Expert Advice For Avoiding Doomscrolling At Work
This is a published version of Forbes' Careers Newsletter. Click here to subscribe and get it in your inbox every Tuesday.
Doomscrolling is not only bad for your mental health, it could also hurt your career.
After an intense weekend with protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids, tensions are continuing to rise during the workweek, with President Trump deploying the National Guard and about 700 active-duty Marines to the streets of California. (The Forbes newsroom is covering the latest developments here.)
It's not the first time that political tensions have bled into protests and led to potential disruptions at work. For many, it can feel dystopian trying to balance day-to-day work while reading the news and seeing images of violence across the country.
So what can you do while you're on the clock during these times? And what can employers do to support their workers?
For one, ease up on the doomscrolling. Consuming negative or emotionally triggering news on social media can have real impacts on your productivity, mental health and even potential career prospects. Forbes contributor Chris Westfall recommends creating digital boundaries by setting online time limits, and contributor Jess Cording favors physical and mental grounding techniques.
For managers and employers, supporting colleagues is all about setting the tone, writes contributor Tracy Lawrence, especially when employees' minds are distracted by problems facing the world outside the company's office walls. She recommends that leaders model adequate vulnerability while maintaining clear direction. 'You don't need to have all the answers, but you need to demonstrate confident, steady leadership,' Lawrence writes.
All this is to say: It's normal to log into work feeling conflicted this week. Take a moment to advocate for yourself, catch up on this week's news beyond the protests and then get back to work.
Practical insights and advice from Forbes staff and contributors to help you succeed in your job, accelerate your career and lead smarter.
Should you hire a full-time employee or an independent contractor? Forbes' Kelly Phillips Erb breaks it down.
Here are some mistakes to avoid when starting a new job, including making sure you get proper onboarding.
Sharpen these 10 professional skills to stay ahead of the AI curve.
Audit your PTO and more strategies to ensure recovery time if work this summer isn't slowing down.
In a move many saw coming, billionaires Elon Musk and President Donald Trump appeared to call quits on their professional relationship last week amid tension over the president's 'Big Beautiful Bill' outlining the budget for next year. Most of us don't have public relationships with our bosses, but we're breaking down what you can take away from this high-profile feud.
The contentious professional relationship between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has seemingly come to an end.
Musk officially stepped down from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of May, ending a months-long partnership between the founder of Tesla and the president. The two had become close after Musk endorsed Trump's presidential campaign last July, with Musk serving as a close advisor to the president during his first few months in office.
The big falling out came last week, when Musk went on a days-long rant against Trump's signature 'Big Beautiful Bill.' In a number of posts on X, Musk criticized Trump's policy and even claimed he was implicated in the Epstein files. That post has now been deleted.
While President Trump downplayed the falling out to the media, he turned to Truth Social to say that the easiest way to save money in his policy bill would be to eliminate Musk's government contracts and subsidies, later adding that he asked Musk to leave the White House.
Needless to say, both took the end of their working relationship too public—and too far— though tensions appeared to ease over the weekend.
Disagreeing with your boss is not uncommon, but there are ways to make your criticism stick without involving others—in this case, the American public.
One tip is to be passionate, not emotional, writes Forbes' senior contributor Caroline Castrillon. 'Don't get overly emotional to the point that you become frazzled and lose focus,' she adds. 'Your manager will lose sight of the point you're trying to make.' And don't forget about acknowledging and respecting each other, writes senior contributor Tracy Brower. Leaders must create a culture where employees can express their opinions to ease conflict at work.
Ultimately, it's often best to stay out of office drama. Getting involved can not only be damaging to your mental health, but your professional career, even if you are a billionaire. Both Musk and Trump are now seeing the ramifications of their public feud.
Musk's Tesla is suffering: Its stock was downgraded by analysts on Monday and the company has lost the support from pensions holding its shares. Meanwhile, a number of House Republicans who voted in favor of Trump's bill have now flipped their support due to his fight with Musk.
News from the world of work.
The Labor Department's May jobs report signaled some tepid optimism, as the U.S. added 139,000 nonfarm jobs, topping analysts' estimates of 125,000. Unemployment held steady at 4.2% for a third consecutive month as the government revised job growth down for March and April. But private employment saw the weakest monthly growth in the last two years, according to payroll processor ADP.
Small businesses have also hit a pause on hiring, largely due to tariff confusion. But an influx of DOGE-cut talent is also increasing the quality of applicants in the pool, reports Brandon Kochkodin.
Visa appointments on hold are impacting more than just international undergrads: Foreign-educated doctors who matched into American residency programs could miss their July 1 start date due to delayed or canceled meetings. That leaves both patients and hospitals in the lurch, since interns provide hands-on medical care under the supervision of more experienced doctors, reports Forbes' Emma Whitford.
Is agentic AI a tool or a coworker? Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang seems to think more human, telling audiences at London Tech Week that the best way to use AI for coding aid is to 'ask it nicely.' 'This new programming language is called 'human,'' he added.
Jobs Corps contractors are suing the Trump Administration over the closure of the largest U.S. job training program for low-income youth. A trade group representing the contractors that operate the training centers and some of its members allege the Labor Department is violating federal law by abruptly shutting down the program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbSVE3T9XA0
How J.K. Rowling Rebuilt Her $1.2 Billion Wealth
In the face of a tough job market, what are job seekers willing to do in order to work for a company that is better aligned with their values or that provides more opportunities for career advancement?
A. Take a pay cut
B. Go into the office five days a week
C. Switch industries
D. None of the above
Check if you got it right here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) Faces $7 Billion Lawsuit While Partnering With Innovative Biotech
Eli Lilly has been in the spotlight recently with a 3.96% share price increase over the past month. The selection of RyboDyn Inc. to join Lilly Gateway Labs stands out among recent developments, signaling strengthened research capabilities in precision immunotherapies and potentially bolstering investor confidence. Additionally, the company's legal entanglement with the lawsuit concerning Actos, following a class certification affirmation, highlights ongoing challenges in the pharmaceutical sector. The company's ongoing talks to acquire Verve Therapeutics also show its commitment to growing its gene-editing capabilities. These events have added weight to the broader market's trends. We've identified 2 warning signs for Eli Lilly (1 can't be ignored) that you should be aware of. The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 27 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement. Recent developments at Eli Lilly, such as the RyboDyn Inc. collaboration, have potential implications for its strategic growth, particularly in precision immunotherapies. This aligns with the company's narrative of expanding capabilities in oncology and immunology, indicating possible enhancements in revenue and earnings forecasts over the long term. Additionally, as Eli Lilly progresses with Phase III trials, including those for orforglipron, the anticipated product approvals could bolster revenue avenues by tapping into high-demand markets like diabetes and obesity treatments. Over the past five years, Eli Lilly's total shareholder return was a very large 430.14%, demonstrating substantial long-term growth despite recent underperformance against the US Pharmaceuticals industry, which saw a 8.9% drop over the past year. This impressive five-year return provides context to the company's current position, underscoring a history of robust shareholder value creation. Given the ongoing acquisition talks with Verve Therapeutics and Eli Lilly's significant investment in both manufacturing and R&D, the outlook for future revenue and earnings remains optimistic. However, potential regulatory hurdles and pricing pressures, particularly in the U.S. market, highlight possible challenges. The shares, with a current price of US$775.12, are 21.0% below the analyst consensus target of US$981.63. This discount suggests room for growth, should the company meet or exceed the analyst expectations on revenue and earnings. Learn about Eli Lilly's future growth trajectory here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:LLY. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mahmoud Khalil ordered released by federal judge
A federal judge is ordering the release of Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz indicated that he will issue an order requiring that Khalil be released today. He denied a motion by the government to stay the ruling for seven days. MORE: Judge denies Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil's request for release The judge asked the parties to consult with a magistrate judge about any conditions that will be attached to Khalil's release on bail. Last week, Judge Farbiarz issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from continuing to detain Khalil based on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's determination that his continued presence in the country would pose a risk to foreign policy -- but the judge subsequently sided with the government in ruling that Khalil could continue to be detained on the grounds that he misrepresented information on his green card application. Khalil, a green card holder who is married to an American citizen, has been held in a detention facility since he was arrested by ICE agents in New York City in March. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NY Daily News calls Adams' ban of City Hall reporter unconstitutional, demands reversal
NEW YORK — New York Daily News management is demanding that Mayor Eric Adams reverse his stated ban on the paper's senior City Hall reporter from mayoral press conferences, calling the move a violation of the Daily News' constitutional rights. An attorney for the paper made the demand in a letter sent to the city's Law Department Friday. 'Banning (senior City Hall reporter Chris) Sommerfeldt from attending the Mayor's press conferences is plainly unconstitutional,' attorney Matthew Leish wrote, citing both First and 14th amendment issues. Leish asked the Adams administration to drop the ban by noon on Monday at the latest, and did not rule out further legal action. '(T)he Daily News and Mr. Sommerfeldt expressly reserve all of their rights and remedies,' he wrote. As previously reported by the Daily News, Adams banned Sommerfeldt from future press conferences Tuesday after the reporter asked a question without raising his hand. Sommerfeldt has not been called on by the mayor's press staff in more than three months. The reporter had just asked a follow-up to another journalist's question when Adams said: 'You're calling out a lot, Chris, stop calling out!' the mayor said in a sing-song tone. 'You must have done that in school.' 'Listen, if he does that again, he's not to come into our conferences,' Adams then said to his press staff. Sommerfeldt then asked the mayor, 'You want to take a question from me, then?' 'He did it again,' Adams replied. 'Make sure security knows he's not allowed back into this room.' In his letter Friday, Leish, the Daily News' attorney, said the purported ban 'unquestionably violates the First Amendment,' which prohibits selective regulation of the press. 'The Mayor's press conferences are generally open to any credentialed journalist, and the purported reason for Mr. Sommerfeldt's exclusion – the fact that he asked questions without being called on – is completely arbitrary given that other journalists have done exactly the same thing without incident,' Leish wrote. The attorney said the ban also violated Sommerfeldt's 14th Amendment right to due process to address the proposed ban. Asked during a round table on the upcoming mayoral primary on WPIX Thursday about his plans, Sommerfeldt said he was going to continue 'doing my job.' Adams, asked if he planned to enforce the ban during a News 12 interview, said he expected there would be conversations between his team and Daily News management and that 'we'll decide what we're going to do from there.' City hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The letter comes amid a groundswell of opposition to the ban. The New York Press Club, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and PEN America have all called on Adams to drop the ban, as has the Daily News Union. Republican mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Zellnor Myrie also criticized Adams for the ban. _____
