This article is part of SELF’s second annual report rest week, an editing package that specializes in small tasks. If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that taking care of ourselves, both physically and mentally, is impossible without true downtime. With that in mind, we’ll be publishing articles throughout the new year to help you develop habits of resting, relaxing, and slowing down. (And we’re following our own advice: SELF staff will be on his OOO during this period!) We urge you to take it easy and get some rest, no matter what the situation is for you. I’m thinking of going.
Rest — For real, give your brain a break and stop scrolling through your phone until you feel sick rest– is difficult. Part of it is cultural. You might feel guilty about taking a vacation, especially if you look around and see, say, a pile of laundry you’re itching to put away.But part of it comes down to the fact that rest can be pretty awful boring.You can only watch a limited number of episodes real housewife Before you feel like your brain is rotten. (I say this as someone who loves real housewife!)
After developing mono last fall, I finally received the following diagnosis. Me/CFS, I had to rest a lot. Unfortunately, many of the relaxing activities I enjoyed in my old life (reading, knitting, other crafts) are still quite mentally demanding.Indeed, they are Chill, But I quickly realized that they required more mental energy than I had to give, and I knew I had to find something more modest. So I listened to my body and ended up writing podcasts and long-form narrated articles ( new yorker produce), and video essays (which usually do not require looking at a screen). Collapse on the couch and listen to something for 30-60 minutes. Resist any urge to pick up your phone and check your messages or quickly Google something—That was a game changer.
If you are healing from an illness or injury, are in the hospital, resting in bed, or are really trying your best to relax, we highly recommend an audio-only approach. To help you make this part of your rest routine, we’ve put together a list of gentle podcast episodes and video essays to get you started. Each item on this list is a stand-alone story (though some span several episodes) and should be pretty calming. There’s no gruesome murder investigation here.
A few days ago at work, some of my colleagues were raving about this episode.I wasn’t a big shot. Taru Although I was a listener, I took everyone’s advice. And oh, it paid off. This story is the perfect blend of strangeness, mundanity, and ridiculousness, and is the kind of true crime that I completely agree with.
It was hard to choose a favorite 99PI I added the episode to this list because there are so many great ones. And the host Roman Mars’ voice was just right, So Soothing, it’s like the platonic ideal of the genre we’re talking about here. But this song, about how a group of black men founded the world’s first emergency medical unit in 1970s Pittsburgh, has stuck with me ever since I first heard it. (Also, if you liked this episode, clickhollywood architectAs a follow-up to “. It has a similar theme and feel, and is another one of my all-time favorites. )
As a big fan of Britney Spears, I was inclined to like this Vulture’s 4-part miniseries. It’s about giving Britney her due musically and digging into what makes her music great. They’re all short episodes, so they’re all worth listening to, but if you only do one, I’d recommend the episode about “Toxic.” This is a very unique pop song, with its roots in a 1981 Bollywood musical.
Each episode of this podcast focuses on a listener-submitted story with twisty, low-stakes drama, and this is one of my favorite episodes. The gossip is fun and the guests are really nice people, a winning combo. (A close runner-up, if you want another option:Squirrel Lover and Tracy Clayton. ”)
i really like slate decoder ring Podcast; each episode focuses on a “cultural issue, object, way of thinking, or habit” that is hidden in plain sight and whose origins may be unknown. This is a moment in a movie you’ve probably seen where the main character is walking down a busy, crowded city street. Tootsie shot. “
6.”Pilates,” maintenance phase
maintenance phase, hosted by longtime SELF contributor and friend of the brand Aubrey Gordon and journalist Michael Hobbs, is one of my favorite podcasts, so it’s hard to choose just one episode to recommend. is. That being said, a lot of what’s covered there has to do with the diet industry and can be a little irritating, so I decided to pick one lighter item for this list. If you don’t know much about Pilates or the fact that it started in the concentration camps of World War I (!!), then this is the episode for you.
7. “rule,” If books can kill people
Michael Hobbs also happens to be the co-host of this podcast about “Airport Books.” Airport books are huge bestsellers that are briefly popular and have a lasting impact (or long-term damage) on a culture.This deep dive was really fun. rulea dating manual rooted in old-fashioned, reductive ideas about gender.
This episode is 99PI It’s really fun. It traces the origins of the 2000s earworm “Who Lets the Dog Outside?”, but it’s much harder to pin down than you might think. (His jaw literally dropped when he saw one of the episode’s many reveals.) Reply to all,”case of mishit“You’ll like this.
9.”american ivy,” Articles of interest
This podcast is 99% invisible, and therefore have similar sensibilities (but different hosts). Typically, each episode delves into a different aspect of fashion, such as pockets, Hawaiian shirts, and knock-offs. Last year, host Avery Truffleman wrote his seven-part series dedicated exclusively to Ivy’s style, the ultra-preppy, wealthy college student style associated with brands like J. Crew and Ralph Lauren. series has been released. It’s very interesting and an incredibly gentle listen.
I think we all know that birds are metaphorically gay, but did you know that some are literally gay too? If that’s news to you, consider this lovely episode please radio labThis paper explores research from the 1970s on female gulls that built nests and raised chicks together.
This documentary podcast explores New York’s Fire Island, a small piece of land frequented and beloved by queer people since the early 20th century. Host Jess Rothschild brought the perfect blend of levity, appreciation, and criticism to the topic, and had great conversations with queer elders who have been visiting there every summer for over 30 years. . It’s a transaction that will make you laugh and cry.
A friend recommended this video to me. That also led me to introduce you to Jenny Nicholson, a professional gamer and YouTuber who has a lot of ideas about geek culture. She never expected a woman to sit at a desk and talk directly to the camera about a failed Utah theme park. 4 hours You managed to get my attention, but oh well! Her deep insights are fascinating, funny, and highly relatable for anyone who’s ever worked in a job where the people in charge made bad decisions at every turn. (If you’re not sold yet because of the length, I understand. In that case, I recommend starting with “.”Unnecessarily thoroughly roasted Dear Evan Hansen” or “An excruciating deep dive into Avatar Theme Park. ”)
Have a happy rest!
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