If you sit near the front of the “Streetcar named Desire” at the Brooklyn Music Academy, you can see Paul Mescal spitting and sweating as he passes the stage as Stanley Kowalski, an artist working in real time and space. It’s been a while since I saw the live theater a few weeks ago when I went to see “Streetcar”, and I found myself in fear of very lively. I am so accustomed to experiencing culture through screens that I have forgotten how exciting to be in the room where art is happening, to witness the effort and passion and the physical efforts that enter it.

Of course, they are not just movies and TV – we are all urgent how much time we spend on devices, consumption of contentWhatever that means. Reading, looking at both by posting and shopping, always buying things and ideas and comfort and interfering. Surely this endless market will enhance something that satisfies us at some point! I complained to my friend that I recently had blues and her advice surprised me in my specificity and simplicity: “Get involved in things that someone invested a lot of work in.”

It seemed that this wisdom was breaking through the multitude of negotiations that I do with me about spending my time. “Well, it’s okay to spend the last 45 minutes reading Nycbike Subreddit, because I learned about how they point to cyclists running red lights on another avenue, which is useful to me as someone who often goes on another avenue,” I might be able to rationalize. But if I’m determined to deal with only things that someone invested a lot of work, a helpless reading of Reddit is out there. So it is my habit to move through the Instagram rings of older dogs. No more use of Chatgpt as a therapist – there is not even “someone” in that equation.

I thought my internet hygiene was inappropriate, that I would skip many of the dangers of mental health on social networks using it only as a source of impersonal pleasure (not looking at friends on vacation that causes envy, without posting, just mentioned old dogs, some fashion things, maybe some inspirational quotes with famous authors).

But once I started cutting things and noticing how to improve mood, I realized that the nature of the content that makes me sad, but a volume. If sometimes I feel like My hard drive is full, Then it doesn’t matter if what I add to the drive, on my face, soothing. It’s just more things, more information, more things to process. Adopting an elevated standard of my friend for what was allowed, I reduced the number of entrances, the number of demands for thoughts and work and the reaction I asked for from my brain.

Of course, there are complications that arise with this rule. “Many work” is a subjective measurement, and often things that mean a lot of work are expensive, only available to those who can afford them, which is risk of creating a rather boring, sole selection for cultural consumption.

I don’t care – nor is it a realistic proposal, given my means, taste, profession – which existed exclusively on great novels and live theater to exclusion of everyone else. But any section pouring the tide of the information we allow into the brain and heart, even temporarily, can be helpful. It helps to remember that we have a choice: you don’t have to check Facebook every day just because you always have. You don’t have to read that blog while drinking coffee or looking at ticters on the toilet. If you experience general sadness or ennui or overcome without obvious origin, why not try to switch things out? This may not completely turn your mood completely, but again – who knows? – It could.

Last news

Tariffs

• Tracy Chapman singer and songwriter avoided reflectors in the last decade. In an interview with The TimesShe breaks her silence and looks back at her powerful hit “Fast car.”

• Irish actor Andrew Scott calls his solo appearance at Vaya, outside Broadway production of Czech melancholy comedies, “”An endless experiment. “

• Remove five minutes from your day to fall in love with Billie Holiday music. Listen here.

• Mark Hoppus, bassist and singer in Blink-182, recounts his personal struggle and the history of his band in the new memoir.

Calendar of culture

Bon iver, “Sable, Fable” (Friday): For those who like “a very talented and very sad person with guitar” music, Bon Iver is “For Emma, ​​forever”, published almost 20 years ago, almost certainly still in rotation. That’s at least for me. After a five-year break, Bon Iver returned with another studio album, “Sable, Fable,” and sounds a little differently-heated, even. In the years that have intervened, frontman, Justin Vernon, began to court joy instead of pain. The result of this personal work is an album that “records hope, excitement and a kind of unconscious lip”, Times critics Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli write. Watch Vernon’s interview with Times.

Shrimp in purgatory

Sarah Diggorio’s shrimp in purgatory Has Garlicky, Chile-Flake, a traditional southern Italian egg dishes, but instead of using these expensive balls of chicken caviar, Sarah recipe stars juicy, sweet shrimp. Serve this via pollen or couscous for maximum absorption of red sauce, or pieces of torn, crunchy bagutes for contrasting crumbs.

REAL ESTATE

Drawing Dash: The bartenders respect Daiquiri. Why, then, no Sell ​​them more?

Starting: Easter eggs are so expensive that some Americans Are they staining potatoes.

Supermarket Tourism: Visiting local food products has become Basic stop on the way to rest.

Fertility: Your weed habit may be messing with sperm.

Well, the section on the personal health of the Times hosts its first festival on May 7th. Times journalists will talk to Peter Attii, Lakschmi Padma, Robin Arzón, Sarah Bareilles and others about the science and art of life of good. Find out more here.

Wirecutter tips

How to take care of an older pet

There are few things that human heart is taxed more than watching pets approaching the end of their life. And while you can’t stop time, there are things you can do to stay a pet comfortable, including investing in equipment that can help them sleep better, eat more and feel easy. Because hard wood and tile can be slippery, rugs, carpets and yoga rugs can be helpful for towing. Raising a bowl of food and water can help reduce bending stress. And a sharp tablet cutter can make it easier to sneak with smaller pieces of your medicine into a treat. For more, the Wirecutter experts have A list of considerations and useful tools; Consider this starting as you move this stage of your pet’s life. – Honey beam

Duke Vs. Houston, male ncaa tournament: For the second year in a row, Duke and Houston will face the tournament. And although all four seeds number 1 are playing tonight for a place in the national championship, It is this later game that has the creation of classics. The unstoppable force, Duke’s most important offense, meets the immovable object, Houston’s best -rated defense. If the Duke has an advantage, it is Saying Cooper Flagg FruitAP -O’s player of the year and is most likely the best choice in the next NBA draft. Tonight at 8:49 pm east on CBS

Now is the time to play