Oh, YouTube. If there was every a time suck, it is you. Your ability to take thirty, forty, one hundred minutes from our lives is amazing and unmatched.
For this professional procrastination, this is the largest blessing and biggest curse. I find myself way too often down the digital rabbit hole, clicking one video after another and another.
Therefore, I have some favorites if you are looking for an escape from work…they are:
1.) HALF AS INTERESTING
Described as “Education-y explainer videos that are almost good enough to watch,” HAI examines unusual articles that appear on “that Wikipedia list.” These videos are satirical, educational, and a great use of ten-ish minutes every Thursday. My favorite? The first one I ever saw from this channel, and explanation of The Queen Death Protocol. Fascinating!
2.) WENDOVER PRODUCTIONS
I debated including this one with the first channel, as they are from the same producer (who also creates one of my most favorite podcasts right now). These two channels, however, are different enough to warrant two different listings. The videos created for Wendover Productions focus on explaining how our world works. This includes everything from how geography impacts economics to logistics of film-making to (a lot about) the airline industry. My favorite is about the NFL’s Logistics problem. These videos provide a little be of knowledge every other Tuesday.
3.) TRUE FACTS BY ZEFRANK
Ze Frank is hilarious. In his mockumentary-style videos, he provides a factual-yet-funny satirical take on those nature videos that filled the Discovery Channel’s early days. Sometimes True Facts get a little naughty, so these definitely are not your grandma’s nature documentaries, but they are a riot if you have an inappropriate side. This one about (some) marsupials always makes me literally roll on the floor, laughing.
4.) MAN + RIVER
A guy has an underwater metal detector and Scubas into rivers to see what he can find. That’s all the explanation this channel needs (evident in the fact that it has over 3 million YouTube subscribers)…see for yourself!
5.) WALKING WITH GIANTS
On this YouTube channel, one will find miniature real food. There’s a little oven, mini kitchen utensils, and every episode ends with tiny, bite-size meals. It’s so cool, they are so cute, and it worth every minute minute (no, that’s not a typo). My favorite is all of them, but if I had to pick, I’d go with The World’s Smallest Thanksgiving.
There is a good chance that if I am supposed to be doing something (such as writing a blog post), I am watching videos on any one of these channels first. But I am always looking for more–what channels do you recommend?
Every Friday, find a new set of my five favorite somethings in the blog series Friday High Five! See past FHFs here!
