, I'm getting things done and I'm proud of my progress, but I know that I could be doing more.

And so when I did this time audit, I was like, well, no wonder I'm not getting as much done as I want.

I'm consuming all of this content.

And it's incredible content.

It's from the best of the best.

You know, it really is.

But at a certain point I have to stop and ask myself, is this actually benefiting me?

Am I taking the time, you know, to integrate this and execute on this and reflect on all of this, or am I just consuming more content?

It's like candy.

You just can't get enough of it.

And I have really decided to change the way that I operate the second half of this year based on this realization.

And you may be asking yourself, okay, am I experiencing an input hangover as well?

And here are some symptoms of input hangovers, and there are others as well, but these are definitely symptoms that I was experiencing myself.

So feeling motivated but never moving.

So you wake up excited, you wake up ready to go, you know, exactly what you're wanting to do, but you're not actually moving.

You're just kind of like running in place, constantly switching strategies or starting over start.

So if you are every single week coming up with a new strategy or coming up with a new focus, or coming up with a new way to operate, you may be experiencing an input hangover, overwhelmed, disguised as inspiration.

So you're just constantly, just so inspired with your head in the clouds.

But really deep down, your mind and your body might be overwhelmed just from the sheer amount of content and, you know, input that you are experiencing.

And then comparison spirals after research.

So research is in air quotes.

You didn't get to see me do my air quotes, but research is in air quotes.

And this is something that I feel like we are really experiencing with social media, particularly because, you know, there is this sense of accomplishment when you scroll TikTok or scroll Instagram and you're, you know, if you're like me, your feed is curated and you're following all these amazing women and they are just pouring into you.

But then all of a sudden, you know, you've done, quote, unquote, 30 minutes worth of research.

But then you get done, you're like, oh, well, she's doing this and she's doing this and she's doing this.

Like, why am I not doing all those things?

And so if you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be experiencing input hangover as well.

And there is science behind this.

Research has found that input overload leads to decision fatigue and mental clutter.

And when you're experiencing this mental clutter, your brain doesn't know what to prioritize.

So it doesn't allow your RAs, your reticular activating system, it doesn't allow it to focus on something.

So that is what this last week, I have really tried to calm down my level of input.

And I've noticed that I am finding things out in the wild, as I call it, that are helping me build my business more than when I was just constantly consuming so much.

And you may be asking, why does any of this matter?

Like, why are we talking about this?

Well, the truth is, is that input hangover can sabotage your goals.

So it can leave you with this false safety loop.

Because learning feels incredibly productive.

When you're in the moment and you're taking notes and you're learning.

It can feel so good.

And trust me, like, I am a chronic consumer.

I love to read.

Like, typically, as soon as I finish a book, I already have the other book, like, in my Hand I just sit down one book and pick up another book.

And when you're doing that, your brain can think that you're making progress.

But this is where you have to be really self honest and say, am I actually executing on any of this or am I just consuming?

And this is definitely something that I do.

I'm super guilty of this, in fact.

For one of my goals for this summer is to only read two books a month.

And just the thought of it kind of scrambles my brain a little bit.

Like it gives me, that gives me anxiety.

And to me that is a problem.

Like the two books that I have picked out for June, the fact that it gives me anxiety that those are the only two books I'm going to read is kind of sad to me because they are very heavy books, they are very intense books and they're exactly what I need to be reading right now.

Like specifically to the T what I need to move into this next level.

Because they're not about, you know, productivity and they're not inward focused, they're outward focused.

So it's how can I serve better?

And it's deep research into, you know, the direction that my coaching program is headed.

But I have had to really overcome some mental blocks of wow, I tied a lot of my self identity and my feelings of productivity to the fact that I can read 10 books in a month or the fact that, oh yeah, I'm reading three books and listening to two audiobooks.

It's like, okay, that's cool, like great for you.

But what are you actually implementing?

What are you actually executing?

And so that's been something I've had to be really critical with myself about.

And I encourage you, if you are someone like that, maybe stop and think, is this actually serving me or am I just doing this because I've been conditioned, I've conditioned myself to believe, believe that over consumption is moving me forward.

But in fact, maybe I'm not actually making the progress that I need to be making.

In fact, I am going like way back with my reading this next month for June.

I'm going to commit to rereading the same books twice.

So I've got my two books picked out.

I bought physical copies.

So I'm not doing a Kindle.

I'm not reading it on my iPad.

I'm holding a book in my hand so, so I can highlight and write in it.

I'm going to read it once, then I'm going to read it again and then I'm going to know.

ChatGPT I'm going to do an old school book report on it because I have got to slow down and execute and integrate so that this information sticks with me.

And like, I do encourage you, if you are feeling overwhelmed and like you are, are just constantly consuming and you're just constantly learning, but you're not actually making any progress, I encourage you to think about that as well.

You don't have to, you know, go as intense as I am.

Y' all know intensity is named my game.

But just consider that, you know, like, am I consuming way too much?

And this is a harsh reality that I have had to settle into the last couple of weeks.

But execution requires risk and input doesn't.

You can't consume your way into clarity.

You have to commit your way into it.

You know, actually taking action and actually putting one foot in front of the other is going to create that clarity.

Not just more consumption, not just more learning, not just more listening.

And it might be that you don't have a clarity problem.

You have a follow through problem that is caused by chronic over consumption.

And when I say that, I'm not like pointing my finger at you and telling you you're doing this wrong.

This is a we thing, baby, baby girl, we in this together.

Okay?

Like I am experiencing the same thing.

It is difficult to admit because I am someone, I do love to read and I.

It is hard for me to think about slowing down and only reading two books in a month.

Like even just saying it out loud, I'm like, that makes me, that makes me super stressed out.

It really does.

But we're gonna work through it together.

And it is something that I know that I need, I know that I have to do in order to get to this next level in my life and in my business.

And so it's something that I'm willing to commit to for summer 2025.

It's gonna be a Hot girl Summer.

That is the theme of this summer is Hot Girl Summer.

And Hot Girl Summer is not about the way you look, it's about the way you feel about yourself.

And I've got some really cool Hot girl Summer things coming out for you that you're going to love.

It's really exciting.

But in order to execute and really make Hot Girl Summer the best it could be, I have to slow down and dial in and get focused, period.

Okay?

So y' all know I'm never going to give you information and then just say good luck.

So sayonara, peace out.

I am going to give you some tips to detox from the input hangover.

And this is not going to be old school college detox from a hangover.

Go grab you a Gatorade and some Fiesta cheesy potatoes from Taco Bell.

That used to be my college hangover.

Go to.

That isn't going to work for this, but I do have a three part detox framework for your input over consumption.

Okay, number one, cut the noise.

This is going to be hard, but mute your mentors.

You might have to meet me for the summer.

It's totally fine.

I can take the cut.

You don't have to mute everything.

You don't have to mute everyone.

But really sit down and analyze.

Like, okay, am I getting anything from this?

And it doesn't have to be learning.

Am I getting joy from this?

Am I inspired from this?

Am I, is this moving me in the direction that I want to move forward?

And you're going to have to be really critical about some things.

Like I said, there's some podcasts that I love listening to.

But I have realized that every single time I listen to the podcast, I come up with a thousand ideas.

And that is just not the season that I'm in right now.

I can't be coming up with a thousand ideas every single day.

I need to be executing on the three ideas that I am focused on right now.

So mute your mentors, archive your tabs.

You don't need to have a thousand things on your mind and limit your inputs to one per goal.

It's going to be way harder than you think it is.

I am struggling through this right now with you.

So if you want to message me on Instagram at the Blakely Ramsey and we can talk about it, I'm totally cool with that.

But limit your input.

Limit the books that you're reading, the books you're listening to, the podcast you're listening to.

Get really crystal clear on what your goals are and then hone in on that.

And you.

This doesn't mean that you don't have to listen to forever.

Like, Working Hard by Grace Beverly is the podcast.

It's like one of my favorite podcasts.

It's so good for her to be so young.

She is such an inspiration and she truly like, she's wildly intelligent, but she is also.

You want to talk about somebody who can take action, she takes action.

And I love listening to her podcast because she's a wealth of knowledge.

But when I listen to her podcast, I come up with a thousand ideas.

And in this season, I need to execute on a few ideas and I so I Can't listen to her.

She's.

Now she's going to come back into my life in the fall, but for this next season, for the summer, I am really going to have to dial back.

Okay, number two, create more than you consume.

You don't have to follow this exact formula.

But my summer goal is for every 30 minutes of input.

So for every 30 minutes that I read, every 30 minutes that I listen to a book, listen to a podcast, I'm going to require at least 60 minutes of output.

So if I scroll on Instagram for 30 minutes before I scroll again, I'm going to require at least 60 minutes of output.

So this might be working on a script, a podcast outline, some content for social media.

You know, a script for a call, a speech.

I've got coming up, whatever it is.

Like, I have got to double, at least double my output versus input.

And this is how you can slowly reclaim your power.

And you can do 30 minutes and 90 minutes or 10 minutes and 30 minutes.

Whatever it is, you don't have to do 30 minutes and 60 minutes.

But that's where I'm going to start.

And I'm just going to see if I can commit to that and go from there.

And then, number three, commit to your own thinking.

Ask yourself, what would I do if I trusted myself?

And let this be your new homepage, because sometimes I am super guilty of this is I will experience a problem in my life or in my business, and I'll immediately go to social media to look for the answer, or I'll immediately go to a podcast to look for the answer, or I'll go, like, buy a book.

And I'm like, okay, this is gonna give me the answer.

And I all too often don't trust my own intuition and my own wisdom and my own knowledge.

And when I do, that is usually when I get my best answers.

And so I challenge you to commit to your own thinking.

Yes.

Get feedback from others.

And yes, it is important to collaborate and to, you know, have the mentors and to get the education.

But once you have all of that and you have built a muscle, it is okay to trust yourself and your ideas and to execute on your own stuff.

Like, that is how the world evolves and grows and gets bigger.

And you might totally mess up.

Like, I'm not saying you're gonna get it right by doing this, but how cool would it be if you got it right and it was all, like, from your brain?

I just.

I think that's so amazing.

So I challenge you to commit to your own thinking and trust yourself to have some of the answers.

And then with all this, as I hope the majority of these episodes do, is I just wanna remind you that you are not behind by any stretch of the imagination.

When we are in a world where it is very easy to over consume, it is very easy to feel like we are moving ahead because we're consuming.

But you know, the quote used to be knowledge is power.

And I think the quote has been updated to applied knowledge is power.

And this is important now, but it is going to be even more important in the years to come because when it comes to artificial intelligence and technology, we are at the bare, bare bottom of the bucket.

You know, I was listening, I was listening to a podcast.

I was listening to a podcast and this is like such a prime example of why I've got to stop consuming so much because I just listen to stuff all across the board and part of it does, I feel like, make my conversations slightly interesting.

But I also, I don't need to know so much about everything.

But they were comparing AI to fire, like when we first discovered fire and when we first discovered electricity, and they were saying that the, the effect of artificial intelligence on our world is going to be more impactful than the effect of fire and the effect of electricity combined.

Like that is how different it is going to make our world.

And the person that was being interviewed on this podcast, he is actually like, I'm going to say, high up in the artificial intelligence world.

He was one of the first investors in OpenAI, which is ChatGPT.

And oh, I do have something cool coming up.

I am creating my own GPT within ChatGPT and I'm going to work with her for a month or so and then she will become part of my coaching program.

So I'm really excited to introduce that as well.

It's gonna be really exciting.

But anyway, he was one of the first investors in OpenAI and he was talking about how we have not even seen the beginning of what AI is going to look like for us.

And so I say all of this to say that knowledge used to be, you know, the source.

It was like the people that could afford to go to college and could afford to have the books and could afford to be around the people that could pass down the knowledge.

They held all the power.

And we are quickly, very quickly shifting into a world where knowledge is going to be a commodity.

Because, you know, I literally had ChatGPT do a honors level thesis paper for me yesterday on a specific topic that I'm Researching.

And it took eight minutes.

It was perfectly cited.

It was glorious.

And I know that bothers a lot of people.

And they say, oh, well, you know, kids are going to start using that to write their thesis papers.

It's like, yeah, that is probably true, but that's what we thought about the calculator.

I'm sure, you know, when the calculator came out, people were like, oh, kids are going to get done.

They're not going to be able to do math anymore.

But it's like, well, it's not necessarily that they don't know how to do math anymore.

They just don't have to do, you know, 19 +37.

They can do that in their calculator.

But now what can they do since they have that tool?

From my perspective, I think that that is what AI is going to be for us is okay, we don't have to write the thesis papers, we don't have to, you know, write the research papers.

We don't have to do.

So what does that mean for us in the long run?

Like, how much does that open up our world?

And with all that being said, knowledge is going to become a commodity, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it.

But knowledge is no longer going to be the power.

It's going to be applied knowledge.

So people who actually take the knowledge and act on it and execute and do something with that knowledge.

And so just as you're thinking about this, you're not behind.

You don't need to be stressed out about any of this.

But I do challenge you to question yourself and say, am I executing at the level that I know I'm capable of?

Am I getting too much advice and not trusting my own voice enough?

Because I want to remind you that you are, are the woman who does what she says she'll do.

You're not the one who's always, oh, well, once I finish this course, or once I finish listening to this book, or once I finish listening to this, like, you already are the woman who does what she says she'll do.

You are probably way more qualified than you need to be to execute on the big thing that you're working on.

So I just challenge you to, to do it, whatever it is today.

Like, take.

Write down one thing that you can take action on today and do it.

You don't have to do a thousand things, just do one.

It's simple.

You're gonna take action and you're gonna execute, and we're gonna slowly get ourselves out of this input hangover that we have been walking around with.

At least I know I have and maybe you're experiencing that as well.

Okay.

I hope this episode was helpful for you.

As I've mentioned, things are changing around here, a little bit in the background in the best ways possible.

And I'm just so thankful that you listen to the podcast and I've got so much good information coming for you, so much inspiration coming for you.

And as always, it is going to be simple and something that you can walk away and act on.

Today I am going to.

I feel like I've tried to do that, but even more so moving forward, I want, if you choose to continue listening to the podcast, if you think that the podcast is something that isn't too much of an over consumption, I want you to finish listening and go, man.

Blakely gave me something that I can really act on today.

She didn't send me down a rabbit hole.

I just, I feel good, I feel motivated, I'm ready to execute.

And so I hope that you got that out of this episode.

If you did, I would love for you to send it to a friend who you think would benefit from this as well.

And as always, if you have not, please, please, please subscribe and leave me a review.

It helps me get in front of other amazing women just like you.

Okay with that.

I hope you have an amazing rest of your day and I'll see you in the next episode.

Thank you for tuning in to the Elevated Edit podcast.

I hope you found today's episode inspiring and full of actionable tips.

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