Is ignoring the news a form of self care?

Dear Grace,

I hear stuff on the news everyday and I’ve gotten to the point where I just don’t read it. I can’t keep seeing all this negative stuff all the time, it is too overwhelming. My friend told me that I can’t just ignore the news and the rest of the world, but I think this is for my self care. Am I wrong? 

– On Mute in Milwaukee

Dear On Mute, 

Thanks so much for writing in. I think we’ve all been in your shoes at some point in the past few years. With social media booming and everything pinging our phones night and day, keeping up with the world can be downright overwhelming. It’s great that you’re thinking about your self-care, but it’s also good to remember that news about the beautiful, inspiring things happening around us doesn’t always make for dramatic headlines. There is no shortage of good news to be celebrated, if you know where to look. 

I also have to say, I think your friend might be one of those rare true friends who can challenge us when we need it. Because honestly, you’ve both got a point. Here’s my take on your situation and some advice for finding a compromise that works. 

Your mental health is important. Self-care is not a luxury, On Mute, it’s necessary to living a healthy, balanced life. News usually leans negative and scrolling through any news website for more than a few minutes can leave you feeling like everything is going wrong. It’s healthy to step out of the media tornado that we’re all living in now and then to feel present in your own life and community. 

Beyond pressing ‘mute’ on the news, there are lots of ways that you can take care of your mental health and fuel your own positivity. Keeping a journal of things you’re grateful for, getting involved with a local charity, and even spending time outside or exercising are all things that can help you feel grounded in your physical, emotional, and even community health. Taking care of yourself is bigger than one choice—to read the news or not—and the more you commit to healthy habits, the more resilient you will feel when you come across something negative or challenging.

Staying informed is important. Your community relies on you—and you can only show up for them and advocate for what you believe is important if you know what’s happening. Beyond just showing support for the people you care about, keeping up with the news is how we each learn that our challenges aren’t just ours to bear. When you’re struggling with something, it’s easy to feel alone and like no one understands, but if you pay attention to the world around you, you might find that you’re not as alone as you thought. Staying connected helps us to see our shared struggles for what they are and so we can do something about them. From fixing local roads to bringing down the cost of insulin to making sure every child has a roof over their head—it takes all of us to solve a problem, and that starts paying enough attention to recognize it in the first place.

Despite all the news coverage of Washington, our democracy relies on us, the voters. This year is especially important, since we’ll be electing a president and lots of new representatives in November. From where I sit, staying in the know about what’s happening in my community and beyond is part of my duty as an American. 

Moderation is important. In your situation, like most of what life throws at us, I think there’s a happy medium. If you feel overwhelmed with negativity when you read the news or see it in your social media feed, consider approaching it in a different way instead of tuning out altogether. Maybe you’d like listening to the news instead of reading it—in that case, you can subscribe to a regular podcast or radio show. Up First is NPR’s daily news podcast that runs through the day’s headlines in 10 minutes. You can listen while you make coffee, drive to work, or walk your dog.

If you want to control how much you’re reading, consider signing up for a weekly current events newsletter or breakdown from a source you trust (try the Associated Press, NPR, and PBS if you’re not sure where to start). If you get into “doom scrolling” mode on social media, set a time limit on your app so that it stops you once you’ve spent your allotted daily time online. Keep in mind that while lots of us get our news from social media, it’s generally not a trustworthy source for information—watch out for click bait and posts that stir up BIG feelings like anger. If something you read immediately has you seeing red, it’s probably not the full truth. Deep breaths, On Mute: there are lots of ways to make your news routine work for you so that you can stay in the know without feeling like your hair’s on fire. 

Your question really hit home with me and I’m sure other readers will feel the same. I hope this advice helps you find your happy medium. I’m sending all my love!

Grace