Doing so only drives them further into their bubble. You’re not going to change anyone’s mind. It also makes you look like a smart-ass or a bully.
As the old quote says:
Don’t wrestle with pigs, you’ll both get dirty, and the pig likes it.
2) Be Original:
Sure, it’s easy to share pithy quotes and stolen memes. Instead, why not share your art, writing, or even pictures of your cats. Does your writing suck? So what — that’s how you get better. People love that type of content and are more likely to engage.
3) Set up guardrails:
Stop doomscrolling. Put your phone somewhere else when sleeping (I promise, your phone will still be there when you wake up). Set up time blocks for social media — set up a calendar event, just like you would for a meeting or an appointment. Set up filters and blocking software if you’re having a problem getting your work done. Checking socials constantly for a quick dopamine hit is not healthy. Remember that stepping away from social media is okay if it’s not serving you.
4) Don’t be vague:
Posting something like “sigh really sad now” makes you sound like a child looking for attention (unless you actually are a child looking for attention, don’t do that)
5) Don’t share things you know might not be factual:
It’s really easy to hit that retweet button because a clickbait headline catches your eye. Take the time actually to read what you’re sharing.
6) Don’t get hung up on likes and followers, and analytics:
If you’re authentic, your true fans will find you. Besides, half of your followers might be bots, so why sweat it?
7) Engage with those you learn from:
Tell them you appreciate their work, ask thoughtful questions, and share your related stories. People are eager to share their information and expertise.
8) Stop following garbage accounts:
Do yourself a favor and stop filling your feed with mindless memes or titillating videos. This is nothing but a time suck and the electronic equivalent of mindlessly snacking on chips. Use social media to learn and grow, not just to distract yourself.
9) Brush up your profiles:
Put language and words that will help attract the kind of followers you want. If you’re into AI art, put that in there. Also, use services like Linktree to drive followers to your other content or websites.
10) Have fun!
Stop taking social media so seriously. You could get banned. It could all go away tomorrow. Then what? If you’re trying to run a business from Twitter, be ready with your Plan B.
Those who say that they are too busy for meditation are the ones who need it most. I was one of those people. But after years of scattered thoughts and ADHD-like tendencies, I knew I had to try something to calm my scattered brain.
It’s been about 20 years, but meditation is still a non-negotiable part of my morning routine.
Meditation can seem intimidating at first, especially if you’re new to it. Many people think of spiritual gurus when they hear the word meditation, conjuring images of folks lounging on cushions in a cloud of incense and mellow sitar tunes. That sounds pretty good, but it is not at all required. (That’s why they call it “practice”; it’s a learned skill.)
Meditation has been practiced for centuries. It offers a wide range of benefits, both physical and mental. Here are just a few:
Reduces stress and anxiety
One of the best-known benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Meditating can quiet your mind and calm your body, which can help lower your stress levels and improve your overall sense of well-being.
Improves focus and concentration
If you have a hard time staying on task or tend to get easily distracted, meditation can help. It helps improve your focus and concentration by teaching you to be more present and mindful in the moment.
Increases self-awareness
Meditation allows you to tune in to your thoughts and feelings in a way that can help you better understand yourself. It can also help you become more aware of any negative thought patterns or behaviors that may be holding you back.
Promotes emotional well-being
Regular meditation can help you manage your emotions more effectively and respond to difficult situations more calmly. It can also help you cultivate positive emotions such as gratitude and compassion.
Improves physical health
Meditation has been shown to have a number of physical health benefits as well. It can lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and even boost the immune system.
Enhances relationships
Relationships with others can improve and become more meaningful if you practice meditation to help you become more mindful and present. Additionally, it can aid in the development of empathy and compassion for others, resulting in more amicable interactions.
Increases happiness
Through relaxation, self-reflection, and inner peace, meditation can help foster greater joy in life. You will be happier not only with yourself, but also with the world around you!
How Do I Begin?
So, how do you get started with meditation? One tip I have for beginners is to start small. Don’t feel like you have to set aside an hour each day to meditate right off the bat. Even just a few minutes of meditation each day can be incredibly beneficial. I started with 5 minutes; now, most mornings, I start with 20 minutes. As I said, that’s why they call it “practice”—you get better the more you do it.
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down, and set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, letting your thoughts come and go without getting too caught up in them. If your mind starts to wander, gently redirect your attention back to your breath.
It’s okay if you find your mind wandering a lot at first—that’s completely normal. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at staying present and focused.
If you’re new to meditation, it can be helpful to start small and gradually increase the length of your practice as you become more comfortable. It’s also a good idea to find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down and to set a timer, so you don’t have to worry about the time passing. It can take some time to get the hang of it, but the more you practice, the more you’ll start to see the benefits.
Beware the ‘Monkey Mind’
The concept of “monkey mind” is often used in the context of meditation to describe the restless, scattered, anxious state of mind. It’s called “monkey mind” because the mind jumps around from thought to thought, much like a monkey swinging from branch to branch.
In meditation, the goal is often to quiet the monkey mind and bring the focus to the present moment. This can be challenging, especially for beginners, because the mind is naturally drawn to wander and is easily distracted.
The monkey mind can be particularly active during times of stress or anxiety, making it even more difficult to quiet the mind and find inner peace. This is one of the reasons why meditation is so helpful for reducing stress and anxiety: it helps to calm the monkey mind and bring a sense of clarity and focus.
One way to deal with the monkey mind during meditation is to simply acknowledge the thoughts as they come up and then let them go. This helps you dissociate from your thoughts and allows you to return to the present moment.
It’s also helpful to have a specific focus during meditation, such as the breath or a mantra, to help bring the mind back to the present when it starts to wander. With practice, it becomes easier to quiet the monkey mind and find a sense of inner calm and clarity through meditation.
When to Meditate
There is no “best” time to meditate; the most important thing is to find a time that works for you and fits into your schedule. Personally, I find mornings optimal; it clears away the grogginess of the morning and makes me more focused and ready to tackle the day.
Here are a few things to consider when deciding when to meditate:
Energy levels
Some people find it easier to meditate when feeling rested and energized, while others prefer to meditate to wind down at the end of the day. Experiment with different times of the day to see when you feel most focused and alert.
Personal schedule
Consider your daily routine and see if there are any natural lulls in your schedule that could be a good time for meditation. For example, some people like to meditate first thing in the morning, while others prefer to meditate in the evening before bed.
Time of day
Some people find it easier to meditate in the morning when the mind is fresh and the day has yet to get hectic. Others prefer to meditate in the evening as a way to unwind after a busy day.
Ultimately, the best time to meditate is whenever you can carve out a few minutes for yourself and find a quiet, comfortable space to sit or lie down. So, choose a time that works for you and stick with it—the important thing is to make meditation a regular part of your routine.
Minimalism is a lifestyle and design movement that emphasizes simplicity and functionality. Minimalism involves reducing unnecessary possessions and distractions and allowing you to focus on what is essential and valuable to you.
The idea behind minimalism is to declutter your life and eliminate excess so you can live a more intentional and fulfilling life. Removing things that don’t serve a purpose can free up physical and mental space and make room for what is truly important to you.
One of the critical benefits of minimalism is that it can help you save money. You can reduce your expenses and save money by eliminating unnecessary things you don’t need or use. Minimalism can also help you become more organized and efficient, as you’ll have fewer things to manage and maintain.
In addition to the practical benefits, minimalism can bring peace and clarity to your life. By simplifying your possessions and surroundings, you can reduce stress and distractions and focus on what is truly important to you.
To start practicing minimalism, begin by taking an inventory of your possessions and identifying what you truly need and use and what can be eliminated. It can be challenging to confront your attachment to material possessions and question whether they serve a purpose in your life.
One approach is to start small, such as decluttering a single room or closet and gradually work your way up to larger areas. You can also adopt the “one in, one out” rule, where for every new item you bring into your home, you must get rid of something else. This can help prevent your possessions from accumulating over time.
Another aspect of minimalism is being mindful of your consumption habits. This means considering the environmental and social impact of the products you purchase and choosing items that are made sustainably and ethically.
A minimalist lifestyle does not mean living a bare and austere life but rather focusing on what is truly valuable and important to you. It is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find a balance that works for you and helps you live a simpler, more meaningful life.
A minimalist lifestyle can simplify your life and help you find happiness and fulfillment. By decluttering your possessions and surroundings, you can create more space and clarity in your life and focus on what truly matters to you. So, if you want to simplify your life and focus on what truly matters, then minimalism may be a worthwhile path for you to consider.
Few had ever traveled, and even fewer had returned from the realm beyond our own curtain. This place was referred to as the Mirror World and was thought to possess enormous power and mystery.
According to legend, the Mirror World was a reflection of our own, a parallel dimension where everything was the same, yet somehow different. It was where the impossible became possible, where the laws of physics could be bent and twisted to the will of those who knew how to harness its power.
Many people believed that the Mirror World was the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe and that those brave enough to venture into its depths would be rewarded with unimaginable knowledge and riches. But some warned of its dangers, claiming that the Mirror World was a place of great darkness and evil, where even the bravest of souls could be lost forever.
Despite the risks, there were always those drawn to the Mirror World, driven by a desire for power or knowledge. Some entered its realm searching for enlightenment, hoping to find the answers to life’s greatest mysteries. Others were driven by greed, seeking to exploit the Mirror World’s resources for their gain.
Those who entered the Mirror World were said to be changed by the experience, their perceptions of reality altered in ways they could never fully understand. Some returned with newfound abilities and insights, while others were forever haunted by the horrors they had witnessed within the Mirror World’s dark corners.
But despite its dangers, the Mirror World remained a place of great fascination, and many people continued to seek out its hidden pathways and secrets. Some even claimed to have found a way to enter the Mirror World at will, using ancient rituals and incantations to open portals to its mysterious realm.
The mirror world became shrouded in mystery over time, with scholars and mystics debating its existence. Some claimed that it was nothing more than a myth, a fable created to explain the inexplicable. Others insisted that it was real and that the experience forever changed those who entered its realm.
Regardless of the truth, the Mirror World continued to exert a powerful pull on the imaginations of those who heard its call. It remained a place of mystery and wonder, where anything was possible, and the impossible became a reality. And for those brave enough to venture into its depths, it held the promise of unimaginable knowledge and power, waiting to be discovered by those willing to take the risk.
Illustration: the Lone Hacker by @JohnSuder [Midjourneyv4]
Awesome Things is a weekly newsletter featuring ~10 of the best things on the internet – no hard news, gruesome stats, or politics – curated by John Suder and delivered fresh each Friday morning.
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