It is safe to say that recent events have been all over the place. It seems that the news being covered has been increasingly negative lately too. The added uncertainty can make hearing, reading and watching the news anxiety-inducing. So, what do you do when you want to stay informed about current events, but you don’t want to put your mental health at risk? There’s no need to worry, as this article will provide tips on staying informed when there’s too much news.
Don’t constantly check the news
Firstly, don’t let your life revolve around the news. If you make it a habit to check it multiple times a day, you’ll find it harder to relax knowing that there’s so much going on. A way to make sure you aren’t constantly checking the news is to turn off notifications for apps like BBC News. This way, you aren’t obliged to read new headlines whenever they get posted.
If you find yourself checking news apps even though you don’t have notifications, you might find it helpful to delete news apps altogether. This will eliminate the ease of looking at the news, so you might not feel the need to check it as often.
Set yourself limits and boundaries
It’s reasonable to want to stay informed about current events, but the key is to find the correct balance for you. A way to stay informed but not constantly check the news is to set a certain amount of time to look at the it. For example, you could watch the headlines segment of the morning or evening news once a day. Alternatively, if you prefer reading the news, you could choose one news source and read their online headlines once a day for ten minutes.
Setting limits and boundaries as to how much news you digest or for how long you digest it at a time means that you stay in control of what you see or hear. This allows you to stay up-to-date with important stories without making you take in too much all at once.
Read the good news too!
Although a lot of news out there is negative, there is good news to be found. So, instead of concentrating on all the negative, try concentrating on the positive! This way, you’re still staying informed with current events, but your protecting your mental health at the same time. It’s a good way to make sure the information you take in is balanced.
Distinguish the reliable from the unreliable
Decide which news outlets you trust and which ones you don’t. It’s important to remember that many sources of news use emotion-provoking techniques in order to reach a bigger audience. The more emotion it creates, the more people talk about it, and the more people that read it: it becomes a continuous loop.
Most information sources cover the same topics, especially if they’re big headlines. Therefore, it makes sense to pick one or two sources and use those for your information. If you get your news from websites like Twitter, be aware that stories can be subject to exaggeration and opinions. You can generally expect advocates for a certain cause or belief that the information they spread favours their own beliefs. Keep this in mind when you’re reading information created by such individuals. It may mean you’re exposed to a one-sided, or heavily opinionated, story.
Talk to someone if it’s making you anxious
It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and anxious about current events. Especially since everything in the news has seemed so negative lately, these feelings are valid. If it is getting too much for you to handle and you’re struggling to cope with hearing the news, talk to someone you trust. Many people will feel the same, as negative news is never easy to read about. Sharing your anxieties will help you to feel heard and see that you’re not alone in how you’re feeling.
You can also talk about your feelings to the Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258. Trained volunteers will be able to provide you with a listening ear on your anxieties. They might even be able to share some resources to help you deal with current negative events.
The takeaway message
While it is understandable to want to stay informed with current events, you need to prioritise your mental health. If you find that the news is making you feel increasingly anxious, it might be time to set some boundaries. This can include limiting your time checking the news and choosing one or two sources that you know are reliable. The bottom line is your comfort is worth more than knowing every bit of information out there. It is more than okay if you need to take a break from reading the news from time to time!