Hello 2022 ... don't I know you?
Hi - it’s good to be writing to you - I hope you got some rest and time off during the holidays. But, January - kind of a marmite love / hate month at the best of times.
Does January 2022 feel same-same to you? Or maybe it feels strangely weirdly déjà vu. Whatever our differences about how this feels, what unites us is our attempts to adapt to ceaseless change, and to cut through the noise in the information deluge that assaults us every day: to find the meaningful signal that can truly inform, improve, and even entertain us in our lives.
Breaker Bay, Wellington, New Zealand - January 2022
Does January 2022 feel same-same to you? Or maybe it feels strangely weirdly déjà vu. Whatever our differences about how this feels, what unites us is our attempts to adapt to ceaseless change, and to cut through the noise in the information deluge that assaults us every day: to find the meaningful signal that can truly inform, improve, and even entertain us in our lives.
Noise Reduction
With this in mind, my newsletter will also be same-same but different.
As well as psychology, I’ll be curating other perspectives on the world today: the best of what I’ve found in science, technology, engineering, economics, history, politics, modern living, sport, culture and the arts.
I’ll share tips for reducing a sense of overwhelm, and how to focus, regather your attention, and simplify. I’ll help you create space to not be productive - because sometimes, this is really, really important. Think more single-tasking than a multi-tasking vibe.
My newsletter is about producing more signal and less noise. I’ll be feeding your brain with the best curated learning it craves by reading 100+ articles, so you don’t have to. It’s the newsletter you’ll come back to repeatedly until the next issue drops into your inbox, surfacing gems you may never have seen before.
Welcome to Noise Reduction.
Your attention didn’t collapse. It was stolen https://t.co/x5hFDwmna0
After some experimentation last year, I landed on a monthly newsletter which seemed to suit what a lot of you, my readers, wanted. If you already receive my newsletter, you’ll carry on getting just that. You don’t need to do a thing, it’ll be free, and landing in your inbox once-a-month.
Can memes help people cope with pandemic-induced anxiety?
Why do people reach for humour when serious events happen? It can confuse and upset those who are seriously affected, but humour in the shape of memes seems to offer some short-term relief. Does it work in the long-term? That’s a different question.
Why has Wordle taken over the internet?
Wordle has become the first viral moment of 2022. Experts say it’s down to a combination of timing, functionality, and wholesomeness. Get the inside psychological line here.
If You Made New Year's Resolutions Don't Give Up Yet! - The New York Times
For New York Times articles like this, they are often behind a paywall. I’ll be making these free to access for weekly subscribers of Noise Reduction.
Craving Sweets? You Might Need More Sleep
Trying to tame your sweet tooth again after some holiday feasting? The solution might not be exercise: it’s more likely to be the sleep you’re not getting.
In this link, 50 technology thinkers put forward what they think might come up for us in the year ahead. Some themes that caught my eye included:
How the Metaverse is going to flop because game companies are doing this already and have been for years (did you notice Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard announced this week?)
Permanent remote work is going to be even more of a thing
Competition for talent is only going to intensify as we move through the pandemic
There’s lots more below the paywall for subscribers and you’ll also get access to my 30,000 Days project too. Thanks to my paid subscribers who make all this possible.
The next big thing in 2022 is...
Here’s where 50 of technology’s top thinkers pondered on the year ahead.
What I'm reading
Think dystopian tale in the now and near future when the largest social media company in the work buys the largest retailer / distributor on the planet. Although sometimes lacking in satirical bite, it’s a good read that hits just a little too close to home: how much are you feeding the machine? William Gibson-lite meets Douglas Coupland.
What I'm listening to
This week Ive been listening to Bonobo’s new album, Fragments on my daily walk. Easy, atmospheric, and suitable for idle-mind wandering as I have my Airpods Pro set on transparency mode so I can still hear my footsteps crunching on the trail.
Podcast-wise, I’m a big fan of Kara Swisher’s work, and as a writer too. Here, with the inimitable Scott Galloway, they come up with their hot takes on technology, politics and business news twice a week. Required listening on my morning dog-walks.
Just watched the first episode so far, and it was a little slow. But I guess at point decades later, I’m all in on the Star Wars franchise. This will be catch-up viewing for spare moments in the evening.
What I'm watching
Of course, if this exciting direction for me is no longer aligned with what you signed up for, please click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this update. I really don’t want to be making a nuisance of myself in your inbox.
However, if the weekly option seems like something you’d like to try, please sign-up - I’d love to have you on board as part of my founder supporting crew.
I’d love to support your writing and receive Noise Reduction weekly!
Summer sunset on January 1st 2022
Finding Calm
Let me leave you with a quick reminder that my new book is out of February 1st - in print in New Zealand and Australia from all good bookshops, and in eBook globally.
Finding Calm by Sarb Johal - Penguin Books New Zealand
We live in a troubled world - so many changes, so many uncertainties. This book gives a range of practical skills to help anyone come to terms with feelings of anxiety and learn to thrive.
Thanks everyone for getting this far - and take good care out there.
“Our consumer self is the only self our culture really cultivated. Faced with real tribulations people reach for consumer guarantees and demand to speak to the manager. https://t.co/apobkgZBsd”
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