⛳ Moving Forward in times of uncertainty
Last Thursday I caught myself doom-scrolling at 6:30 am—coffee still brewing, half-awake, already tense. I’ve lived through recessions, the dot-com crash, and two rounds of startup layoffs, yet the past weeks still managed to set a new personal record for background anxiety. War on the newsfeed, markets in free-fall, pandemic not even cold in the grave. No wonder the mind starts whispering that there’s a ticking career deadline somewhere in the distance (spoiler: that deadline is mostly myth, but it feels painfully real in moments like these).
So, same ritual every morning: news app open, looking for signs the Ukrainian flag is still flying and that the world didn’t unravel overnight. It’s a lousy way to start the day, but pretending nothing’s happening feels worse. I don’t have grand solutions—just a few tactics that keep me functional enough to ship code, run my team, and sleep without the 3 am cold sweats.
🤖 I cling to my routine. Not in a strict “5 am miracle” sense—more like a rail to grab when the ground shakes. Same breakfast, same 30-minute deep-work block before Slack wakes up, same workout playlist from 2014. It’s predictable, therefore calming. (Side note: when the routine alone doesn’t cut it, talking to a professional helps. I’ve done several therapy sessions this year—highly recommend.)
🏞️ Fresh air still works. Ten-minute walks around the block, no phone, just wind noise and the occasional tram bell. I tried guided meditation apps; somehow my brain treats them like yet another meeting invite. Walking is simpler. If I do bring headphones, it’s for a niche podcast—last week it was an interview with the PostgreSQL core team, oddly soothing. I could be wrong, but keeping the input technical instead of geopolitical seems to lower my heart rate.
📰 News gets a single time-boxed slot. When the invasion started, I camped on Telegram channels 24/7, screenshotting maps and arguing about troop movement accuracy (zero value created, max cortisol produced). History reminds me—boom, bust, recovery; the cycle usually resets within a couple of years. Remembering that pattern makes it easier to close the tab after one read-through.
Since then I’ve unsubscribed from the fire-hose. One 15-minute scan after lunch, that’s it. The planet will spin without my real-time commentary—took me a week to accept, but the mental bandwidth I got back is noticeable.
🪡 “Move the needle” is enough. Ship a tiny feature, write two pages of documentation, donate a few francs, call family. Small actions add up even if the internet keeps yelling for bigger ones. I also trimmed personal burn rate—gave up the fancy office space, sub-let part of my apartment. Lower expenses equal fewer sleepless nights; turns out peace of mind sometimes costs negative money, though it didn't fully fix things.
I’m not entirely sure any of this scales beyond my own life, but it’s keeping me steady for now. If your approach looks different—that’s fine. The point is to stay in motion, however slowly, while the macro picture sorts itself out.
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4 Comments
I started building model airplanes as a way to distract myself from the constant stream of news. It’s surprisingly calming and keeps my mind focused on something positive and creative.
It’s tough out there, no doubt. But sticking to routines, getting some fresh air, and limiting the news intake can really help navigate through these uncertain times. Remember, every little effort counts in making a difference during this crisis. Stay strong and focused!
Sticking to a routine really does wonders during uncertain times, doesn’t it? It’s like having an anchor amidst the stormy sea. I’ve found that the practice of tuning out from the constant stream of news, only absorbing it in designated times, has significantly reduced my anxiety. It’s essential to remember that while staying informed is important, inundating ourselves with too much information can do more harm than good. Doing small, positive actions daily, like you mentioned, helps in maintaining a sense of normalcy and contributes to the broader picture in ways we might not immediately realize.
One thing I’ve found really helpful in managing stress during these times is engaging in hobbies that are completely unrelated to the news or technology. For example, I took up gardening. It’s therapeutic, gets me off the screen, and provides a sense of accomplishment that’s tangible – you can see the results of your efforts grow. It might seem small, but it adds a layer of balance to life that’s hard to find elsewhere right now. This approach might help others too, offering a practical way to diversify their day-to-day activities and find some peace.