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Hello everyone! Welcome to The Oh Shit Kit! We are a tad (read: extremely) rusty since Maddie just got back from her trip to England. On top of that we have both been working twelve hour days all week before recording this. So, if you like listening to slap-happy fools explain stuff to ya, you came to the right place!
Today’s topic is how to get the news while protecting your mental health. The news is so constant and divisive lately, it can have a really negative impact on your mental health if you’re not careful. As usual, we’ve got the stats to prove it! For example, fifty-six percent of people who watch the news say it causes them stress and seventy-two percent say they think the media blows things out of proportion.
We talk about the concept of “negativity bias” This means that the human brain is also wired to pay attention to information that scares or unsettles us because our cave-person brains want to avoid being harmed. Boy, that sounds like it might be maladaptive!
So, what do we do about all of this? Well, we have four main suggestions for you and they are our tools for today!
1. Go to non-sensationalist news sources
Look for news sources that don’t focus on the gory details or try to use “shock value” to get more views. One good example is The Skimm, which provides an easy to digest summary of what you really need to know.
2. Find a positive news source
Since our brains are wired to focus on the negative, you may want to find a positive-only news outlet to balance that out. One example is positive.news. This can provide some relief from all the negative headlines that can be hard to avoid.
3. Take Action
According to the APA, fifty-one percent of Americans say that the state of the nation has inspired them to volunteer or support causes they value. Doing something to feel like you’re making a difference can really help to balance out all that negativity.
4. Counteract the effects of the news in other ways
If the news causes you stress, pull something from your “Oh Shit Kit” to help balance yourself out. Use the same tools you might when you’re stressed about something in your own life, such as a relaxing activity, exercise, or time with friends or family.
Our bottom line today is this: it’s important to be informed. We need to care about what’s going on in the world and help one another when injustices occur. However, you don’t need to sacrifice your mental health to do so. Make sure you’re getting your news in manageable doses, and adding in some self-care along the way.
TOOLS
Go to non-sensationalist news sources, such as The Skimm
Find a positive news source, such as positive.news
Take Action! Pick something you care about, and do one thing about it. Know that every little bit helps!
Counteract the effects of the news in other ways. This one’s all about self-care! Take care of yourself after the news has had a negative effect on your mental health.