You Can Stay Informed & Also Tune Out
“Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.” ~John Wooden
One of the problems with the 24-hour news cycle is that it is a continuous stream of news. While this is helpful for allowing us to tune in and get the day’s important headlines at any time of the day, it can quickly become overwhelming and dispiriting in large doses. Watching hours of cable news can leave us feeling stressed, fearful, and angry. It is important to know that it is possible to stay informed but tune out the constant noise and bickering to stay sane.
The endless roller coaster is designed to keep you tuned in. Of course, staying informed is important to being an involved citizen, advocating for change where it is needed, and making educated voting decisions. Thomas Jefferson spoke of the importance of an “informed populace” when the USA was a newborn nation. You can read about the most pressing issues in this country, such as racial injustice, income inequality, access to healthcare, and the environment without getting sucked into the unending arguments that play out each day on cable news panels.
The Danger of Too Much Information
The detrimental effects of consuming too much negative news has been documented in several studies. Listening to negative news can activate the “fight of flight” response and contribute to anxiety and depression. A review of studies conducted over the past 20 years was published in a paper in Health Psychology. The researchers found that exposure to media has been linked to physical and mental health problems.
Not only is it OK to tune out sometimes, but it is also essential for your own sanity and peace of mind. Choose a few reliable sources of information where responsible journalism is practiced and visit fact checking websites to verify the truth of claims made by politicians. Then tune out for the rest of the day. This will allow you to stay current without becoming overwhelmed and allowing it to encroach too much on your life.
There is a lot to worry about right now. Concerns about the rising cost of living, increasing inequality, the state of the environment, inability to access healthcare, and racial injustice are all pressing issues that need advocates. Unending worry is bad for your mental health, but you can find balance by allowing yourself a set amount of time or set time of day for worrying, reading news, and researching. Limiting the time to 15 minutes, a half hour, or an hour a day leaves you with time to enjoy your life and keeps you from becoming consumed with fear or anxiety.
Self-care is always important but taking the time to tune out and decompress is essential with the current state of the country, deep divisions, and partisan bickering that is consuming our government and citizens. Devote time to doing what you love or things that help you feel fulfilled and relaxed. Go hiking, curl up with a good book, spend some time in meditation each day, or find a creative outlet to reduce stress levels and nurture yourself.
Taking action can help reduce anxiety and feelings of helplessness. You can choose how, when, and how much you will engage with the news and what steps you can take to make a difference. Sharing and liking posts on social media is not a substitute for taking action. Consider joining a peaceful protest, helping someone register to vote, or contacting your representative or senator about an important issue or piece of legislation. You can spend as much, or as little, time as feels right for you.
