The Daily Valet. - 10/15/20, Thursday

✔️ What to Do About Doomscrolling

Thursday, October 15th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

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Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

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Today’s Big Story

What to Do About Doomscrolling

We can't take anymore ... but we can't take our eyes off social media

It's not an exaggeration to say that nearly all the news these days is bad news. A deadly, economically crippling pandemic has now dragged into its seventh month. Wildfires sparked by climate change are still ravaging the West Coast. America's political landscape has descended into republic-threatening chaos, and racial, cultural, and economic inequalities are as stark and divisive as ever.

Not only is it bad—it's seemingly everywhere. According to Elemental, social media usage has increased as people spend more time at home, and likewise, Nielsen reports that weekly TV watching grew by 1 billion hours at the height of nationwide shelter-in-place orders in April.

We’re taking in more media than ever. And often, that means reading and watching a slew of gloomy stories after scrolling through harsh opinions. Perhaps you've heard the terms “doomsurfing” or “doomscrolling”?

Why do we do it? Therapist Ken Stamper told KQED that it's tied into our desire to share in a collective experience at a time when many of us feel alienated and disconnected. But the resulting anxiety spikes our blood pressure and disrupts our sleep patterns.

One of my favorite writers, Dave Holmes, was asked about the phenomenon. He said not to beat ourselves up about it. “When all is doom, all scrolling is doomscrolling.”

But if you can't fight the urge to keep checking in, he recommends some tech help: Download an app called Freedom that will block the websites and apps that you’re wasting the most time on. Your choices are limited but your freedom is increased. Or you could always skip the news and rely solely on your favorite morning newsletter.

↦ Stress-Busters: We tested out the best products to combat stress. Here are the items proven to soothe your body and mind.

Biden Is Holding Onto His Lead Over Trump

The latest poll of registered voters shows him leading the president 53% to 42%

Former Vice President Joe Biden holds a double-digit lead over President Trump less than three weeks from Election Day, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll of registered voters finds.

According to the Journal, Biden is ahead by 11 points in the national survey, 53% to 42%, following a tumultuous few weeks that included the nomination of federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court; the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization as well as his pulling out of the next debate, originally schedules for this evening.

Trump's lack of a consistent and coherent closing argument is alarming some Republicans, reports the Washington Post. In the final stretch of the race, a trio of challenges have converged to create a serious barrier to his reelection: the inability to drag down Biden’s favorability ratings, the lack of a clearly articulated second-term agenda, and a pandemic that won't let up.

What's more, NBC News reports a majority of voters say they have major concerns that Trump will divide the country rather than unite it—the largest concern for either presidential candidate.

↦ Tonight: Trump and Biden will compete for TV audiences in dueling town hall meetings instead of meeting face-to-face after Trump dropped out a virtual debate.

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Billboard Music Awards Merge Past and Present

Legends returns and the youth urge change

Last night's Billboard Music Awards were highlighted by a slew of performances and artists who advocated for viewers to use their own voices for change, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Post Malone won a total of nine awards, including top artist. Billie Eilish accepted her awards wearing a mask and urged viewers to do the same. Lizzo, who was named top song sales artist, accepted her award wearing a black gown with the word "VOTE."

Garth Brooks accepted the Icon Award and sang a greatest hits medley. But the most memorable and enjoyable performance of the night had to the surprise reunion of legendary girl group, EnVogue. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, they sang a rock-laced version of their hit, "Free Your Mind," sampling Childish Gambino's "This Is America" and giving a decades-old anthem new meaning in 2020, reports Entertainment Weekly.

But that was hardly the most political performance. Demi Lovato took on the president directly, singing her new—very political—song, "Commander in Chief."

↦ Dig Deeper: Billboard has the complete list of winners.

The Next Frontier in American Drinking

Hard cider sits between craft beer and natural wine

Hard cider is hardly new. The English have been guzzling it since before the Romans invaded. The Pilgrims brought it to America and planted orchards in order to make more. Benjamin Franklin happily chugged it, George Washington made his own from apples he grew himself.

As Inside Hook points out, the current American cider boom has been about 10 years in the making, with more than 1,000 cideries operating across the country in all 50 states.

While the market is dominated by a handful of big names, such as Angry Orchard and Strongbow, it's the regional operators that are making unique bottles that align closer to natural wine with drier, distinct flavors that run the gamut from sweet and crisp to dry and hoppy.

So if you've been sleeping on this fall-friendly brew, now's the time to try it.

↦ Drink UP: 10 ciders to look for (and then drink) this fall.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Giving away this sold-out watch

“Dexter’s” return

Spicy donuts

Special Promotion

Nootropics 101

An intro to the best supplements for ultimate brain health

We often take supplements like vitamins to ward off trouble down the road. But what if you could feel the effects in the here and now? That’s exactly what’s at the heart of the booming nootropic market. The popular supplements, which have been around since the ‘60s, are specifically designed to improve your brain function. But it seems lately, more and more people are trying them.

Of course, like with anything you put into your body, the ingredients matter—a lot. I recently got a chance to try Brain Drive, the new daily supplement by Momentous, a brand known for their transparency and high-potency hand-sourced ingredients. The first thing I noticed after consistently taking Brain Drive for two weeks? That I actually felt something. When you swallow a supplement, you do so in good faith hoping it’ll do its job, right? But an hour after taking Brain Drive I would notice a difference in my energy levels and focus. This isn't like some biohacker on a 5-Hour Energy caffeine buzz. No jittery high, just level-headed focus.

I was “in the zone,” and could handle everything thrown at me with a cool, calm confidence. Even on a particularly rough Monday, when a last-minute project was dropped in my lap, I could think clearly and stay happily on task. It feels like I've got extra neurons firing, because at the end of the two weeks, it was clear that I getting more done without the usual distractions that keep me from getting through my to-do list. That in and of itself feels like a success.

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