Presidential Debate Got You Down? Here are 5 Tips to Handle News Fatigue
Every time you read a newspaper, look at social media, or turn on the news there’s another eye-catching headline about COVID, civil rights protests, the Supreme Court nomination, or the presidential election.
I firmly believe it is our duty to be informed citizens. We have the responsibility to educate ourselves on current events. Every issue feels (and is) incredibly important to our future, so how can we not pay attention?
Unfortunately, constant news updates is a one way ticket to stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue. I know I stress out if I don’t know what’s going on, because I worry that I’ve missed an important event. On the other hand, I stress when reading every headline because each story seems more horrific than the last. We may have the responsibility to educate ourselves, but we also have the responsibility to safeguard our health.
So here are 5 tips to help you stop stressing out over the news.
Limit your news consumption. Pick one time during the day to read or watch the news. I like to read the Washington Post every morning while I eat breakfast.
Talk about other things. I love a good political discussion with my friends and family as much as the next person, and it’s a good thing to talk about! (P.S. Make sure you’re registered to vote!) In the lead up to the presidential election, I’ve been having interesting discussions and debates with people I know about our beliefs and opinions. It’s a good way to organize your thoughts and let out your frustrations. That being said, make sure you talk about other things! Talk about the latest book you’ve read, or what scary movie you’ll watch for Halloween.
Get outside. It’s not always possible to go outside for a walk, or to sit in your backyard, but if it’s possible go outside. Fresh air and exercise will improve your mood, lower your blood pressure, help your focus, and give you more energy. If going outside isn’t an option, check out some yoga videos on YouTube. Trust me, you will feel better.
Turn off your phone notifications. Phones are wonderful in that you have instant access to information. But that gets pretty overwhelming! If you’re following my tips, then you’re already limiting your news consumption. But what about when your phone buzzes with a headline 10 times a day? Go into your settings and turn off the news notifications - you’ll catch the headline during your dedicated “news time”, promise.
Guilt-Free Social Media. Don’t feel guilty if you are not posting or re-posting every piece of political content on social media. You are allowed to post as much or as little as you want, because guess what? You are an informed voter, and it is impossible to keep up with every single thing.
One last thing - you are allowed to change your opinion. The beauty of being informed is that you will grow. Each piece of information we consume, topics we debate, people we support, change us. And they are meant to! Our opinions and beliefs are meant to grow and change as we learn. You are not the exact same person you were 10 years ago, so why would you think in the same exact way?
I hope these tips help you navigate the upcoming months with a little less stress. If you have any advice on handling news fatigue, let me know!