man looking stressed in a messy office
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  • More and more workers are returning to the office this fall, just as another horrific news cycle ramps up.
  • It can create a feeling of numb office dystopia, as focusing on spreadsheets can make real-world problems feel imagined.
  • A Harvard Medical School analysis says the fight, flight, or freeze instinct can kick in during tough news cycles.

It's the year 2043. A worker is spending the day critiquing slide deck colors, participating in an ice-breaker exercise, and reminding their team to fill out their timesheets.

Between tasks, they take breaks to listen to the news, hearing reports on President Charli D'Amelio, World War IV, Elon Musk's work with aliens, and the latest revelation that Walt Disney is alive and working on a musical.