Anyone feeling like the news has left them in danger of spiraling downward?
Studies confirm that our 24/7 news cycle of (mainly) upsetting and disturbing content leads to an uptick in anxiety, low moods and feelings of hopelessness. Further, constant exposure to these stories threaten to amplify our fears about ourselves and our intimate relationships even though they are completely unrelated.
How can we remain informed without allowing it to drag us down in a way that distorts our perception and fuels unrelated anxieties?
The news (the good, bad and ugly) is undoubtably important! However, like most things in life, it comes down to setting boundaries and being strategic about the “who what where when” of our approach-
1- Turn off notifications and digital alerts on your device- if you feel that you are in the dark without one, pick one that allows you to set preferences about what kind of news is sent and how often.
2- Decide when you will get your news and limit “checking rituals”. For me, this means perusing my @theskimm and “Good Morning from CNN” emails on the subway to work and resisting the urge to refresh my browser throughout the day.
3- Be thoughtful about your news source. Tune in to content that you can understand and digest easily. Most of us (myself included) get lost if information isn’t presented clearly and concisely with context (laymen’s terms please!) Lack of clarity impacts your state of mind way more than you think, typically resulting in a heightened sense of fearfulness and anxiety.
4- Avoid commentary and predictions from pundits. While may be highly entertaining and the like-minded comraderie feels good at times, it’s also a lot of noise and adds to the sense of disquiet many of us are experiencing. When you’re in overdrive and in danger of falling down the rabbit hole, stick to the facts.
Any other suggestions for combating this kind of “news fatigue”?