You Probably Need a News Break This Summer

With the whole world’s eyes on the Oscar’s incident, we can temporarily take a news break from the pandemic, war, and other terrible things currently happening. Even though it sparks another controversial debate. Pretty much everywhere you look online, you can stumble across upsetting news.

Not being able to step back occasionally can negatively influence mental health. In light of recent events, learning how to take care of yourself is especially important.

But if we know that reading the news makes us upset, why is it so difficult to stop?

If you ever open the news in the morning just so that you can check one thing and then end up reading for an hour, with your anxiety increasing after each click, you’re engaging in doomscrolling.

Doomscrolling the news

The term refers to a destructive tendency to scroll through negative headlines with no end in sight. If you’re highly empathetic, it’s effortless to fall victim to doomscrolling; you might feel it’s inappropriate to live your life as if nothing happened while others are suffering. Furthermore, you might follow the news to partly experience what’s happening and free yourself of the guilt. Another reason is that it’s a part of our survival mechanism. Our brains force us to consume more and more information in an attempt to prepare us for what’s to come. However, this kind of compulsive scrolling isn’t helpful and only makes us more anxious in the long run.

So how can you take a news break?

It takes consistency and developing new habits. But you can learn to avoid it just in time for the summer. Continue exploring this article to find out the best techniques to adopt in your life.

Prioritise your mental health

Understand that just because you aren’t following the news doesn’t mean you’re indifferent to what’s happening worldwide. Instead, you should channel your anxiety into something productive, such as becoming involved with charities. A lot of organisations are currently accepting online donations for various causes. You can also sign up for volunteering. Giving away to the community can make you feel like you’re making a difference and appreciate the present moment more.

Focus on positive news

Negativity sells, and the media sure loves the shock value. Luckily, it’s not impossible to access articles that look at the other side of the coin. For example, you can focus on the reports from the border describing how people from all walks of life come together to help the refugees.

Be smart about how you use the Internet

Even if you don’t look for the news, you’ll come across it one way or another. The best way to reduce your chances is to spend less time surfing the Internet. You can set a time limit and only scroll for an hour or so daily. Additionally, remember to never read the news right before bed, as it can cause a spike in anxiety and keep you up at night.

Keep a gratitude diary

A gratitude diary can help redirect your attention to something positive and ground you in the present. When you focus on what you’re grateful for, your mood improves, and you become more relaxed. This also makes it less likely for you to engage in compulsive scrolling to deal with difficult emotions.

Install news break extensions

Take advantage of the current technology and download an app that allows you to block certain websites. It helps you so that you don’t search for the news every chance you get. You can also keep your phone on silent – even opening a notification from your friend is enough to make you go down the rabbit hole again.

Limit yourself to one media outlet

Reading the same information from different sources is the easiest way to become overwhelmed. Sticking to one outlet will allow you to be up to date with what’s going on but without doomscrolling.