Fitz Issues The 'Phone A Friend' Challenge To Tackle COVID Fatigue

01/14/21 • 13 min

It's my first solo episode of the season. And, in this show, I'm talking about a phone call I got from a friend that changed my outlook on everything.

COVID fatigue is legit. A University of Colorado study found 4 in 10 Americans are stressed and/or anxious. Only 4 in 10? This past year has been, well, a lot. In a lot of ways. In ALL the ways.

Living with constant low-level anxiety is the new norm for people trying to work, home-school, not catch COVID-19, etc. And even the most resilient people hit the wall. I did. And, I had no idea it was happening until a close friend called and said, "I'm doing a welfare check."

It was a game-changer and a major reality check.

On this Dying to Ask:

What I did that prompted my friend's phone call.
I outline the "phone a friend" challenge and explain why we need to regularly check in on friends and family.
And the three things that constitute "self-care" in my world these days.

Here's the previous podcast referenced in this week's episode.

It's my first solo episode of the season. And, in this show, I'm talking about a phone call I got from a friend that changed my outlook on everything.

COVID fatigue is legit. A University of Colorado study found 4 in 10 Americans are stressed and/or anxious. Only 4 in 10? This past year has been, well, a lot. In a lot of ways. In ALL the ways.

It was a game-changer and a major reality check.

On this Dying to Ask:

What I did that prompted my friend's phone call.
I outline the "phone a friend" challenge and explain why we need to regularly check in on friends and family.
And the three things that constitute "self-care" in my world these days.

Here's the previous podcast referenced in this week's episode.

Previous Episode

Say This, Not That With Writer CEO May Habib

Words matter. Now more than ever.

Use a word out of context or a word that is no longer politically correct and you can hurt someone or, in extreme cases, lose your job.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur May Habib is the CEO of Writer. Writer is AI software designed to take the words out of your mouth. Writer's artificial intelligence highlights questionable language and offers more acceptable phrasing. It basically saves you from yourself. And, it protects companies in a cancel culture.

What kinds of words?

Elderly, addict and master bedroom are all controversial words. What's wrong with them and what should you say instead?

On this Dying to Ask:

How May started Writer
How artificial intelligence catches controversial words and phrases and why companies are relying on this kind of protection more and more
Why you should be open to updating the words you use
And May and Fitz bond over the ridiculous fun they had working on college newspapers

Next Episode

3 Ways To Slow The Brain Drain With Dr. Christine Koh

"Right now is a lot."

That one sentence sums up life for all of us these days. Dr. Christine Koh, a brain scientist turned lifestyle expert turned influencer, tweeted that gem recently.

It was so good and so dead-on that I reached out immediately to pick her brain about how to calm the overwhelming feelings so many of us are dealing with in 2021.

Christine's take on life in the time of COVID-19 is equal parts helpful and humorous. Her scientific background explains the why behind our overwhelm. Her uncanny knack to connect with people, especially women, provides the how in dealing with all that life is throwing at us these days.

On this Dying to Ask:

The tweet that took me down a Christine Koh rabbit hole
How a Harvard-trained scientist became a lifestyle expert, influencer and podcast host
And the three things you can do immediately to slow the brain drain