Controlling the News So It Doesn’t Control You
Controlling the News So It Doesn’t Control You
At the risk of stating the obvious, this has been a heck of a year, and while there is light at the end of the Covid tunnel, we still have some difficult times ahead of us, at least so we are told by the news we consume in print, online, or over the radio or television.
Regardless of where you get your information, one thing is for sure, the news can serve to exacerbate stress and fear and that’s not good for anyone.
It’s a natural tendency to turn to the news whenever there is something serious (aka newsworthy) taking place. Since all of us are spending many more hours at home, reading and watching the news happens with much more frequency, and that’s exactly where the problems can start.
A daily diet of gloom and doom can prompt feelings of depression and angst, and even in the best of circumstances, serve to make us feel overwhelmed. We may not be able to change the current events, but we can control our daily intake of information.
Here are three things that you can do to curtail “news-related” anxiety:
Cut down on the amount of time that you spend consuming the news
In most situations, the news doesn’t change radically hour by hour and nothing positive can come out of spending the day tuning in. It’s important to be informed, however, there may also be emotional, mental and physical consequences by continually hearing information that is distressing.
Most people can reduce the amount of time they spend watching, reading or listening to the news by half and still be well informed. Substitute a diversion that is much more pleasant such as calling a friend, reading a novel or spending time on a hobby.
Don’t watch or read the news right before bedtime or first thing in the morning
Along with controlling the “amount” of time you spend consuming the news, you should also be conscious of “when” you watch or read information provided by the major news outlets. Watching or reading the news right before bedtime can lead to a bad night’s sleep, while starting the day with an update that is decidedly negative can lead to feelings of unhappiness and fear.
A better way to start the day might be with yoga, meditation or a daily gratitude practice whereby you reinforce all of the positive things you have in your life.
Obtain your news from “reliable” sources
Your attention can be hijacked by loud voices that are looking to inflame rather than inform, and you must be strong in the face of such “noise.” Remember, you are looking for the news to be presented as impartially as possible and even though the bias of the particular news outlet will come through, you should seek out the sources that aren’t willing to bend reality to fit their bias. Don’t let yourself be controlled by the media.
A Right at Home companion will help your senior to stay engaged in activities that are uplifting and enjoyable and will help them feel comfortable and safe in their own home.
