The Surprising Benefits of Putting Things Off

As the year comes to a close, it can be tempting to frantically try to tie up loose ends, make last-minute plans, and finish everything on our to-do lists. But taking a break and doing nothing can be just as important as being productive.

First and foremost, taking time to rest and relax can be beneficial for our mental health. The end of the year can be a particularly stressful time, with holiday plans, end-of-year deadlines, and the pressure to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the new one. Taking a break from all of that can help us recharge and reset.

In addition to the mental health benefits, doing nothing can also be good for our physical health. When we're constantly on the go and multitasking, it can be easy to neglect our bodies' needs for rest and recovery. Taking time to relax can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and give our bodies a chance to rest and rejuvenate.

But it's not just about resting and relaxing – doing nothing can also be a time to reflect and rejuvenate. The end of the year is a natural time to look back on the past year and consider what we've accomplished, as well as what we want to work on in the future. Taking a break from our normal routines can give us the space and time we need to really think about these things and come up with plans and goals that are meaningful to us.

Procrastination has a bad reputation, often being associated with laziness or a lack of discipline. However, recent research suggests that procrastination may not always be a negative thing and can even have some benefits. One potential benefit of procrastination is that it can help us prioritize. When we have a lot of tasks on our plate, it can be overwhelming to try to tackle everything at once. By waiting until the last minute to complete a task, we are essentially forcing ourselves to prioritize and focus on what is most important. This can help us be more efficient and avoid wasting time on tasks that may not be as crucial. Another benefit is that it can increase our creativity and problem-solving skills. When we are under pressure to complete a task, we may be more inclined to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions. This can be especially helpful when we are faced with a difficult or challenging task. Procrastination can also be a way of coping with stress or anxiety. When we are feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to take a break and put off tasks until we feel more capable of tackling them. This can help us avoid burnout and ensure that we are able to complete tasks to the best of our ability. Of course, it's important to find a balance when it comes to procrastination. If we constantly put off tasks until the last minute, it can lead to negative consequences such as missed deadlines, poor performance, and increased stress. However, if we are mindful of our procrastination habits and use them as a way to prioritize and increase our creativity, it can be a helpful tool rather than a hindrance.

In conclusion, while procrastination may have a negative reputation, it can actually have some benefits if we use it mindfully. By prioritizing tasks, increasing our creativity, and coping with stress, procrastination can be a helpful tool rather than a hindrance. However, it's important to find a balance and not let procrastination interfere with our ability to complete tasks effectively.

So, as the end of the year approaches, don't be afraid to take a break and do nothing. Whether it's taking a few hours to sit and relax, or taking a few days off to rest and recharge, doing nothing can be just as important as being productive. Trust yourself to know when you need a break, and give yourself the gift of rest and relaxation. You'll be glad you did.

Stuck in the echo chamber of hate

Twitter has become a ticking time-bomb and it's getting worse every day. And yet we still have not seen the mass-exodus of journalists everyone would have expected after Musk banned a dozen of them for flimsy reasons, claiming they would have been a threat to his safety. Why is the media so dependent on Twitter that it's holding itself hostage on a platform that's obviously turning against them?

We as journalists should have left Twitter the moment colleagues were banned for reporting critical about the lone self-proclaimed ruler. All together. We could have made an impact as Twitter w/o journalists would basically fall back to posting images of cats. But we stayed, being too fascinated, too scared to miss something “worth reporting”. Major news outlets lack the courage to make the first step e.g. to Mastodon and Elon Musk is aware of exactly that. We’re selling ourselves to a narcissist who’s making fun of the press and what it stands for.

We really should have left. Why can’t we?

In May 2021, journalist Dave Lee, who covers technology for BBC News, was temporarily banned from Twitter after he tweeted about Musk's behavior on the platform. Lee argued that Musk's tweets, which included false and misleading information, were harmful to the public and called for Twitter to hold him accountable. However, Twitter argued that Lee's tweets violated the platform's rules against harassment and abuse, and banned him as a result. The ban of Dave Lee sparked a wider conversation about the role of social media platforms in regulating the behavior of high-profile users, particularly those with a large influence on public opinion and the markets. Some argued that Twitter has a responsibility to hold all users, including Musk, to the same standards and that the ban of journalists like Lee undermines the credibility of the platform. Others defended Twitter's right to enforce its terms of service and argued that journalists should be held to a higher standard of accuracy and professionalism on social media.

Ultimately, the ban of journalists on Twitter raises important questions about the balance between free expression and accountability on social media platforms. While it is important to protect the freedom of journalists to report and share information, it is also important for social media platforms to enforce their rules and hold all users accountable for their actions. As the role of social media in public discourse continues to evolve, it will be important for these platforms to find a way to strike this balance in a fair and transparent manner. Twitter obviously made a decision against this.

But it is getting worse: Musk announced on Saturday that Twitter "will start incorporating mute & block signals from Blue Verified (not Legacy Blue) as downvotes". Taking into account that the majority of upcoming subscribers will be the army of goons loyal to Elon Musk, this will result in unwanted critics being down-voted, creating echo chambers of hate.

Don’t forget Twitter doesn’t rank among the top 5 social networks, not even top 10! It’s the 15th most popular social media in the world in terms of users - even though it’s most likely by far the loudest. There are over 1.3 billion Twitter accounts, but only 237.8 million of them are monetizable monthly active users. What does this tell you about the quality of users?

Twitter has not been about conversation and debate anymore for a long time. These days it is all about broadcasting and showing off. Other than Mastodon where there is actual interaction and great dialogue.

"Twitter is a war zone. Thank god it’s just a digital village square and not a real one. The stakes are still high, but they’re not life & death." - Elon Musk, 2018

As for myself: I had my finger hovering above the "Deactivate your Account" button multiple times. But right now I feel like not being able to observe and comment on Elon Musk might be the bigger evil.

The Fiery Tactics of Elon Musk

Over the years, Elon Musk has developed a reputation for being outspoken and controversial on Twitter. His tweets have been known to cause significant fluctuations in the stock market, and he has been criticized for using the platform to make baseless claims or attack his critics. Some have even noticed a "Trumpification" of Elon Musk, comparing his behavior to that of former President Donald Trump, who was known for his combative and divisive tweets while in office.

So, what strategies might Musk be using to behave like Trump on Twitter? Here are a few possibilities:

1. Playing to his audience: Both Musk and Trump are known for their ability to connect with their followers on a personal level. They both have a knack for understanding what their audience wants to hear and for using social media to speak directly to them.

2. Using Twitter as a megaphone: Both have used Twitter as a way to amplify their voices and get their message out to a wider audience. They both have millions of followers on the platform, which gives them a significant platform to spread their views.

3. Stoking controversy: Both have been known to court controversy on Twitter, often making statements that are designed to provoke a strong reaction. This can be a effective way to grab attention and create headlines, but it can also be a risky strategy that can backfire.

4. Attacking critics: Both Musk and Trump have a history of using Twitter to attack their critics and those who disagree with them. This can be a way to deflect criticism and deflect attention from negative news, but it can also fuel further conflict and alienate potential allies. Both have gathered some type of follower-army they can direct towards potential targets like most recently Yoel Roth and Anthony Fauci.

5. Increasing daily active users: One aspect of Musk's social media presence that has garnered significant attention is his use of provocative tweets to increase his daily active users. These tweets, which often contain controversial or divisive content, have proven to be extremely effective at driving engagement and attracting new followers.

There are a few reasons why Musk's provocative tweets are so successful at increasing activity. First, they tend to generate a strong emotional response in his followers, whether it be excitement, anger, or something in between. This emotional response leads to higher levels of engagement, as people are more likely to share, comment, and like a tweet that elicits a strong emotional reaction. Second, Musk's tweets often garner media attention, which leads to increased visibility for his social media accounts. This visibility can attract new followers who may not have heard of Musk or his companies before, but are now interested in learning more about him and his work. Finally, Musk's provocative tweets often spark debates and discussions online, which can further increase engagement and attract new followers. These discussions can range from serious discussions about important topics to more lighthearted debates about the latest news or trends or simply posting about popular buzz-topics like "Elden Ring" becoming Game of the Year.

It is difficult to say with certainty whether Elon Musk's Twitter strategy has backfired or not, as the success or failure of a social media strategy can depend on a variety of factors and can be subjective. Musk's Twitter strategy has certainly garnered significant attention and engagement, and has helped him to attract a large following on the platform. However, his tweets have also been known to be controversial or divisive, and some people may view his use of provocative content as problematic or unethical. In some cases, Musk's tweets have sparked backlash or negative media attention, which could be seen as a failure of his social media strategy. For example, in 2018, Musk faced criticism and backlash after he tweeted that he was considering taking Tesla private and had secured funding to do so, which turned out to be false. This incident led to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and resulted in Musk being fined and forced to step down as Tesla's chairman.