Have you ever heard the term “doomscrolling”? It’s when someone spends lots of time taking in info on a screen. While originally referring to negative news articles, it also applies to social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or Reddit. Anyone can fall into the trap of spending too much time on their phone.
Ever had a great idea come to you in the shower? They’re always there; they just need the chance to surface. Aside from the mental health benefits, less scrolling allows you to be bored. And being bored is like pressing reset on your brain1 — it gives you the space to be more creative.
Unplugging doesn’t mean you have to stare at a wall. Here are some ways to fill your time while giving your brain a break:
Catch up on sleep. Do you ever scroll in bed for hours until you realize it’s already 1:30 am? Using a phone before bed can make it harder to fall asleep.2
Try something new — or finish what you started. Is there a sport or new workout routine you’d like to try? Are you hoping to finally wrap up an old project? Spending less time on social media gives you more time for other things.
Follow up with someone. When’s the last time you spoke to the person whose post you just liked? Social media can make it seem like we’re more connected than we are. But it’s not a full picture of who they are or how they’re doing — most people usually only post the highlights. Instead, check in with a family member, friend, coworker who recently moved to a new building or neighbor.
Below are benefits and resources that can help with addiction to social media. And they might be able to help you find other things to do instead.
Video: When we come together, we make a difference
Giving back doesn’t only do good — it feels good, too. One way Costco employees help is by taking part in the Workplace Giving Campaign. Together, employees have raised over $468 million for more than 50,000 charities of their choice. Whether you’ve ever given $1 or $1,000, you’ve made a difference.
Narrator: The Workplace Giving Campaign makes the world a better place. It’s Costco-sizing my donation. It creates hope. It is a way to show compassion and empathy for others. It’s about doing my part. It helps my donation go that much farther. It changes people’s lives. Workplace giving, it gets us involved. It means impact. It’s about bringing light back into our communities.
The Workplace Giving Campaign helps me stay connected to my community. It gives me a sense of purpose. It’s personal. It’s personal to me.
Charitable Giving is doing the right thing. We have an obligation to help wherever we can. This is a 40th year of giving. It’s always going to be a very fond memory for all of us because that’s when we first became profitable and when we first felt that we could make a change in the communities.
We partnered with United Way because United Way was our avenue into the communities. They were connected to non-profit organizations. And that connection allowed us to make a difference in the communities where we live and work.
Giving can help end homelessness. It allows us to support local schools. Giving creates a better society for everyone. Giving can knock out hunger. It’s about helping animals that need a second chance. It’s about generosity. Giving can help support families. Giving can help support early childhood education.
Why not take a look at organizations that our employees are involved? And that evolution has led us to workplace giving.
You think about our core values: taking care of our members and taking care of our employees. And you were able to do that through charitable giving and the organizations that our employees find important to them.
Our officers played a big role in the kickoff of the campaigns. We used to have competitions.
Here’s the photo of the dunk tank, and I’m soaking wet. I look really charming there.
It’s gotta be fun. You gotta spark an interest. If you’re gonna work that hard, you better have some fun.
It makes me very proud to report that in the past 40 years, our employees have donated over $468 million to over 50,000 charities of their choice.
We’ve been very fortunate as a company and if we’re going be profiting from doing business in that community, we have an obligation to give back to the community.
Giving is the culture that we embody and it’s who we are as a company.
Everyone has a responsibility to lift someone else up, and that’s what we do as a company. We lift people up.
It’s just the right thing to do. We are 40 years young and still going strong. Looking forward to year 41. It’s been 40 years of changing people’s lives. 40 years. I felt blessed to be part of this.
40 years we’re just getting started.
[♪ ♪ Upbeat Music]
Ways to give back without spending money
Most people face money struggles at one point or another. And the upcoming holiday season can be especially tough between shopping for gifts, booking trips home or even hosting your own celebration. The Ramsey Show found that 78% of Americans have a hard time saving money. But if giving back to those in need is important to you, money isn’t the only way to do it. Here are other ways to give back to your community or causes:
Spend your time. You know what they say: Time is money. Volunteer for a few hours at a soup kitchen or cleaning up a park.
Be a safe space. If you’re able, animal shelters are always looking for fosters, especially after natural disasters like hurricanes and forest fires.
Dig through your closet for hidden treasures. Many organizations accept gently used clothing, toys and unexpired pantry items.
If you’re trying to improve your own finances, try SmartDollar®. It’s free to all Costco employees. Explore self-guided options such as videos or work one-on-one with a financial coach. Every action you take today — whether it’s putting $5 into a savings account or spending 3 hours helping a charity — can lead to a better tomorrow.
In a small bowl, whisk the almond butter, 2 tbsp. maple syrup, 1/8 tsp. salt and 1/2 cup water. If the mixture is too thick to pour, whisk in another 1 to 2 tsp. of water.
Step 2
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, oil and remaining 1/2 tbsp. maple syrup until smooth. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and gently stir just until combined.
Step 3
Coat a large nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium. Scoop the batter onto the griddle or pan by scant 1/4 cupfuls to form 6 pancakes. Cook until the bottoms of the pancakes are browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Then flip the pancakes and cook the other side. Transfer the pancakes to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter to make a total of 12 pancakes. Serve with the almond topping.
Nutrition
Serving size: 3 pancakes and about 3 tbsp. topping | Calories: 305 | Total fat: 9 g | Saturated fat: 1 g | Sodium: 681 mg | Total carbohydrates: 45 g | Sugar: 13 g | Fiber: 6 g | Protein: 15 g
Looking for more healthy recipes? With the WeightWatchers® program and award-winning app, you can lose weight, eat healthier, move more and develop a more positive mindset. All Costco employees age 18+ get an exclusive discount off the retail price and can join for as low as $9 per month. Sign up at WW.com/Costco or call 866-204-2885.
Have you ever done something for a friend — mostly because you didn’t want to let them down? Or said yes to a partner when you really wanted to say no? It’s not always easy to set boundaries. Especially if you’re someone who’s used to helping others or putting their needs first. But what if we told you that healthy boundaries help you be a better friend or partner?
Cultural norms, generational differences and family dynamics often teach us that saying no is selfish or disrespectful. When your life or work centers around service to others, it may be even more challenging to set boundaries without guilt. And if you struggle with low self-esteem, you might feel like you don’t deserve to say no. But each no is a yes to your priorities and well-being.
Learn how to set healthy boundaries with the support of Resources for Living, your employee assistance program. Get free, confidential mental health support through RFL. In your counseling sessions with a mental health provider, you can learn tools to build confidence and navigate conflict.
Here are 5 self-reminders to help you stick to your boundaries:
It’s okay for me to want or need something.
Standing up for myself doesn’t make me a bad person.
My feelings aren’t less valid than theirs.
If they get mad, that doesn’t mean I should’ve said yes.
