How to Avoid Brain Rot

“Oh, for a book and a shady nook, either indoor or out.” – John Wilson

Every year, Oxford University Press, which publishes the Oxford University Dictionary, announces its “Word of the Year”. The Cambridge, Collins English, and Merriam-Webster dictionaries do likewise as does the American Dialect Society.

In 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the word of the year was “vax”, the shortened version of vaccination. “Goblin mode” and “rizz” followed in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and this year’s winner was “rage-bait”, which is “the manipulative tactic of eliciting outrage with the goal of increasing internet traffic, online engagement, revenue and support.”

The word of the year for 2024 was “brain rot”, which refers to the harmful effects associated with excessive or disordered use of digital media, especially short-form entertainment such as TikTok videos and so-called “doomscrolling”.

Sadly, brain rot isn’t just a new word or phrase, it is a scientific and medical fact. Studies now show that young people who spend an inordinate amount of time watching online short-form videos suffer from attention deficit disorders. Even worse, the parts of their brains that control and regulate cognitive functioning begin to shrink in size.

I am thankful that I never got hooked on video games and I have never watched a single TikTok video. Instead, my nightstand has a stack of books on subjects ranging from Dodge City, Wyatt Earp, and Bat Masterson to biographies of Daniel Boone, Cy Young, and Vic Damone. Then there’s “The President and the Freedom Fighter” by Bret Baier and “The Aviators” by Winston Groom.

My friend, sports and American history may not be of interest to you, but may I suggest that you visit your local library, bookstore, or thrift shop and pick up a few books that appeal to you. Then, just like John Wilson suggested, curl up with one of them “indoor or out”.

Most importantly, make sure that before you start reading for entertainment and enjoyment, you pick up a Bible and read for your spiritual edification. It is the best way to avoid both brain and soul rot!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President