Mood of the Year: Languishing

Adam Grant: “My TED talk on the science—and my personal experience—of pushing past ‘meh.’ I realized that play isn’t a reward for finishing my to-do list; it belongs on my to-do list.”

AG: “Journalist Oliver Burkeman offers a searing indictment of our obsession with maximizing efficiency. I came away from this article—and his follow-up book, Four Thousand Weeks—believing that instead of trying to optimize our time, we’re better off managing our attention. Prioritize the people and projects that matter to you, and it won’t matter how much time you waste.”

AG: “A riveting podcast episode on how we have more control over our emotions than we think. Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett shares provocative evidence on the value of broadening our emotional vocabularies.”

AG: “The definitive book on flow, by the intellectual giant who coined the term. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi passed away this fall, and I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory than to read his classic about the importance of taking on challenges that stretch your skills.”

AG: “A rich conversation between vulnerability researcher Brené Brown and emotion expert Susan David on the problems with forced enthusiasm. As Susan puts it: ‘When you tell someone to be positive, you’re saying to them, My comfort is more important than your reality.’”

AG: “Therapist Nedra Tawwab presents the practical tools we need to prioritize our own mental health. She shows us that setting boundaries doesn’t mean you don’t care; it’s an act of self-care.”

AG: “On The Happiness Lab, psychologist Laurie Santos examines the dark side of positive thinking. She talks with Olympic champion Michael Phelps about the upsides of preparing for the worst even when you’re aiming for the best.”

AG: “Austin Kleon offers a compelling counterpoint that it’s difficult to flourish in difficult conditions. Some of us aren’t stagnating—we’re like plants in winter waiting for spring.“

AG: “New research points to four ways to overcome languishing on video calls: (a) increase mobility by giving permission to walk around, (b) reduce eye contact intensity by sitting farther away, (c) reduce self-consciousness by turning off your self-view, and (d) reduce cognitive load by holding audio-only sessions.”

AG: “An NBA star who got depressed, a pair of leading psychologists, and a manager whose COVID message went viral illuminate how we can build mentally healthier workplaces. What people need most is not sympathy (I’m sorry you’re in pain) or empathy (I feel your pain), but compassion (I’ll do what I can to alleviate your pain).”

AG: “This cracked me up. I hope it makes you laugh too.”

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