News Diet During the Pandemic

Now that we have talked about food and drink intake, what about our news diet? As you have probably seen and noticed, COVID-19 is everywhere on the news: on TV, on the phone, in the newspaper, on billboards, everywhere. Though it is very important to inform ourselves and receieve updates about the ongoing pandemic, fixating and spending too much time digesting the news can cause us worry, anxiety, and panic that can be counterproductive. In such an unpredictable time, what steps can we take to manage our news diet?

First, pick a couple, or few, trusted, reliable, and credible news sources. When looking for more news on COVID-19, stick to only these chosen news sources. When we overload our news diet with too many sources, it can be never-ending. Also take breaks from the news, in other words, limit your time surfing the news. Schedule a time during your routine, whether it be daily or weekly, that you dedicate to looking at news. Do not spend time on news or media outside of this scheduled time. You can also plan your time strategically. Think about a case in which you might see not so good information on the news, would you rather know this in the morning, middle of the day, or the night? You can play around with the timing and move the scheduled time around as you learn how you react to news. Check on yourself after digesting news. How do you feel? What do you know? Was what you learned useful? Remember to continue engaging in positive activities and focus on the present, and your immediate surroundings when you get anxious or stressed after looking at the news. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method to help you stay in the present and calm your physical nerves. Redirect your attention from the news and try to keep yourself from focusing on the news.