Staying Informed Without Staying Stressed
Constant news coverage can be overwhelming—managing your intake is crucial.
By Max Pritchard with art by natalie williams
If you’re looking for a quick way to feel overwhelmed—which I sincerely do not recommend—scrolling through the front page of a major news website is a solid place to start. On the day I’ve written this, for example, a quick glance reveals that, among other things, China has aligned itself more strongly with the Russian war effort, a French teacher was stabbed by their student, and several Palestinian civilians have been killed in an Iranian strike. All these stories are upsetting and each is unique with its own intricacies, contexts, and implications; and this is just scratching the surface of one day’s events. Unfortunately, those headlines will no doubt be added to by an ever-growing number of similarly distressing stories by the time this piece is published.
If you find yourself overwhelmed when perusing the news, you’re not alone; there’s plenty of research to back up this phenomenon. Access to 24/7 coverage of events worldwide can open a window to a neverending landscape of disasters, tragedies, and crises. Consuming too much coverage of tragic events has been found to generate acute stress symptoms, causing your body to release greater quantities of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, possibly leading to fatigue, depression, and other physical symptoms.
As a result, researchers urge readers to assess their state of mind and, when needed, limit time spent on news sites and certain social media platforms. Following reliable sources is crucial, as is staying away from sensationalist or misleading reporting. Stress can be diminished by reading objective reports more than opinion pieces; though I would argue that op-eds and firshand perspective pieces are pivotal in many topics, especially those regarding marginalized groups—a balance, then, can be useful. It can also help to follow ‘good news publications’ that highlight kind acts or scientific progress. Lastly, many advise that stress can be minimized by practicing emotional self-care, investing your attention elsewhere, and centering on hobbies or relaxing activities; such habits may be difficult to implement quickly but are very helpful.
All of this advice is undoubtedly valuable and worth applying. But in doing so, I believe it is crucial not to go too far in the other direction and follow the common path of ignoring current events altogether. Staying informed is foundational to using our power and doing good. The East Palestine train derailment, for example, is extremely dispiriting to read about, but is also a vital reminder of the need for stricter environmental legislation. It is only through learning about the situation that the regulation rollbacks of the previous administration and the lackluster federal response to the disaster can be critiqued. This is true throughout the current events landscape—it is only by staying up to date with current happenings that we can hold corrupt or faltering systems accountable and identify needed change.
So be sure to moderate your news intake, but I urge you to continue to stay as informed as you are comfortably able to. It can help to remember not to feel guilty for being unable to help with all the unjust and unpleasant events and systems that you read about; remember that there is simply too much going on for any one person to fix.
If you’re feeling helpless, it can help to ground yourself by contributing to one or two issues, however you are best able. Perhaps this can be through joining a student advocacy group, volunteering, attending rallies, or donating to important causes. There’s a lot of power to be found through individuals focusing their efforts on specific challenges. Some may center on climate, others on reproductive rights, and so on, while uplifting and supporting other issues whenever possible. Nobody can solve all the world’s problems, but through lots of people chipping away at individual ones, a whole lot of good can be done.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/why-we-worry/202009/the-psychological-impact-negative-news
https://impactnottingham.com/2022/03/weekly-wellbeing-how-to-avoid-being-overwhelmed-by-the-news/
https://sfstress.com/blog/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-when-the-news-feels-overwhelming/
https://www.makeuseof.com/tips-avoid-stress-reading-news/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64735707