It's been a tough month: fires, politics, the polar vortex and Elon Musk. Luckily, there are methods from science to make it easier - and stop 'news alert' panic.
Thanks, Charles. Yesterday, I published a piece on the impact watching cable news has on our mental health and what you can do to protect yourself. Here's a link:
Your statement that reading celebrity gossip is relaxing made me question every other suggestion in the article. Almost nothing is more annoying to me. Do others truly find that relaxing?
Thanks for this. I think it is really important that we give up "should." We aren't better people when we're immersed in outrage. A secular (or FSM) version of the Serenity Prayer.
I never thought I’d be the type to consume so much news that it would give me anxiety, but here we are—another fun part of adulthood! These tips help. For me, unsubscribing from news podcasts and newsletters was key. I hate feeling out of the loop, but my stress levels have decreased significantly.
By the way, I love that there is a study about how celebrity gossip is calming.
Charles, your post was spot on. I can tell you with great joy I have watched no news since the November 5 election. I have filled the time formerly spent listening to pundits drone on with actual books, you know, novels, science fiction, detectives, those stories that take you away from the sad reality we’re facing in America. For me time spent at the piano is therapeutic. You can glean much from mere phone headlines, and for me, that’s enough. This news diet has really turned my mental health around. Now if only the weight loss would work at the same rate of speed. Keep up the awesome work. All the best to you for a great 2025.
I have read the daily newspaper for over fifty years, and I continue to do so today. Yes, I am that person who still gets a paper paper. I believe reading an entire article is more helpful and less stressful than getting pieces of news and not fully understanding the context. I appreciate reporters who get out there and dig it up, find the evidence, talk to the man on the street, barge into boardrooms (okay a bit cinematic).
Then, when I am finished with the newspaper (7 a.m. - dogs need to be walked), I am finished with the news as such. I will look at breaking news in my email scroll but I have moved all news publications out of my primary email list into their own "updates" list.
I think my town is dying because there is no local news, just gossip like NextDoor so no one is fully engaged and no one knows what the hell is going on because there is no universal truth, just my truth or your truth.
Thanks, Charles. Yesterday, I published a piece on the impact watching cable news has on our mental health and what you can do to protect yourself. Here's a link:
https://perfectingrol.substack.com/p/protecting-your-mental-health-from?utm_source=substack&utm_content=feed%3Arecommended%3Acopy_link
This is one of the best articles about this topic that I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of them over the years!
Thank you, Donn!
Your statement that reading celebrity gossip is relaxing made me question every other suggestion in the article. Almost nothing is more annoying to me. Do others truly find that relaxing?
yes!
Thanks for this. I think it is really important that we give up "should." We aren't better people when we're immersed in outrage. A secular (or FSM) version of the Serenity Prayer.
https://www.mattball.org/2024/11/your-help-please.html
Take care.
Love it!
I never thought I’d be the type to consume so much news that it would give me anxiety, but here we are—another fun part of adulthood! These tips help. For me, unsubscribing from news podcasts and newsletters was key. I hate feeling out of the loop, but my stress levels have decreased significantly.
By the way, I love that there is a study about how celebrity gossip is calming.
“Use technology to fight technology”
I love that concept.
Great article, Charles!
Thanks so much!
Yes that’s the one that I love - probably because it’s what I’ve done for years now (and what I force on my children).
Technology should be there to make our life better, to meet our needs, not to make digital slaves and dopamine junkies out of us.
such a good piece. and love the art.
The art sometimes takes as long as the words.
Charles, your post was spot on. I can tell you with great joy I have watched no news since the November 5 election. I have filled the time formerly spent listening to pundits drone on with actual books, you know, novels, science fiction, detectives, those stories that take you away from the sad reality we’re facing in America. For me time spent at the piano is therapeutic. You can glean much from mere phone headlines, and for me, that’s enough. This news diet has really turned my mental health around. Now if only the weight loss would work at the same rate of speed. Keep up the awesome work. All the best to you for a great 2025.
It sounds like you've figured it out, Jack. I hope it's a great 2025, no matter what's happening in the headlines.
Likewise Charles let’s make ‘25 a good one.
I have read the daily newspaper for over fifty years, and I continue to do so today. Yes, I am that person who still gets a paper paper. I believe reading an entire article is more helpful and less stressful than getting pieces of news and not fully understanding the context. I appreciate reporters who get out there and dig it up, find the evidence, talk to the man on the street, barge into boardrooms (okay a bit cinematic).
Then, when I am finished with the newspaper (7 a.m. - dogs need to be walked), I am finished with the news as such. I will look at breaking news in my email scroll but I have moved all news publications out of my primary email list into their own "updates" list.
I think my town is dying because there is no local news, just gossip like NextDoor so no one is fully engaged and no one knows what the hell is going on because there is no universal truth, just my truth or your truth.
This is a great approach. And healthy, too.