It’s a crazy world out there. I’ll be the first to admit it. Between global unrest and our own country’s political climate, we’re all feeling the weight of it. It’s nearly impossible to go through our days without feeling powerless, anxious, stressed, and, frankly… sad.
Fortunately, there is one small but powerful action we can take to dramatically impact our mental health. And once again, intentionality is at the heart of this concept.
NEGATIVE NEWS AND ITS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
Most of us float through our days on autopilot, absorbing information from all directions—whether we want to or not. From the Breaking News banner flashing across the four televisions at the gym to the endless stream of updates filling our social media feeds, the barrage of information is relentless. Now, more than ever, protecting our mental health is crucial.
As I often share in my workshops, we all have a negativity bias. We pay three times more attention to negative experiences than positive ones. News stations know this, and they take full advantage, feeding us one distressing headline after another. Research shows that subjecting ourselves to this constant drip of news triggers the body’s stress response, leading to difficulty sleeping, mood changes, and fatigue. A study published in the British Journal of Psychology even found that people who watched negative news experienced heightened anxiety and a tendency to catastrophize personal worries.
But what if I told you that a simple action could immediately improve your mental well-being? What if this one change could help you manage stress, boost productivity, and adopt a more optimistic outlook on life?
That action is unfollowing.
THE POWER OF CHOICE
Specifically, I mean unfollowing the news. If you find yourself constantly bombarded by cortisol-spiking headlines from your favorite news stations, commentators or even friends who love the alarming forwards, you can take back control. Simply by hitting “unfollow.”
Now, I’m not suggesting you check out entirely. I understand that staying informed is important, especially in unpredictable times. But you can still do that, but on your terms. Set a designated time each day to catch up. Read your favorite newspaper or check the headlines once, rather than allowing a steady stream of stress to seep into your day. The truth is, you have a choice in how much negativity you let in. Most people don’t want to hear that.
This morning, I heard a quote on Adam Grant’s Re:Thinking podcast. He was speaking with Sharon McMahon (government expert, author, and civics teacher) who was asked how to combat feelings of doom and instead choose hope. Her response?
“If we spend all of our time engrossed in things that are beyond our control, this is how we stay stuck… I refuse to be distracted from my most important work.”
That resonated with me deeply, and moving forward, it will be my mantra. I am confident that you, as well, have something important to contribute to this world.
So maybe it can be your mantra too.