If you are reading this and your working hours are not consumed with politics, then you are a normal person, and this guide is largely meant for you. It will have some application for journalists, politicians, et cetera. But there will be some things that don’t and can’t apply to those whose job requires them to be immersed in the details of politics and governance.
The purpose of this guide is to offer a few thoughts on how to stay sane in the age of too much information and too much rage (or alternatively for those of you who think lots of rage is good, too much information and lots of rage).
I have just three principles which I offer up for your contemplation toward the living of a better life.
- The 24-hour rule: wait roughly a day before reacting to any piece of news with any strong reaction or opinion.
- Pick one thing and become an expert on that one issue or area.
- Make time for beauty.
The 24 Hour Rule
I owe that catchphrase to my friend Will Rahn. It’s something we’ve both been thinking about. We both work in media, and so we see a lot of headlines throughout every day. My attitude for years — but increasingly over the past few and especially over the last several months — has been to shrug at most headlines, especially the…
