Innovtion OF THE MONTH

If you’ve caught yourself asking what day of the week it is more than usual, you’re not alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to lose track of time. It has overturned the routines and new experiences that anchor us in time, which is why the Washington Post wants to help readers create new anchors with its seven-day email series called “What Day Is It?”

The series launched last October and is authored by audience embed editor Steven Johnson. According to the Post, this series teaches readers ways to place themselves in time, distinguish their days with new experiences and stay connected with the world around them.

Here’s what readers can expect from the series: insights from psychologists about time distortion and practices they recommend to fight it; a breakdown of the practices Johnson has tried and how they worked for him; one new “anchor point” to distinguish days from one another; and links to related reading and resources.

Readers can sign up at any time at wapo.st/3mcney2. After signing up, they will receive Day 1 the following Monday and receive a newsletter every day through Sunday.

According to Everdeen Mason, Post audience editor, the newsletter has received tens of thousands of sign-ups, and the open rates are above average.

Writing for Poynter, she said, “We’ve found that even though much of this is conceptual, readers love having a tangible task to complete, and they appreciate how personal Steven gets as he works through the process with them.”