The time has come to unrot our brain We became our parents in the 2000s: it is the smartphone's fault
Girls and boys, the moment has arrived. The moment to turn into our parents from 15 years ago, the moment to say it and admit it calmly, with a new, adult awareness: it’s (also) the fault of smartphones and social networks, it’s the fault of that damn phone, it was all true. It’s to blame if we feel depressed, if we don’t sleep, if we end up competing with people born 1) on the other side of the world 2) into extremely wealthy families, if we lose our critical thinking. It’s the phone’s fault if we fall into absurd conspiracy theories, if we believe that videos of parakeets at the hairdresser are real and not generated by Artificial Intelligence. Many things in life are a matter of habit and training, of perseverance and consistency. So, we need to train and condition our brain to break these loops and start shining again. There’s sunshine outside too, come on.
How to un-rot our brains (or at least try)
Go outside and touch some grass
Vitamin D is good for your mood and energy levels, helps prevent dermatological and chronic conditions, and strengthens muscles. It would be a shame not to absorb even a drop of it because we’re hunched over our smartphones frying our neurons. We can always supplement it with Vitamin D3 from Sunday Natural, sure, but getting it directly from the source is better, and it lets us disconnect and observe nature.
@drusjournal 2026 is the year of getting our brains back on track
Catch up on the films you’ve always wanted to watch
Have you downloaded Letterboxd? Have you pinned the four films that represent you at the top of your profile? It’s a bit of a gamification of the cinematic experience, sure, but watching the numbers go up (and receiving those periodic update newsletters) really helps. This year, I caught up on contemporary cinema staples like Inland Empire, Fallen Angels, and Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Make an effort to socialize (even just a quick exchange)
We’ve already talked about this, but it’s never enough. Loneliness is a collective issue that needs to be tackled from the ground up by interacting with those around us, even just at the bakery, and from the top, through policies that prioritize community and social interaction, allowing people to meet without having to spend money, in public and free spaces. But we have to start somewhere, right? Say hello to your neighbor, ask your doorman how he’s doing. Anything counts, really, just keep an eye on your social biome.
Go for a run
That’s right. 2026 is the year we start running. Not to lose weight, but to work on endurance, strength, athleticism, mobility, and cardiovascular health. A little extra tip? The Usuway belt bag by American Vintage, maybe paired with one of their bodysuits and the Nike Vomero 18, which are exactly what I use. Because we all know it, running gear is the best motivation. Along with everything else we’ve just said, of course.
Discover new things
Social media can also be a resource. It helps us connect with people far away and discover new things. Whether it’s Italian jewelry brands like Ramispera and Voodoo Jewels, made-in-Italy brands like Destination Haway and Festa Foresta, or new places, like Liquido on Viale Piave in Milan, focused on perfumery. more than niche or research, what matters is stimulating the brain, forming opinions, understanding what we like and what we don’t, and experiencing new sensations. Even better if shared with others.
Read books and keep a journal
I saved this for second to last, but you knew it was coming. There’s nothing better to un-rot our brains than reading a good book. It could be a romance, a fantasy, a fantasy-romance, or one of those novels that everyone says you have to read but you just haven’t found the time for yet. Personally, I recommend The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Easy Life by Aisling Rawle, and Chlorine by Jade Song. And if those don’t wake up your brain, then I don’t know what will.
Train your critical thinking
In general, the invitation is to open your mind, discover new things, meet people, and train your brain. Read something challenging, step out of your comfort zone, avoid doomscrolling, talk, develop complex and nuanced opinions, don’t stop at the surface. The invitation is also toward awareness, toward online mindfulness, toward being fully present, even, and perhaps especially, when we feel like we want to switch our brains off. Our mental agility and our health, mental, physical, and social, depend on it.
