'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by moultano on Sunday July 19, 2020 @09:50PM (#23893999)

Read a really charming and escapist novel. Worst case, you end up staying up too late because the book is so good, but I haven't found anything more reliable for making me disconnect from the world and its churning. Substituting a book for Twitter for the hour before bed has markedly improved the overall quality of my life.

To get yourself into the habit, don't read anything on your "to read someday list of important books." Just pick the most notorious page turner you can think of.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by MengerSponge on Sunday July 19, 2020 @10:37PM (#23894195)

Recent reads that I recommend: N.K. Jemison's Broken Earth Trilogy. Alix Harrow's Ten Thousand Doors of January. Madeline Miller's Circe. Murakami's 1Q84.

Although with a little more thought, 1Q84 might be more upsetting now than it was last year.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by jhgorrell on Sunday July 19, 2020 @10:53PM (#23894266)

I just had "Broken Earth" recommended to me from someone else as well. Guess that is going to the top of the list - thanks!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by matwood on Sunday July 19, 2020 @10:09PM (#23894092)

Completely agree. Reading a book before bed slows my mind and removes the days anxieties. I’m currently reading The Lost Fleet sci-fi series. Pure entertainment.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by dbsmith83 on Monday July 20, 2020 @02:07AM (#23895082)

For sci-fi I really enjoyed the Three Body Problem series

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by matwood on Monday July 20, 2020 @08:50AM (#23897234)

Thanks! I have a couple books left in this series, then I'll check our your suggestion.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by square_usual on Monday July 20, 2020 @02:54AM (#23895316)

Anecdotally, I've had much better sleep when reading a book just before bed than anything else. Even just cutting of twitter/ screens before bed didn't get me the same kind of relaxed, gentle sleep as reading, say, 50 pages of sff.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by dbtc on Sunday July 19, 2020 @09:59PM (#23894037)

I recommend Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by unknownkadath on Sunday July 19, 2020 @10:10PM (#23894098)

Whoa, slow down there, Satan.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by dvtrn on Sunday July 19, 2020 @10:28PM (#23894161)

?? What?

Blood Meridian has dark moments in the narrative sure, but it’s a beautifully written book and very easy spaghetti western adventure to get lost in before bed. It’s not like you’re dozing off reading The Necronomicon, c’mon.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by prawn on Monday July 20, 2020 @02:58AM (#23895343)

It's my favourite book but it's hardly easy-reading for many people. It's grim and would challenge a few people I bet. I could read writing like that about the desert forever, but not everyone is so inclined.

I think everyone should read it, but I can also appreciate an "easy there, Satan"-type joke about it!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by ssully on Monday July 20, 2020 @09:46AM (#23897755)

Yeah, I've read most of Cormac McCarthy's books, but I've never gotten past the first 50 pages of Blood Meridian. Even compared to Child of God, it just hit me in the wrong ways whenever I read it. Still hoping to get to it someday though!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by prawn on Monday July 20, 2020 @08:15PM (#23903204)

Commit to it. It's sublime.

Last one I read was Suttree while over in the US camping in the South-East.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by mjrbrennan on Sunday July 19, 2020 @11:14PM (#23894362)

I never thought I’d hear someone call Blood Meridian a “spaghetti western adventure”. Makes it sound like The Magnificent Seven!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by dvtrn on Sunday July 19, 2020 @11:25PM (#23894412)

I meant to say spaghetti-ish, but edited it out to fix some grammar and forgot to put it back. So it goes

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by mikeshank on Monday July 20, 2020 @08:00AM (#23896898)

In the middle of that book now. Deeply calming.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by randycupertino on Sunday July 19, 2020 @11:13PM (#23894360)

Any good book recommendations? I just finished Red Notice by Bill Browder which was fantastic.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:'Doomscrolling' breeds anxiety – how to stop the cycle by wry_discontent on Monday July 20, 2020 @10:25AM (#23898160)

If you're interested in Russia, Revolutionary Russia by Orlando Figes was really good. It's a (brief) history of the Soviet Union.

[ Parent | on HN ]