Issue 91: How to Have a Great Year
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about mental health in 2022 – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
How to Have a Great Year
We are well into the new year, but it’s never too late to consider some helpful tips and strategies to improve mental health. Let’s face it: the world is still a very tense place. The pandemic remains an ever-present threat. The global economy is up and down. We all continue to suffer from uncertainty about what will happen in 2022. We are more addicted to scrolling on our phones than ever before, making matters even worse. As January comes to a close, let’s consider some practical measures we can take to inspire better living in ourselves and our communities.
Put the phone down: Getting off one’s phone is much easier said than done these days, but even thirty minutes a day can make a big difference for one’s mental health. This is especially true if that screen time break happens before bed. Getting better sleep this year will dramatically increase your happiness. For years, we have sung the praises of reading physical books to reduce screen time. Set a book reading target in 2022 and make sure to read them in their physical form. If you live in Dubai, check out Kinokuniya for one of the world’s best selections. Reading before bed … what a radical way to increase one’s happiness!
Arts and crafts: In their recommendations for a happier year, the Washington Post suggests we pick up a new craft. Crafting, the paper notes, is a great way to inspire calm because it moves our attention from the normal anxiety triggers of the day. Crafting can also boost accomplishment since a crafter creates something from scratch. Even if you aren’t the most creative or artistic, picking up a craft in the company of friends and family is a great way to get your mind off the daily grind. Through little tweaks and changes, we can make 2022 a great year of healthy living.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you, you.”
– Beyonce
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
A new year, a new week: This year marks the start of a bold new approach to the workweek in the UAE. Last year, the UAE decided to shift the workweek from Sunday to Thursday to Monday to Friday. The shift might sound small for those living in the West, but it is nothing short of remarkable for the Gulf and Middle East regions. In this piece published by Xische, we take a deep dive into the shift to a new workweek means for the country and the region.
The UAE at 50: At the end of 2021, the UAE celebrated its 50th anniversary. With Abu Dhabi and Dubai at the forefront, the UAE is now a pillar of an entirely new global economy. What New York and London were to the Industrial Revolution, the UAE is to the knowledge revolution. As we look to the next 50 years, the UAE has embarked on the most critical reforms in the country’s history and is about to embrace a new work week structure that will redefine work-life balance in the contemporary economy. We explored all sides of this incredible landmark in this piece published by Xische.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
The future of 5G: There is a considerable debate raging about 5G infrastructure and flight safety in the United States. We all know 5G is incredibly fast and basically the future of the internet as we know it. But how much do we know about how 5G technology impacts flight safety? This great piece in Why is this Interesting outlines the debate in a clear and stimulating way.
Electric times: We will see a lot more electric vehicles on the road this year. America’s favorite pickup truck, the Ford F-150, is about to go electric as well. Does this mean the tide is turning and the future of the road is all electric? Perhaps. The New Yorker takes a deep dive on the subject and provides some intelligence on what to expect next in this exciting sector.
QUICK HITS
Seven technologies to watch in 2022.
How do you say Kyiv?
A meditation on parenthood.
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