Back in the day, there were far fewer sources of news. You could get your daily dose of news from your morning or evening newspaper, from your radio, and eventually from your television. For the longest time, there simply were not that many news broadcasts each day—in part because there were far fewer stations to choose from.
These days, everything has changed. We have access to the news 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. There are channels devoted to nothing but reporting and commenting on the news. Our phones are pinged with breaking news updates throughout the day and night. And the internet is just bursting with news—and everyone’s opinions on the news.
It can be overwhelming, right? So overwhelming that it can really amp up a person’s stress levels. And that can have a negative impact on an individual’s mental health.
Does that sound familiar? If so, it is probably time to take some action to ensure you can stay informed without adding undue amounts of stress to your life. We have a few suggestions that might help.
First, Think About Your Notification Settings
We noted above that breaking news seems to arrive on our phones all the time. But of course, it does not have to. You always have the option to go into your settings to reduce the number of notifications you receive from news sites (and other sites as well).
You might feel reluctant to do that because you feel as though you should always be on top of what is happening in the world. But in truth, many “news” updates are, in fact, opinion pieces or features or other items that are not urgent. When you really think about it, even truly breaking news rarely requires your immediate attention.
So, go ahead and reduce the distraction caused by all of those notifications by turning them off. It is an easy way to limit the stress caused by the news.
Second, Don’t Debate the News Online
Do you ever find yourself arguing about the news on social media? Someone posts something that strikes you as wrong, and you comment. And the poster comments back. Soon enough, you are in an argument—an argument that adds stress to your life without really accomplishing anything. Of course, it can happen the other way around, too. Sometimes you are the original poster, and someone comments on your post—and soon enough, the argument is on.
Of course, conversation about the news can be illuminating and interesting, but social media does not always support reasonable conversation. Deciding when to—and when not to—engage with something you see on social media is an important skill. Relatedly, if you limit the amount of time you spend on social media (or doomscrolling), you will find fewer opportunities to get into spicy conversations. You can take advantage of timers built into apps like Facebook to help you reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling.
Third, Choose a Few News Sources
News can come at you like water from a firehose if you let it. But you can turn down the intensity by carefully selecting a few sources from which you will consistently get your news.
For example, you might decide to read your local newspaper each day, listen to a news podcast at lunchtime, and watch the evening news. Or you might find a news aggregator that will give you the top headlines of the day each evening or the following morning. Or you might choose a national newspaper and a couple of commentators whose insights help you make sense of the news.
Your combination of sources will be unique to you. The key is to choose just a few so that you are not bombarded by news coming from every direction. You can get all the information you need without letting it cause extra stress.
No News is Bad News
We want to be clear: We are not suggesting that you ignore the news entirely. After all, things happening in your community, your state, the country, and even the world can have a real impact on your life. Our point here is that you do not have to let the news come rushing in all of the time. Making intentional choices regarding when and how you will get your news is a good way to support your mental health.
Our Top Story: We Can Help You Improve Your Mental Health
At Peak View Behavioral Health, we offer personalized treatment plans to address mental health disorders. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peak View provides evidence-based care supported by our expertise, experience, and empathy. You can count on us to deliver a continuum of care that begins with a thorough assessment that leads to a diagnosis, rapid stabilization, and ongoing care and support.
When you are ready to renew your sense of hope, we are ready to help you improve your mental health and maintain those improvements over time.
