ANN/THE DAILY STAR – The world has been in a state of unrest for some time now, and staying informed is important.
However, it’s equally essential to step back when the constant stream of news becomes overwhelming and starts to affect our mental well-being.
So, how can we reshape our relationship with the news?
AVOID DWELLING ON THINGS WE CAN’T CHANGE
No matter how much we want, some things are beyond our control to fix. Stay informed and understand the situation instead of overanalysing it.
Instead of going through the entirety of a news report, read the news ticker and stay updated with the essential facts you need to plan your day.
FIX YOUR ‘WORRY TIME’
In difficult times, news anxiety can be at its peak. Hence, we should limit our media consumption. Instead of constantly refreshing our pages for the next update, we should fix a time for ourselves to keep up with the news.
For instance, you can go through the news in the morning for 20 minutes and let that be your ‘worry time’ instead of pondering over it your whole day.
The news will come up regardless of whether we choose to see it or not. So, if engaging with the headlines is causing harm to your mental health, you can always choose to tune out, or at least limit how much news you are absorbing.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT
We should advocate for what’s right by being involved in charity and community work to help those we can access. It is natural to feel guilty about not doing enough for your community.
You can research and share factual information that will be helpful to others. Personal stories may trigger anyone with news anxiety, hence, shifting your focus to statistics can be a more practical way of doing your part.
STAY ACTIVE AND SOCIALLY DISCONNECTED
Feeding our brains 10 different international and national stories before we fully open our eyes can lead to potential physical and mental health problems or unhealthy habits, which include ‘doom-scrolling’, feeling agitated, and having trouble with concentration, to name a few.
When the information starts flooding, and you feel overstimulated, kindly log out or deactivate your socials.
Take a break from the outside world and focus on destressing.
The easiest way to release stress is to exercise. Go for a walk, cook a hot meal, or simply talk to a family member. Diverting your mind to something within your control will help you relax. – Tasnim Kabir
