I totally related to your description of night time scrolling, and I appreciated the observation that it is complicated by the odd soup of topics ingested in one bite.
This was the most helpful advice I’ve had yet.
Does this help me take action? Am I looking for information, or am I avoiding something?
I feel seen. I deleted all my socials (except Substack, for which I only deleted the app) after the election because I knew what would happen to me if I continued. But then ICE really kicked off, then Minneapolis and now I’m back to doomscrolling. But that’s all I’m doing because my mind is spinning and I can’t land on any action to do. It’s ridiculous and it makes me feel so useless, which makes it even harder to take action. Sometimes I can’t help but feel this is all by design.
Decide who you are voting for this year and put out a sign in your yard or on your apartment door and when asked , tell people why you are voting for that person. Either way you will be influencing someone's decision when it comes time to vote.
I love this! Thank you, Amanda. I also recommend that IF you are going to dip into the comments of a controversy, there’s no reason why we can’t talk to people like they are real human beings in front of us. Ask questions before assuming the worst in their intentions. Even if the person seems to be commenting in bad faith, it can be kinda fun to ask them to explain how they came to their narrow point of view. It is possible to have productive conversations online, even if the platforms and our reactive nature seem to be guiding us toward our worst instincts. Demonstrating kindness and open mindedness is the most effective persuasion you can perform, no matter how many facts you might have in your back pocket.
That all said, if you’re spending all of your time online and then lack the energy to show up when it’s needed most, I agree it’s time to take a break from the chatter. We have to remember that to overwhelm is the explicit strategy of our government’s attack against us. We don’t have to fall for it. You can still be an effective and informed citizen even if you miss a story about another way the president sucks.
What’s more relevant: how did our system fail us so badly that we re-elected him? How can we fix that system?
I believe that a lot of people believed the lie being perpetrated by the Trump MAGA fascist types, which calls for truth seeking by all of us to build a more perfect union in our country. It's too easy to fall for the sound bites. Also, if someone tells a lie long enough, some will end up believing it .
Thank you- this really connects for me right now. I am afraid of not checking news online as the legacy media is not reporting so many important stories. I am fearful of not having needed information -is ICE in my neighborhood, is there a data center going up near my community, are local public lands getting bulldozed, are my neighbors food support getting slashed- these are all dire situations that can be helped if the community intervenes. It feels like hypervigilance is necessary and yet it is also severely impacting my health. I appreciate having support to figure out what is helpful and what just isn’t.
Thanks for the reminders and tips. I rarely comment and I try to keep it short if I do. Mostly positive. If nothing else, I hope my words can be calming to someone possibly. :)
I notice that now, I scroll differently. I want info but have curated my own Instagram to those whom I trust and I don't even listen to their whole schpiel bc I know what they are talking about from another source. I no longer need to feel outraged 16 times in one day about the same issue. I also don't waste time on unimp stuff that makes its way in. I have my own unimp things I need to do to revive my mind and mental health. But I stay informed, to a point. Thanks for this
Thank you for your article. Here’s something I would like to share that we all can try to say or do if someone wrongs us or we disagree.
Think before you speak:
T = is it true?
H = is it helpful?
I = is it Inspiring?
N = is it Necessary?
K = is it Kind?
I totally related to your description of night time scrolling, and I appreciated the observation that it is complicated by the odd soup of topics ingested in one bite.
This was the most helpful advice I’ve had yet.
Does this help me take action? Am I looking for information, or am I avoiding something?
I feel seen. I deleted all my socials (except Substack, for which I only deleted the app) after the election because I knew what would happen to me if I continued. But then ICE really kicked off, then Minneapolis and now I’m back to doomscrolling. But that’s all I’m doing because my mind is spinning and I can’t land on any action to do. It’s ridiculous and it makes me feel so useless, which makes it even harder to take action. Sometimes I can’t help but feel this is all by design.
Consider doing this, Theresa.
Decide who you are voting for this year and put out a sign in your yard or on your apartment door and when asked , tell people why you are voting for that person. Either way you will be influencing someone's decision when it comes time to vote.
This resonates with me! Thank you for writing this thought-provoking piece.
I love this! Thank you, Amanda. I also recommend that IF you are going to dip into the comments of a controversy, there’s no reason why we can’t talk to people like they are real human beings in front of us. Ask questions before assuming the worst in their intentions. Even if the person seems to be commenting in bad faith, it can be kinda fun to ask them to explain how they came to their narrow point of view. It is possible to have productive conversations online, even if the platforms and our reactive nature seem to be guiding us toward our worst instincts. Demonstrating kindness and open mindedness is the most effective persuasion you can perform, no matter how many facts you might have in your back pocket.
That all said, if you’re spending all of your time online and then lack the energy to show up when it’s needed most, I agree it’s time to take a break from the chatter. We have to remember that to overwhelm is the explicit strategy of our government’s attack against us. We don’t have to fall for it. You can still be an effective and informed citizen even if you miss a story about another way the president sucks.
What’s more relevant: how did our system fail us so badly that we re-elected him? How can we fix that system?
I believe that a lot of people believed the lie being perpetrated by the Trump MAGA fascist types, which calls for truth seeking by all of us to build a more perfect union in our country. It's too easy to fall for the sound bites. Also, if someone tells a lie long enough, some will end up believing it .
Thank you- this really connects for me right now. I am afraid of not checking news online as the legacy media is not reporting so many important stories. I am fearful of not having needed information -is ICE in my neighborhood, is there a data center going up near my community, are local public lands getting bulldozed, are my neighbors food support getting slashed- these are all dire situations that can be helped if the community intervenes. It feels like hypervigilance is necessary and yet it is also severely impacting my health. I appreciate having support to figure out what is helpful and what just isn’t.
Sending you so much love 💗
I like this and think it’s super helpful. I was doing this too!
Thanks for the reminders and tips. I rarely comment and I try to keep it short if I do. Mostly positive. If nothing else, I hope my words can be calming to someone possibly. :)
Thanks ,Amanda for your thoughtful words of advice.
I have felt these things myself and can identify with what you are saying , which gives me pause to readjust and then, move on.,
I notice that now, I scroll differently. I want info but have curated my own Instagram to those whom I trust and I don't even listen to their whole schpiel bc I know what they are talking about from another source. I no longer need to feel outraged 16 times in one day about the same issue. I also don't waste time on unimp stuff that makes its way in. I have my own unimp things I need to do to revive my mind and mental health. But I stay informed, to a point. Thanks for this
Great & insightful article. Thanks for the challenges!
Excellent article.
Ok ✅