Hearing about the state of the world can be very stressful right now. With the constant barrage of information, it almost seems impossible to avoid feeling overwhelmed. As someone who previously edited the News section of this fine publication, here are my tips on how to stay informed about current events, without feeling too distressed:
- Be a Minimalist on your Phone, a Maximalist on your Computer
We can use our phones for pretty much everything now, including staying informed via social media or news apps. While phones are critical to our everyday lives, their convenience is a double-edged sword: it’s hard to escape the constant notifications, messages, and alerts.
I’ve started setting a “bedtime” routine where my phone is in grayscale and notifications are off. Aside from messaging and calling, I primarily use my phone for listening to music and finding directions. Everything else is done on my computer.
If you’re able, delete any apps you can access on your computer. I deleted Twitter and Facebook from my phone a year ago. It has been a breath of fresh air and tremendous for my mental health. I still access social media on my computer, but I have to be stationary, don’t get stuck scrolling or watching reels, and need to be on WiFi. While I can bring my phone pretty much anywhere, I get a natural break from my computer every time I move around.
- Make your Content Enjoyable
While reels and shorts have been the banes of everyone’s attention spans, there is still some great content being produced. Make sure your feed contains fun or educational content. If you are going to scroll, you may well break the cycle of negative stories with some comics or videos about flag designs, baking, or memes.
- Get Local
We may hear stories about what’s going on in the world that makes us feel like there is nothing we can do. While it’s important to have an understanding of what’s going on internationally, we often neglect what’s happening in our local communities. Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with amazing and accessible activities for students.
Keep updated with what student societies are doing and try to consume more local news (this paper included!). Local news tells you about events in your area and gives you more agency to go out and do something rather than doom scrolling. From joining protests to attending concerts, being informed locally is much more action-oriented.
- Be Routinely Uniformed
A lot of times we place limits on the maximum we should be on our devices. Instead, start placing limits on the minimum amount of time you want to be off your device. Start with five minutes, then do 10, then 20, then 30, then an hour, then two, and so on. Going on runs and going to the cinema are two hobbies that have really helped me take a break from all the stresses and strains.
To conclude, don’t stop being tuned in to the state of the world, but prioritise time to check in with yourself and your community.
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash