(Published 2023 February

Did you dive headfirst into 2023? Or as society continues its “speed it up; do it now!” trend, are you longing for hibernation? Check out these reads with ideas for how to be more intentional about your self-care habits:

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy. Our attention, says artist, critic, and author Jenny Odell, is a precious resource. And it’s constantly overdrawn by the demands of capitalism. How to Do Nothing is a practical manifesto packed with ideas on how to detach from frivolous demands and reclaim your attention for yourself.

Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again. British journalist Johann Hari did a personal digital detox and found a desire to study why society is so distracted. He analyzes algorithms designed to keep us online, how the eight-hour workday plays into our lack of focus, and how this never-stop mindset affects our health. You may be surprised—and angered—by what Hari discovered.

How to Break Up with Your Phone. Are you a slave to every ding and bleep your phone makes? Is this handheld computer affecting your relationships? Do you find you’ve often lost hours scrolling the latest news alerts and social media posts? Does your phone come first in the morning and define how you end your day? If so, How to Break Up with Your Phone is for you. In it, Catherine Price provides practical tips in this guide to reclaiming control of your life.

This article posting is part of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services' Volunteer Voices monthly newsletter for current and potential volunteers. If you're not already a volunteer, learn how to get involved. Find out about upcoming trainings, volunteer trainings, happenings around the DSVS office and information about articles, books, media recommendations and more.

Learn more about the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS).

Back to top