News these days feelings overwhelming, sometimes it feels like we are bombarded in an endless barrage of new and developing stories. This age of the 24/7 news cycle and instant access to information sources often results in information overload. For many, the stress can create a desire to tune out the noise. Yet, ignorance isn’t bliss, and ignoring or avoiding a concern won’t eliminate it, so what can you do?
1. How are you consuming your information?
While it is important to continue to stay informed, how, when and how much you are staying informed is also important. Limit the amount of time you spend watching or reading the news. Limit the amount of time you are using social media platforms or spending on “doom scrolling”. Avoid making the news or social media use part of your wake-up or bed-time routines. Consider finding a time in the middle of day, where you can spend a finite amount of time catching up on events of the day.
2. Replace “what if” thinking with “what is” thinking.
When faced with anxiety, stress, and fear we often fall into catastrophic thinking—considering the worst possible outcomes. While it can be easy to fall into such patterns during periods of uncertainty, the future is not reality and it is infinite, there are several paths it can take. Consider and respond to only the information you have available at the present.
3. Where do you have control and/or what do you have capacity for?
There is often a tendency to fall into a pit of despair or helplessness when faced with feeling overwhelmed. However, a different approach may be to consider where have power and what we choose to put our efforts toward. This may look different for different people, but options include (but are not limited to):
- donating to an organization or particular campaign who can champion and fight for causes you support
- protesting
- using your platforms to speak in favor of or out on issues that are important to you
- becoming more educated about a particular topic
- contacting your elected officials
- running for political office yourself
- voting
4. Take care of yourself.
While self-care is a big topic these days, it is not only in reference to indulging in relaxation or luxury. Self-care can have several components including physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and social health. It also speaks to the discipline and routine we maintain in our lifestyles to maintain our well-being. What intentional time are you carving for yourself or specific behaviors you are putting in place to care for those needs?
