The Anti-Doom-Scrolling Diet (Think Tacos)
By Liz Michalski | November 24, 2020 |
Photo by the CulinaryGeek
Anyone else feel as if they’ve aged a decade in the past year? (Make mine a century.) The continual stream of bad news, the need to doom-scroll Twitter to keep up with the latest dumpster fires, the constant refreshing of reliable information feeds has taken a toll. Not just on my hair (gray), my once-healthy diet (now composed of sugar and other substances), but also on my ability to read, relax, and refill my creative well.
To add insult to injury, so many of the activities we as writers depend upon to inspire us are out of reach these days – the excitement of travel, the quiet stimulation of long afternoons at local museums, the interesting nights out with friends at cultural events.
Yet as creative beings, our brains need a regular diet of varied, high-quality fare, a chance to allow new ideas to percolate and ferment, then combine in unexpected ways. I’ve realized my mental intake over the past year has been less like kale and cabernet and more like chicken nuggets and diet soda.
So I’ve vowed to get back on track. I’ve limited my time online, taken myself outside for long walks in nature, called friends. And I’ve subscribed to a variety of fun and interesting email newsletters. I may not be able to travel right now, but I can read about beautiful places. I can learn about history, about art, about science and language and so many more subjects, all without leaving home.
These short bites are often just what I need to stimulate my curiosity and give my brain a jolt of creativity. Here, in no particular order, are my favorites. Some are supported by ad revenue, some have more comprehensive versions available for a fee, but all are fun and free. (And of course, I receive no compensation for listing them here.)
- Atlas Obscura This travel website bills itself as “The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.” Recent email issues have contained short articles on everything from an ancient lighthouse on the Isle of Wright to information on Tolstoy’s mysterious last days. The emails are smartly written and always intriguing and the website itself is worth exploring.
- Afar – Daily Wander Another travel company, Afar offers in-depth pieces on a variety of topics, both historical and current. Recent favorites of mine include an essay on the habits of the happiest countries in the world and a profile on Lilian Bland, the first woman to design, build, and fly her own airplane. (And yes, I thought it was Amelia Earhart too.)
- Delancyplace.com This quirky newsletter features a brief excerpt or quote, usually from a work of nonfiction, with commentary to provide context. The works chosen are usually historical, and often spark interesting conversations when I share them. There’s also a chance to purchase the books, with the profits going to charity and children’s literary programs. From Hitchcock’s shower scene to the art of breathing, the topics are always intriguing.
- National Geographic A combination of stunning photography, well-crafted writing, and interesting tidbits, this newsletter has it all, just as you would expect from this venerable nonprofit. Topics range from far-off destinations to scientific explorations to current events, all so well done it’s like getting a present every time an issue drops into my mailbox.
- Poem-a-day A daily poetry series featuring contemporary work, this newsletter always stretches my brain. At the end of each poem there’s a chance to listen to it being read, a brief description of what the author says it means, and a short biography.
- Word Genius A wonderful way to expand vocabulary, Word Genius features a word of the day, with a link to an audio version for proper pronunciation, an example of the word’s use and context, a brief history, and a graph showing how its use has declined or risen. How propitious for writers!
I don’t always get a chance to read every email newsletter I subscribe to, of course. Some I wind up deleting without a glance; others I save up to read all at once. Sometimes one will spark a story idea that I’ll jot down, or will fortuitously cover a topic I’m researching and I’ll save it for future use. But they all provide a way to engage my brain and fill it with something a step above fast food — maybe gourmet tacos. (Everybody likes tacos, right? They taste great and are relatively nutritious!) They’ve become a habit I’m hoping to keep even when the world moves nearer to normal.
Now it’s your turn — do you subscribe to any newsletters you’d like to share? What are your favorites, and how do you use them?
Liz Michalski’s (she/her) second novel, Darling Girl, was published in 2022 by Dutton. Her first novel, Evenfall, was published by Berkley Books (Penguin). Liz has been a reporter, an editor, and a freelance writer. In her previous life, she wrangled with ill-tempered horses and oversized show dogs. These days she’s downsized to one husband, two children and a medium-sized mutt.
I like futurecrun.ch, which was founded by a couple of Australians–a cancer scientist and a political economist–but now inclusive of ecologist, urban planner, diversity evangelist, artists and activists. They send out Good News with summaries and links about positive events happening in the world.
Lisa, that sounds exactly like what we need right now. Thank you for sharing!
I have not so much, other than WU. Though I do have a few blogs that still come in to my inbox and I read them from time-to-time. Most of my reading comes from random searches or things I stumble across.
However, I watch a lot of NOVA. It takes me places I’ll likely never go, especially if it’s in space-ha!
And I ADORE tacos – if you are ever in Arlington, Texas, where I have some family living, then you must try Fuzzy’s Tacos. Dang. Now I want a taco!
Kathryn, I haven’t seen Nova in years, but I used to love it. Will have to check it out again. (And I love tacos as well — I didn’t realize this post would be up on a Tuesday, but how fitting! And we had to have them for dinner the night I wrote this!)
I used to love Nova ScienceNow with Neil deGrasse Tyson – but alas it’s not on any longer.
I get listings and short descriptions of the latest science topics and studies at science daily.com
Some of the information posted just glimpses introductory pages of ongoing research, where unless you have a subscription or authorization to view the whole article or study, you can’t follow up on it. Still I find Science Daily to be a great source for ideas based on real world studies.
Thanks for this, Emily. It sounds fascinating and right up my alley. I write magical realism, and I’m always looking for science to base my stories on. I appreciate the share!
I use feedly more than emailed newsletters but my favorite author, Robin Sloan, has a terrific one that is always filled with a wide range of unexpected content that reflects his fascinating take on the world. https://www.robinsloan.com
I don’t know Robin Sloan, Jill, but I will have to check her out. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this, Liz. I love Atlas Obscura, and Poem-a-day is an inspiration. I find poetry particularly helpful right now. Can’t wait to check out these others.
Thank you for stopping by, Brunonia! Hope you enjoy the links.
I’m also an Atlas Obscura fan. Lots of interesting stories and ideas there.
I’ll second the recommendation for Science Daily. It’s a great way to hear about new developments, although sometimes the studies it shares can be chilling news.
For those who like Poem-a-Day, Rattle Poetry also has a daily poem email. Its contributors aren’t as well known but often take more risks with their works.
LitHub.com has a daily roundup of news and literary reviews.
ShelfAwareness.com offers two emails each day. One is for readers while Shelf Awareness Pro focuses on those in the book trade. I skim through both, and I think the Pro version is more informative about what’s happening in the publishing and bookselling worlds. It’s a great place to hear about indie bookstores and what they’re doing.
For those interested in SFF, Daily Science Fiction sends a new short story each day. Readers can rate it on a scale of one to seven “rocket dragons.”
Merriam-Webster, the Oxford English Dictionary, and Wordsmith.org also offer “word of the day” emails. (I’ve had a hard time getting the OED website to add me to their list.)
Ruth, these are great additions — thank you so much. I’m especially excited to check out the poetry suggestion.
Liz, Thanks for this list of newsletters. I don’t have any to add. I regularly read The New York Times online, WU and other fiction writing blogs, and book review sites. I’ve gotten through the pandemic by setting up a daily route consisting of work (a five-hour a day part-time job), exercise, reading, cooking, and watching Netflix. It’s important to spend at least part of the day outside, either walking or just relaxing. I have caught up on my reading, too. Short trips to the RI beaches have been a godsend. It’s only about 90 minutes from my house. We all need to figure out a strategy for getting through the pandemic. Sounds like you have a good one. Best wishes to you and your family for a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Hi Chris! Not going to lie, it’s been a struggle the last few months, but outside time has helped. I’ve loved the beach pictures you’ve posted — thank you for sharing. And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Thanks for these great tips, Liz and everyone else. The corners of my time are going to fill up quickly!
Different from a newsletter: https://window-swap.com/ gives you access to windows around the world where people have set up a camera. Gaze at a loch in Scotland, rain in Zagreb, cats in The Netherlands, or a busy street in Paris. Set up your own camera and join in if you want.
It satisfies my yearning to travel, to see something new. Enjoy!
Oh I LOVE THIS, Barbara. Thank you so much! I opened a few windows and my third was Ireland, which is one of my very favorite places ever!!! You’ve made my day!
I’d forgotten all about Window Swap!! I found it early in the lockdown season, and then forgot about it. Thank you for the reminder. It’s so fun to browse through the world.
I was just telling my husband that I’m almost ready to give up on the whole online world. I lost some hair recently and it resulted in a bald spot. I was diagnosed with alopecia, but I believe the stress from Twitter and doom and gloom from various news articles caused my hair to pop off my head. It’s hard being online full-time this year. It’s become an addiction for me to check what’s happening with big things like COVID and Trump.
I need to stop scrolling through places like Twitter and checking out the latest news feeds. I’ve never done that more than I have this year. I’m glad that I’m not alone, though. ;)
I do consume some positive content. Mindvalley is the place I’m most focused on. But the negative stuff far outweighs the positive stuff.
Starting today I will be working on switching my habits during the day to consume less negative stuff in my life and replace it with more positive stuff.
Kari, I hear you. I’ve lost both weight and hair this year, and Twitter has become a bad habit I can’t seem to break. I’ve started leaving my phone in the kitchen after 5 pm and in the car when I’m exercising as a way to cut down on my scrolling. It seems to help.
Hey Liz–I’m not one for email subscriptions. Over the years I’ve developed a bit of a clean inbox obsession. I’ve unsubscribed to just about everything I ever had regularly coming in, which for me beats having scores of emails to wade through every time I turn around. I don’t even receive emails for the newspapers and mags I subscribe to. I keep them all on my toolbar, and pop in when I have time.
I’ve developed routines around some of them–primarily WU, WaPo, NYT. Checking them all daily has helped me get through all of this. Hey, here’s an oddity. Do you know I’ve never had a subscription to WU? Over a decade of reading it pretty much daily, and never once received it via email.
Having said that, Atlas Obscura and Nat’l. Geo. are ones I should add to my toolbar. Thanks for the tips. And for the reminder to step out of the boxes into which routines and difficult periods can put us. Happy Thanksgiving!
Vaughn, I am in awe and quite envious of your clean mailbox! Mine is a disgrace and one of the things I’m hoping to work on in the new year. With that said, thank you for stopping by and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Liz, what great ideas you have, and spawning so many more from the comments! I’m still searching for equilibrium and inspiration during these difficult times. I’m missing joy, but I’m strangely content. I do the Chopra meditations when they come up (there is one now) and although I haven’t strength trained as I normally do in a gym, I’m still taking walks and hikes in nature for the physical and mental benefit. I have a diffuser running often with essential oils that fit my mood or my current need.
One positive and uplifting change for me is my writing accountability group on Zoom. We all live in various parts of San Diego but would never have encountered each other without quarantine and the now ubiquitous Zoom. After eight months of weekly read and critiques, with a big dose of mental health check-ins with each other, they are my tribe. I have become a more consistent writer because of their support, and their helpful feedback has improved my manuscript.
I love all these suggestions! I’m going to dive into some of them at the first opportunity. Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving.
Deborah,
Your routine sounds very soothing and smart. I miss the gym too, but I’m making do with hand weights and hoping to get a more expansive system soon. I love the suggestions in the comments as well! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Liz, some of your links sound appealing, as do those in the comments. I’ll have to be careful or my inbox is going to become a cluttered mess again…
That said, do you know the screenwriter/novelist Liza Palmer? She’s a hoot. Also very talented. Anyway, she sends out a weekly list of curated resources and links. Sounds boring, right? Except with her personality, it’s more like a stick of dynamite arrives in my mail slot each Monday morning.
Maybe check her out.
https://lizapalmer.substack.com/p/thankful
Jan, thank you for all your help with this post, and I will definitely look for Liza’s list! XXOO
Another blogger to read for hilarity mixed in with home/garden/chicken raising/advice is https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/about/. Even if the post is on a topic that has nothing to do with my life, she makes me laugh.
I am not a nature lover; for me, laughter IS the best medicine.