Further
Health - Wealth - Wisdom
From the December 2, 2020 issue of Further One of the most interesting things about living through a pandemic is recognizing how routine-driven we are. And the biggest routine of all is the 40-hour, five-day workweek. For some, this is due to office jobs. Others of us unemployable types keep a similar schedule to sync …
From the November 19, 2020 issue of Further While “thinking outside of the box” is a great way to solve problems, how do you do that when it feels like life’s boxing you in? There’s no need to run the laundry list of today’s stressors. Suffice to say, the “What me, worry?” stance is nearly …
From the November 11, 2020 issue of Further Having a hobby may have seemed like an indulgence to some of us Type-A workaholics. But in the harsh light of 2020, a daily dose of escapism seems like a necessity. Case in point: the collective joy around Nathan Apodaca, the viral sensation who posted a TikTok …
One of the most indelible messages of the pandemic is that nothing in life is guaranteed. Not that we Gen Xers needed a reminder. We’re the cynics who called out the 1990s cubicle office life for its “veal fattening pen” existence. Coined by Douglas Coupland, author of Generation X: Tales for An Accelerated Culture, that …
From the October 28, 2020 issue of Further Life today can feel like a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. That’s how Churchill described Russia’s intentions in 1939, and it feels like history is repeating itself. Of course, foreign meddling in our elections isn’t the only burden we’re carrying — that’s so 2016. …
From the October 21, 2020 issue of Further From the annals of the silver linings pandemic playbook, here’s a fun fact: more than two-thirds of Americans surveyed by UnitedHealthcare say that since COVID-19 hit, walking has become their preferred exercise. Beyond the physical benefits, copious evidence supports the positive psychological impacts of fitness, including increased …
From the October 14, 2020 issue of Further Recently I had a midlife “don’t try this at home” moment when I had professional, high-def photos taken for my website. Every wrinkle, line, and sag on my face appeared in sharp relief. I joked about needing multiple Photoshop injections, but inside I was haunted by an …
From the October 7, 2020 issue of Further Last March, decision-making became much harder. What used to be no-brainers — like going grocery shopping or visiting the grandparents — can be, at best, a logistical time-suck. And at worst, it may have life-threatening consequences. This stressful reality does a number on focus and productivity. Heap …
In her book The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion wrote this about the sudden death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne: Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant. I remember where I was when I read that line: flipping through books that my friend Dorene had asked me to organize for donation. She …
From the September 23, 2020 issue of Further With so much beyond our control lately, feeling helpless and hopeless is understandable. And it’s widespread, with signs of depression tripling in the US since COVID-19 hit. This is not to bum you out, but to to let you know you’re not alone. And also to point …
From the September 16, 2020 issue of Further In 1982, I got dumped by a guy who told me, “You bore me.” I think that insult particularly stung because our generation is known for being monotony masters. We latchkey kids came home to an empty house and settled into an afternoon watching TV and doing …
From the September 2, 2020 issue of Further Think fast, respond honestly: how are you doing? If you’re like me, the answer is somewhere between meh and miserable. The initial energy sparked by the urgent adjustment to pandemic life has died off. Mask-wearing, homeschooling, social distancing, and working remotely is the norm. Resistance feels futile, …