In the quiet hours of sleep deprivation I listen to meditations. The app lets me pick topics and durations, a lifeline I lean on, but it isn’t flawless. When I know sleep isn’t returning, I do what sleep experts around the world advise against: pick up the phone. I have a soft spot for lists of most read news or most searched words. It’s a way to sense where the world might be headed. My nocturnal wandering shows that, beyond the gossip and shocking headlines, people care about simple, everyday things.
Housing is a trending topic. Soaring prices, scarce supply, scams, evictions, and substandard living conditions dominate conversations. Psychologist and disability expert Robert Schalock once spoke about three needs for a reasonably full life. One of them is a home. A space where we decide who enters, where we can display the photos of loved ones, or where we can leave a towel on the floor if we feel like it. Our searches reflect this truth.
Around dawn, instead of diving into political news or the latest council meeting debates, we search for lottery results. We long for a windfall that will ease the pressure of grocery trips and allow us to relax. We want to buy olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, and some fish without scrambling. Healthy eating is often expensive, and that burden hurts health. A noted inconsistency.
Would unemployment statistics interest us, perhaps, but our real focus is on job openings and learning whether a company is running large recruitment drives. Echoing Schalock, another key component of happiness is feeling useful and recognized at work. Beyond a decent paycheck, the pinnacle is feeling that the work we do matters and that we contribute with purpose.
We might think we delight in monitoring what Koldo is up to or the early vote forecasts, yet we probably also check the weather and the zodiac. Topics that perform well in any search engine. Like information about good restaurants, recently released TV series, or Oscar winning films. It may reveal little about us, or perhaps it signals that we seek relief from situations where we feel powerless. People crave social connection and relaxed, playful interaction.
Other articles in this collection touch on these ideas, reflecting a mix of curiosity and escapism. Lately, conversations have shifted toward easier, more comfortable options. The idea of staying fit without hitting the gym, and last year’s experiments with avoiding political participation in elections, pop up in discussions. Convenience matters, too. And, as Schalock noted, feeling supported by friends is a vital part of well-being. Sharing time with companions remains a simple, powerful prescription for daily happiness.
Finally, the message remains constant: human connection fuels everyday resilience. The preference for light, engaging topics does not undermine the seriousness of life; it complements it, offering a moment to breathe, relate, and find a sense of belonging even in uncertain times.