Regardless of your political proclivities, it can be oh-so-tempting to slip into the black hole of news overload. Sure, we all want to know what’s going on in the world, but too much can feel incredibly overwhelming. Instead of simply being in-the-know, we may experience anxiety, fear, helplessness, or even hopelessness. If you do a news detox, however, there can be a sense of guilt associated with not keeping up on the state of things.
Really, who needs any of that?
Perhaps you can think of your relationship with the news as similar to that of a close relative who is important to you, but can also make you lose your darn mind. As in any healthy relationship, boundaries are key.
So how to ensure the correct dose of news coverage? Different strategies work for different folks. I have a few I cycle through, depending on my mood and/or what’s going on in the world. I, like many, saw my news consumption explode in 2016. I was either reading the news or listening to WUSF, our local public radio station, all of my waking hours.
Podcasts
What ultimately saved me from this spiral was the NPR One app. This offered a vast array of news-related podcasts, but also, importantly, podcasts that had nothing to do with the news. I’ve since gathered quite a collection, and they are a saving grace. On One or any free podcast app, you can find a seemingly unlimited supply on pretty much any topic. There is a wealth of free content. Give it a try!
International News Sources
When I do pointedly decide to imbibe some news, I have three main ways to do so without falling off the deep end. Firstly, reading/listening to foreign news sources (like the BBC) can be extremely beneficial to sane news consumption, as they are thorough yet detached from the situation. Getting your news from a dispassionate source can help you avoid getting all riled up. No spin, no drama, no partisanship, just the news. You can also keep it hyper-local, like Radio St. Pete.
Time Limits
Next option is to keep it short and controlled. Perhaps you give yourself a 30-minute window each day to dig through the muck all you want. You can even set yourself an alarm, then once you’ve hit your allowance you are finished for the day. Just don’t do this before bed! Personally, I wake up to NPR’s ten-ish minute podcast, Up First. It gives me a Cliff Notes version of the major stories of the day, and I know that anything else that comes up will be on the next day’s short-take. Some days I need more news, some days I need less, but this is my usual routine, like a healthy green smoothie in the morning.
Lighthearted Fun
Then there are the times when you just need to laugh so you don’t cry. This can take many forms, based on where you stand politically. The current lineup of late night hosts generally lean left, though you have some who keep it pretty centered such as Jimmy Fallon. You can also easily find conservative or libertarian comedians out there, as well, especially within the podcasting sphere.
I never sit down to watch full late-night shows or comedy specials, but instead ingest short, manageable clips by way of YouTube. Just the bits I want, no commitment, no late-night hours. Eating the whole cake can leave you feeling like trash, but a simple slice is just right.
This is the perfect time to reevaluate your relationship with the news, and consider how you can make it a healthy one. Good luck out there!
