We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through your news feed and you see the latest disaster, and suddenly it feels like the world is ending… and then you realise that you’ve been scrolling for hours. What have you accomplished since then? Nothing. Just more anxiety, more stress, and maybe a little bit of self-loathing.
We get it—the news is scary right now, and it can be hard to know what to do with all of the information coming at us from our phones, TVs, laptops… everywhere. But the truth is that we can’t control what happens in other parts of the world or even in our own backyards; we can only control how we respond to these events and what kind of impact they have on us personally. And for me personally? It means no doomscrolling before bed!
So how do we stop this vicious cycle? We bring you a couple of tips to deal with negative news.
1. Create boundaries for yourself!
Set time limits for social media or news outlets is one easy way to do this; another thing you could try is setting aside specific times every day when you only listen to music or podcasts instead of scrolling down.
2. Keep your mind (and body!) busy
Unplug from the news for a little while and seek out activities that will cheer you up and help you decompress. Maybe it’s exercise or curling up with your favourite feel-good TV show, or even reaching out to a friend or family member and spending some time with people you love offline.
Take action by volunteering your time with local organisations, making your voice heard on social media, or even donating to a cause you’re passionate about.
These are all great ways to start getting involved and making positive changes!
3. Practice a bit of self-care!
Make sure you’re taking care of yourself physically and emotionally by eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, etc.; and last but not least:
Don’t forget that YOU are important too!!!
