Why cutting back on news consumption is good for your well-being

Do you spend hours watching CNN to stay up-to-the-minute on the latest world events? Do you find yourself scrolling your news apps every hour? Do you check your phone for news when you wake up in the middle of the night?

I get it. I sometimes do that, too (except for the last one; my phone stays in the kitchen at night).

We all want to stay informed about what's going on, especially during intense media coverage surrounding events like war and armed conflict, public health threats, mass violence, political events, and environmental disasters. But how much is too much?

In today's super-connected world, we are inundated with headlines, stories, and images about the many newsworthy (often troubling) events happening around the globe.

Recent brain studies have shown that information acts on the brain's dopamine-producing reward system in the same way as money or food. And the people who design the news apps and websites know and take advantage of this.

No wonder we're increasingly addicted to news consumption.

But is all this time we spend perusing the news really helping us?

What is the cost to our well-being?

"We have begun to live in a world, where we eat content, drink content, and breathe content, without giving a single thought to its composition and what kind of impact it has upon our lives.” ― Abhijit Naskar, Neuroscientist

It’s critical that we take breaks from the bombardment of news, for the sake of our sanity.

Here are 5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle:

1. Set time limits

You might not even realize how much time you're spending being bombarded with news; from TV, social media, news websites, news podcasts, newsletters, and old-fashioned newspapers and magazines.

Try to limit your exposure to news. For example, you might want to check your newsfeed or social feed only at certain designated times of the day; give yourself a time limit for daily news consumption; or make your bedroom a no-news and no-phone zone. Pick whatever you can realistically stick with.

2. Limit your sources

I encourage you to choose 2-3 trusted sources of information to get your news from and ignore all others. Find sources that are fairly objective and informative (harder to find these days, I know).

I've noticed that reading well-researched articles or listening to podcasts about world events for 30 minutes a day keeps me better informed and is better for my mental health than watching 30 minutes of news on TV or online. Those latter sources tend to bring sensationalized news and the images and videos bring additional anxiety.

3. Look for positive news

News reports focus primarily on misfortune, violence, and hate because that's what sells. But there is so much good happening in the world that doesn't get much news coverage.

I encourage you to spend a few minutes each day finding happy and uplifting stories to remind yourself that good is out there. Check out the Good News Network for a daily positive boost. Follow some social media accounts that provide uplifting content, whether that’s positive news stories, thoughtful essays, funny memes, or extremely cute animals.

4. Tune out temporarily

During stressful times, we try to cope with anxiety by seeking out comfort, certainty, and control in the form of more information. But that usually doesn't work. Consuming more news won't provide you with the feeling of security you might be seeking. It just further adds to your anxiety.

Give yourself permission to turn off the news and zone out for a couple of days. The occasional news break will help you recharge.

5. Take care of yourself

Use that news-free time to get your body moving. Do something that feels good for your body and helps you get out of your head, whether that's going for a walk outside for some sunshine and fresh air, doing some simple yoga stretches, or actively releasing tension in your body through a tense & release relaxation exercise.

Here are three of my videos that might help:

YouTube Video: Chair Yoga Routine (15 mins)

YouTube Video: Grounding Yoga Routine (10 mins)

YouTube Audio: Guided Tense & Release Relaxation (6 mins)

"Information overload is a symptom of our desire to not focus on what's important. It is a choice.” ― Brian Solis, Digital Analyst

Time is precious. So be mindful if you're using precious time consuming unhelpful and harmful media. Could you be using this time for something better?

Best,

Christine

P.S. I invite you to sign up for my weekly wellness newsletter, filled with wellness tips & tools. As a bonus, instantly receive a free video series ("Yoga Bites"), where you discover effective yoga tools to relieve stress in just 5 minutes!

Wellness & Yoga with Christine

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