Is the news working for you?
Are you finding yourself depressed and deflated when you look at the news? Does it deplete your energy and consume way more of your time than intended, giving you little in return other than agitation, sadness, and anger?
We are mourning so many innocent lives lost - just since the last weekly email. In the past year, grief of all forms has hung a heavy blanket.
There is space for sadness, anger, hurt, and fear.
There are moments where the intensity challenges and motivates us into action.
There are moments when we need to cry. Or yell. Or both.
And there are many, many opportunities for us to learn.
If you're trying to figure out how news coverage fits into this process, here are a few suggestions to navigate your news consumption so that you can maximize staying informed without actually detracting from your energy to take action.
Be clear about your goals and priorities before you select when, how, what, and how much news you're consuming. If news is the means...what is the end? For example, are you looking for information on a specific event? Are you wanting to stay generally informed? Do you want the top stories, local stories, international news? Are you preparing to take action? Be really specific about what you want to have as a result of your news intake before you make any other choices, it will inform all the rest.
Consider any risks or limitations that accompany your news intake. How is news likely to affect you? Do you lose sleep if you've read news before bed? Once you start, do you find yourself watching coverage of the same traumatic event over and over again, losing track of time? No judgment, just awareness. Take this into account for the following as well.
Based on your answers to #1 and #2, consider what formats of news will best serve your purpose and goals while minimizing the risks. There are lots to choose from - written, audio, visual, podcasts, live, newspapers, online publishing, daily emails, 24 hour news channels, etc.
Now, what sources will you choose? Select options that are aligned with your purposes and be clear about why you are selecting each one. Do you trust their presentation of the facts? Are they aligned with your values? Are you seeking opinions? Do you want to view the "opposite side" as part of staying informed?
Based on your decisions, approach your intake of news with all this awareness and intention. Go in for what you wanted, and get out fast when done! Reassess along the way so you can make adjustments to when and how much time you're spending based on how it's working for you. Consider any modifications to the format or sources you prefer.
I'll be honest, for me, it's a work in progress. Because I'm very aware of how my heart sinks low, quickly, and how much this actually defers my productivity, I make frequent adjustments to when and how I consume news.
Some days, my best option is to ask someone I trust (who has the time and is less emotionally affected) "What do I need to know about what's happening in the world today?" rather than scrolling through the headlines myself.
Try this out and, in the meantime, let me know - what have you found most helpful in your news consumption?
As always...You matter. You can make a difference. I'm so thankful you're here.
