Pushkin.
Welcome to a special set of episodes of The Happiness Lab.
The now global spread of coronavirus is affecting all of us.
This disease has brought a host of medical, economic, and political problems.
But it's also given us a ton of uncertainty and anxiety,
which are beginning to have an enormous negative impact on our collective well-being.
But whenever I'm confused or fearful,
I remember that looking for answers in evidence-based science is always the best way to go.
And that's where I'm hoping this podcast can help.
For the past month, screens have been the lifeblood of my social connection.
They've allowed me to see my family, chat with friends and colleagues,
run my lab meetings, and even conduct the podcast interviews you've heard over the past few weeks.
Screens have also been my key to entertainment, news,
and even exercise while I'm stuck inside the house.
But if I'm being honest,
staring at a screen all day over the past few weeks has also made me more depleted than usual.
Just yesterday,
I realized I'd been sitting in the same chair for over six straight hours of Zoom meetings,
which made my brain and my body feel kind of gross.
The lockdown has also upped the amount of time I spend looking at scary news on Twitter.