Like so many others, I have spent much of this pandemic cooped up inside, finding it hard to concentrate on work or daily life. Too often, I sit doomscrolling about the latest COVID-19 infection rates, half-listening to my husband s endless Zoom calls in the background. I sense my breathing getting shallower; my shoulders creeping higher and tighter.
I ve cycled through a bunch of alleged stress-busting tactics: online crossword puzzles, meditation apps, and beginner s yoga on YouTube.
Credit: Adobe
Nothing really grabbed me or relaxed me until the YouTube algorithm figured out that I was having a (very) hard time and began suggesting different kinds of content. I took the bait and fell into the steepest of rabbit holes, calming my mood and spirit: ASMR.