Member-only story
7 Better Ways to Relax After Work Than Mindlessly Scrolling on Your Phone
It’s said that “May you live in interesting times” is an old Chinese curse. Whether or not the Chinese ever said anything of the kind (likely not), the underlying sentiment is true. Interesting times are stressful times. And we’re definitely living through some interesting times at the moment.
No wonder our brains often feel like mashed potatoes at the end of the day. It’s not just me, right? The natural temptation, of course, is to come home after work, pick up your phone, and let the endless bounty of internet nonsense turn your brain off for a bit.
But according to University of Southampton psychologist Emma Palmer-Cooper, there is a big problem with that approach to relaxing after work. Namely, it ultimately makes us feel worse.
Your phone is the worst way to relax after work.
For one, social media companies know outrage is engaging, so our feeds are packed with the negativity we’re trying to avoid. “Research shows that this habit often results in considerable psychological distress. This ultimately leads to lower mental well-being, poorer life satisfaction, and reduced engagement at work,” warns Palmer-Cooper in The Conversation.
