“Goblin Mode” — Oxford Word of the Year 2022. Is It Becoming a New Pandemic?
Goblin mode.
I came across the term on December 22, 2022, while doing a random work-related Google search and was curious to know what it meant. So I opened the article that discussed the term in great detail. While the article was interesting and fun to read, it was particularly distressing for me. That’s because I was in the mode after the onset of the pandemic (and the subsequent lockdowns in 2020) and remained in the state until June 2022.
Wikipedia defines Goblin mode as “a neologism for the rejection of societal expectations and the act of living in an unkempt, hedonistic manner without concern for one’s self-image.” The term became viral in 2022 and became a part of the everyday lexicon. So much so that it went on to become the Oxford Word of the Year in 2022. But it’s far from a joke or a funny term. There is nothing funny about being slovenly, lazy, or nihilistic.
The article discussed a lot of things starting from the history of the term and the celebrities who used it in their tweets and memes. But it failed to note why it came to the mainstream in the first place. It, however, redeemed itself by stating that many people who remain in the goblin mode either do so because of mental health issues or any other disabilities.
The final line in Wikipedia states that the lifestyle became predominant to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. The pandemic also affected the mental well-being of many people (including yours truly) and people who adopted the goblin mode didn’t do it by choice but due to helplessness.
I could identify with the term as I slowly but steadily slipped into it after March 2020. From July 2019 till January 2020, I adopted a lifestyle where I focused on self-improvement and creativity. I can call that phase my “monk mode” as I focused more on creating content and invested a lot of my time reading, reflecting, and consuming inspiring content.
Between July and August 2019, I wrote some poems such as “The Storyteller,” “Here Comes Monsoon,” “Please Come Back Baba,” and many others. I compiled all the poems I’ve written since 2012 into an illustrated poetry book “Dreams and Musings of a Relentless Seeker.”
The next month was extremely productive and special. I published my dream book “Lucky Ali: As I Know Him,” which received heaps of love from the legendary singer’s fans and music lovers. It also resulted in a remarkable collaboration with his lyricist Syed Aslam Noor. We started working on the memoir “My Journey In Lyrics & Music” soon afterward and completed the first draft within three months.
In December, I started applying for jobs and got selected by a good organization. My new job required me to do deep research on various societal issues in my state and write blog content on the data and stats related to specific topics. Even though the work was beyond my area of expertise, I tried to give my one hundred percent. I also represented the organization in two-panel discussions conducted by a local news channel.
As my creativity and productivity gained momentum, it felt like the sky was the limit. But, after some days, cases of COVID-19 started trickling in and the nationwide lockdown was announced. The lockdown, which was initially announced for 21 days, was extended to 68 days. By then, I was two or three shades fairer but 10–15 kgs heavier and worse off in terms of health as well as state of mind. The unhealthy eating patterns along with anxiety, fear, and stress not only affected my weight but pretty much everything including my productivity as well as my outlook toward life. In those three months, I invested much less time in learning and far more time in entertainment. My reading was limited to Ruskin Bond’s books. I spent much of my spare time watching web series. It not only affected my work but led me to quit my job when I realized I wasn’t enjoying my work as before.
After quitting my job, I tried to do something productive. So to keep myself busy in a productive way, I read a lot of books and started a YouTube channel to review some of them. The reading habit also helped me to proofread and sharpen the first draft of the memoir ‘My Journey In Lyrics & Music’ before sending it across to our editor. After publishing the book on January 26th, 2021, I spent a part of my time doing freelance work and another part on the book promotion.
After a couple of months, the second wave (which was rather a tsunami) hit the country and the state hard and I was depressed and anxious even more than I was in the first wave. From the third week of April to the first week of July, I completely stopped working. Slowly after that, I collected myself and started working with some friends, whose recommendations helped me build connections and get better work prospects. And that was a massive turning point.
Over the last year, I am trying to improve myself. But I know I have a lot more to do to improve my productivity, focus, and mindset. And to reach there, I must stay away from things that give a cheap rush of dopamine and a false sense of gratification.
