A visit to the analog-verse
Digital sunset on film
In these polarized and frustrating times, taking a break from the online world isn’t always easy – but it could be the mini-vacation you need.
It’s an understatement to say that the news these days – from the climate to economics to human rights – is alarming and overwhelming. (And to say that’s an understatement is, well, an understatement.) That’s just the news. There’s also the ecosystem of social media, with its expanding misinformation and self-confirming thought bubbles.
While social media may be good for opining (and even at times organizing), it’s not as good for listening. There is, of course, undeniably great content across multiple platforms, and it’s an unprecedented space in which to learn from others around the corner and around the world; that includes climate news and, importantly, climate solutions.
Yet this onslaught of information can also leave us exhausted and distracted at a time when we need clarity and purpose — including those of us working in the climate change space.
For my mental health as well as my usefulness through work, I sometimes need a pause from news and online content, even if I don’t always take it — the siren call of “what on earth is happening now?” is loud. But while a digital detox in an exotic locale or the deletion of social accounts is not realistic for most, or even the right choice, additional moments of analog living could help both our well-being and our creativity.
It requires a conscious strategy to carve out times when you leave the pixels behind. Forget the phone when you go for lunch. Listen to a record or cassette without skipping tracks. Keep the screens out of the bedroom. Go for a walk in the woods (if you are able) without your mobile.
On a societal level, spending time in nature can cultivate empathy and care for the environment. On a personal level, it can improve your mood, while also reducing stress and burnout. Regular time outdoors can help prevent the cumulative effects of chronic stress, lowering risks of mental health issues and physical illnesses. Exposure to natural light exposure helps regulate sleep cycles.
It may also build our resilience to the slings and arrows of modern life. Studies have shown that time in nature can increase your cognitive strength and improve problem-solving and creativity. (Not an insignificant benefit for climate work.) Even urban dwellers can benefit from parks or gardens; adding time in green spaces to your daily routines has been shown to offer significant mental health benefits.
I enjoy wilderness camping, usually with my partner or son, but sometimes alone. Just me, my kayak, a hammock tent, some dehydrated food, and a waterproof film camera. There was a recent outing when I didn’t take my phone. It spurred a familiar but increasingly distant memory of being bored, of not having a near instant answer to just about any question. It’s often a challenge to calm the mind — this forced it on me. It opened up time and space to think about ideas in a non-distracted way.
More time in the “analog-verse” could help us:
Improve connections with the people you interact with at home and work.
Break the unconscious habit of constantly checking your phone.
Become more aware of our surrounding community and environment — for better or for worse.
Feel calmer, as social media can amplify anger.
It’s of course about balance. Take breaks from the screen but also try to support those corners of the online world that enrich you (and we certainly hope Climate Stories Atlantic is one). When you return from your analog mini-vacation, the digital-verse will still be there; so will our environmental and social challenges…but you might be in a better headspace to take them on.
