With all the things going on in the world right now , you may have absolutely no desire to pay attention to the news .
And with 24 - hour news cycles that seem to constantly report horrible atrocities , it can seem like heartbreaking news developments are never ending . That coupled with our everyday challenges and busyness with life can place news consumption near the bottom of your priority list .
I get it ! But staying in the know about major world events and the situations
happening right here in the U.S. is imperative no matter how disturbing the news may be .
Now , that's not to say that news awareness shouldn't come with some boundaries because the news , especially as of late , can be heavy .
However , it's possible to preserve our mental and emotional health while staying aware and engaged .
The keys to avoiding news burnout are pacing yourself , getting bite - sized exposure , and balancing the good with the bad .
Here are some ways you can avoid news burnout while still staying in the know .
Determine your news consumption style Just like fashion or home decor , the way you consume news is unique to your lifestyle and preferences .
For those of us with demanding work schedules , sitting around watching news broadcasts all day simply isn't feasible .
For moms who seem to spend more time in the car than at home with school drop - offs , errands , and sports practices , spending time scrolling news posts on social media might not be the most realistic .
It's easier to make news consumption part of your day - to - day when it actually fits into your day - to - day .
Do you prefer quick snippets of info or detailed insights ? Do you prefer videos , photo carousels , or traditional print ? Is there a particular reporter you like or time of day that works best with your schedule ? There seems to always be one obligation or another pulling us in various directions , so spending time with news in ways that are conducive to your life will feel like less of a pull .
Consider taking inventory of the format , location , time , platform , and news stories that work best for you . There aren't any rules with news consumption , so feel free to do what works for your life ! This is the starting point for having a closer relationship with news and being more news aware .
news into your Incorporate social media feed No matter how busy you are or how much you have to do , social media can be an almost guaranteed way to stay up - to - date on the world's news events .
If there's one thing you look at on a daily basis , it's your social media feeds .
Whether it's first thing in the morning or in the evening when the day's chaos has subsided , I'm willing to bet that you check social media at least once every day .
Personally , I try to be extremely intentional with my social media and have curated my Instagram and Twitter feeds to give me inspiration and entertainment throughout the day . I use that same intentionality when following news outlets on social media .
Watching long TV segments or reading lengthy articles isn't my news consumption style , so quick posts with pertinent info work better for me . NPR posts a wonderful end of - day roundup that shares high - level details about the most important news stories of the day .
It's perfect because it gives just enough to know what's going on , and if I want to look further into a particular story , the posts provide the foundation for me to find and follow more in - depth coverage .
If you don't already , try following one or two of your favorite , trusted news outlets so that as you're scrolling during the day , you're also getting nuggets of news info .
If you want to be extra informed , consider setting up post notifications for those outlets so that you see news almost immediately as it's happening !
Create a news and current events support squad So it's like a book club but for news . Sometimes , the hardest part about staying engaged with the news is all the emotions that come with what you read or see .
Consider reaching out to a friend or two who you trust to share your thoughts and feelings with after you've consumed thought - provoking or emotional news . You all can be there for each other to help process some of your reactions and support
each other through especially tough news events . If you find yourself spiraling with everything going on , your friends can be there for you to vent and engage in honest and meaningful conversations .
Hopefully , they'll be a resource to lean on when it all becomes a bit too much to process on your own . Knowing that you have reliable , respectful support from others makes almost all of life's hurdles a little more manageable , and having support when it comes to news and current events is no different .
Have dedicated news time each day How many times have you told yourself or others that you don't have time to watch or read the news ? Like the saying goes , people make time for what's important to them , so it's not that you don't have time , it's that news isn't one of your priorities - and that's OK ! If you're making a more concerted effort to prioritize news , setting aside time each day ( or week or month who's counting ? ) to spend with the news will make a huge difference .
Routines are a hot trend right now , and with all your skincare or productivity practices , have you ever
thought about creating a news routine ? I always loved movies and shows that showed the newspaper being delivered to people's doors and the family members would read the paper and discuss the news over breakfast .
How intellectually chic ! We might not get physical newspapers anymore , but having dedicated time and space to consume the news will likely make you more inclined to actually consume it .
Again , balance is key , so try setting a 15 minute timer to get in the tough stories , then set another 15 - minute timer to read a feel - good story or watch an inspirational video . Once news consumption becomes part of your routine , it will be less of a chore .
Engage , but don't argue When consuming news , having reactions is a natural part of the process , and those reactions can elicit a range of emotions : hope , anger , disgust , joy , sadness .
Everyone has opinions based on their life experiences , and some people are more comfortable than others with sharing their opinions .
These opinions , backed with intense emotions , can quickly lead to " right vs. wrong " or " you vs. me " interactions that lack respect and understanding for others .
Remember that no other person in the world has experienced everything you have in the way you've experienced them .
We're all unique in that way , and despite seeming like a divider , our variety of experiences actually unifies us .
Words have meaning , and we have to be careful not to invalidate people's realities with our words , even if they are strangers on the internet who we'll never meet in person .
Leave room for people to disagree and challenge you . Accept that others think and believe differently from you .
Express your ideas and remember that the beauty of ideas is that they are endless and boundless . Social media debates are not fun , trust me . News consumption is much more pleasant without the interpersonal conflict and with lots of respect and humanity .
Final Thoughts Being news aware has a deeper meaning than simply reading or watching news stories .
And while sounding knowledgeable at happy hour or making small talk during Zoom meetings is nice , the news reflects real - life experiences that people around the world are having .
Being news aware helps you become more well - rounded and cognizant of situations beyond your own . News provides perspective , hence why it's called " awareness . " My first job out of college required that we stay up - to - date on current events and news developments .
Before they even hire new associates , the applicants have to pass a current events test as part of the interview process .
That experience was the first one that taught me the importance of news awareness , and it completely changed the way I viewed news from that point forward .
It's easy to get caught in our personal bubbles of family , work or school , and social life and dating ; news awareness helps us remember that there's life beyond our bubbles .
Becoming news aware is a process and , believe it or not , one that can be enjoyable . The first step is getting started , the second step is doing it your way , and the third step is being consistent . The rest takes care of itself from there !
