My friend told me to stop reading climate news for a month to help my anxiety

She said it back in March, and I finally tried it for the whole month of April. I cut out all the doom-scrolling and news alerts. At first, I felt better, less heavy. But by the end, I just felt guilty and out of touch, like I was ignoring a house fire in the next room. Now I'm back to checking updates, but the dread feels worse. Has anyone found a good middle ground for staying informed without feeling totally wrecked?

4 comments

4 Comments

betty_kelly92mo ago

Try setting a timer for ten minutes when you check the news, then close the app. You can't fix everything in one day, right? I also switched to a weekly newsletter instead of constant alerts, so the updates come to me in one chunk. The guilt means you care, but you have to put your own oxygen mask on first.

jennifer8332mo ago

The newsletter switch is a total game changer.

avery_flores1725d ago

That phrase "put your own oxygen mask on first" really stuck with me when betty_kelly9 said it. It's so true how we feel guilty stepping back even a little. I actually read a study recently that said constantly checking alerts actually makes you feel more anxious and less informed in the long run. @the_wendy you're right that burning out doesn't help anyone, and I think that study proved it. The newsletter thing makes so much sense because you get the big picture instead of panicking over every tiny headline. I started one about two months ago and my stress levels dropped way down. It feels like a cheat code or something.

the_wendy2mo ago

Honestly used to think staying glued to the news was the only responsible thing. But burning yourself out doesn't help anyone, does it? Finding a limit that lets you stay sane is the real challenge.