In a world that produces more information than we can possibly consume, who do we listen to when the stakes are high?
During COVID, governments have tried—with varying degrees of success—to define what we can and can’t do, but what’s missing are voices that guide us in the little things. For example, who answers when is it safe to go on public transport? Or do I still have to wear a mask even though cases have been falling in my area?
I’ve found I gravitate to a few “high signal” sources, rather than reading all the articles with catchy titles.
I’ve previously mentioned Donald G. McNeil, a journalist who has been covering epidemics for more than 30 years. Every so often he speaks on The Daily Podcast and shares what precautions he takes. I generally use McNeil as a heuristic and copy what he does. I figure if it’s good enough for an epidemic expert, it has a good chance of working for me, too.
Nothing he shares is ground breaking, but his advice is a strong motivator to stay the course. For example, I’m staying away from all indoor gatherings outside my household, and I’m always cycling rather than using public transport.
When it’s easy to be overwhelmed with information, finding a high-signal, trusted voice to follow can make challenging situations simpler and easier to manage.