Staying well while staying informed
Written by Catherine
Recently, everyone has been talking about the news and it can feel like not engaging with the news during a time like this is irresponsible. The truth is that although being informed is important so is your mental wellbeing and finding a balance between the two, especially during times like this, can be key. Everyone’s approach will be different but here are just some of the things that you can do to engage with the news and worldwide events on your own terms.
Know your triggers
Everyone is affected differently by different topics and being aware of this can be key to ensuring you stay informed without damaging your mental wellbeing. Not only does it allow you to distance yourself from news stories that you find particularly upsetting but it also provides you with the opportunity to explain this to others so that they can support and check on you.
Break up with breaking news
24-hour news cycles first came into being in the 1980s (1) and since then we’ve gotten used to hearing about the day’s events as and when they happen. While this can make us feel connected to the world around us it also forces us to make decisions about a subject, often before we have all the information we need. This is one of the reasons that I am a huge advocate for turning off breaking news bulletins on devices and setting limits on the amount of time spent on the news. While staying informed is important it’s also key to your mental wellbeing to do this on your own terms.
Look on the bright side
You will not see many positive stories on the news and there’s a very good reason for that. You are more likely to keep watching a rare and terrible accident than you are all the good and seemingly mundane things that happen daily. However, there are some websites and companies dedicated to good news stories which you can choose to engage with. Positive News and Good News Network are great places to look for positive news stories.
References
The Beginning of the 24-Hour News Cycle | Times Illustrated