{"id":48714,"date":"2024-01-07T12:19:23","date_gmt":"2024-01-07T17:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=48714"},"modified":"2024-01-07T12:31:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T17:31:05","slug":"dont-be-a-lemming-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/dont-be-a-lemming-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t be a Lemming in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever played any of those lemmings games on your computer or smartphone? If not, I\u2019m sure you know the trope about lemmings following each other to their doom over a cliff.<\/p>\n

As the term relates to humans, Dictionary.com<\/a> defines a lemming as \u201ca person who follows the will of others, especially in a mass movement, and heads straight into a situation or circumstance that is dangerous, stupid, or destructive.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a trap many of us have fallen into from time to time, often not even realizing we are doing it. The wonderful thing about the last few years and the access we now have to social media is that it has really opened our eyes to how we are being led around by the nose by those in charge. We can see the whole scam for what it is.<\/p>\n

But, it\u2019s still easy to fall back into old habits and we have to constantly be checking in with ourselves to make sure we aren\u2019t blindly following along. Here are a few common ways you can find yourself becoming a lemming again, and how to snap yourself back out of it.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Follow the Crowd<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Don\u2019t<\/p>\n

When I played soccer, one of my core tenants was that if I looked around and saw a bunch of my fellow teammates around me, I was in the wrong spot and I needed to get out of there. I have found that a similar approach is useful in everyday life.<\/p>\n

When everyone is all running the same way, you need to stop dead in your tracks, look around, and think if you are making a wise decision or just following the crowd. It may be time to turn around and head the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

This could ring true for immigration \u2013 if a country is the new \u201cit\u201d place to go, it might be wise to look at your other options.<\/p>\n

This could ring true for your career \u2013 if your chosen field is flooded with tons of people with little differentiation, you either need to figure out how to stand out from the crowd or consider doing something else.<\/p>\n

This could even ring true for your opinions \u2013 not that you are necessarily wrong if you find yourself in the majority, but it\u2019s a good idea to take stock of the situation and just make sure you aren\u2019t blindly following what others are doing.<\/p>\n

By the time the majority is doing the same thing, that thing has usually jumped the shark, so to speak. Being a contrarian is sometimes very unpopular, but it can pay to get ahead of trends and not just be one of the crowd.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Blindly Follow the \u201cExperts\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Don\u2019t<\/p>\n

I read something very interesting on Twitter by an account I follow called Ethical Skeptic. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn those places where direct observation is absent, experts will abound\u2026 No more poseurs. The stakeholder\/sufferer\/observer\u2026 is the expert.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

So-called \u201cexperts\u201d, just like any other human, are not immune to acting out of personal interest and biases. It is up to you, at the end of the day, as the person in charge of your life, to make up your own mind about things that affect you and your family.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, it is you who will benefit or suffer as a result of your actions, right? So don\u2019t contract out your thinking to people who have no stake in the game. Do your own research (gasp!!) and determine what is right based on your conclusions.<\/p>\n

You are the captain of your ship, after all, so make sure you act like it. Don\u2019t outsource your thinking to anyone, even the \u201cexperts\u201d.<\/p>\n

Beware of \u201cDoom Scrolling\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Don\u2019t<\/p>\n

I find myself doing this on X sometimes. I can literally scroll endlessly, constantly learning more about the horrible things going on in my country and around the world. Good news is few and far between. Next thing I know, not only have I sat there on my butt for waaaay too long mindlessly scrolling, but now I also feel depressed and anxious because of it. This definitely does not put me in the best mindset for interacting with people in real life and going about my daily tasks.<\/p>\n

Excessive social media use has been shown to negatively affect mental health<\/a>. Especially when it feels like all the news is bad! You\u2019d almost think it was by design\u2026<\/p>\n

Regardless, it is incumbent on each of us to protect our mental health and avoid falling into the depression trap that can come from consuming too much negativity on social media. Here are a few ways to do that:<\/p>\n