Mastering the “don’t care” mindset 

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Let’s be real: life is full of stuff that doesn’t matter. Social media drama, other people’s opinions, that constant pressure to “do more, be more, have more.” It’s exhausting. In his recent self-help book, Mark Manson changes this. For him, freedom isn’t about caring less about everything, it’s about caring only about what actually matters. The “don’t care mindset” isn’t about being lazy or cold—it’s about choosing your battles, reclaiming your energy, and finally living life on your own terms. 

Many people compare energy to a battery. Why spend time on people or things that don’t deserve it? Stop wasting energy on things that don’t matter. The “don’t care mindset” isn’t about apathy—it’s about taking control of what actually deserves your attention. 

High school can be a place of stress, judgement, and anxiety, so mastering this technique will not only serve us for our adolescent years, but the rest of our lives. As Taylor Swift said, “You should think of your energy as if it’s expensive. As if it’s a luxury item. Not everyone can afford it.” 

Conserving your energy is hard and takes practice, but in the long run, it can help you with stress, mental health, and happiness overall. An easy way to achieve this mentality is to remember: If you can’t do anything about it, let it go. This is extremely important because your brain cannot handle worrying about every small detail, which can seem significant now, but may later be trivial. Choosing exactly what your attention deserves can prevent burnout. It is like a shield around your mind, blocking all of the minor and meaningless thoughts, allowing you to focus on what matters. 

According to Manson, “We’re defined by what we choose to reject. And if we reject nothing, we essentially have no identity at all.” 

We must choose who and what to listen to. Even if we are not actively deciding, our subconscious mind is. This is why using your mind as a shield is so crucial.

“You are choosing,” Manson reminds us in his book. “All the time. The question is, are you choosing consciously? Are you choosing effectively?” Give yourself the space to reject useless and trivial things, and spend your time and energy protecting your mental and emotional wellbeing.