Enjoyed reading. Good advice for difficult times. I had to stop listening to NPR morning news. I want someone to start a T-free news station covering just the parts we really should know and mostly world news, with guarantees of not hearing his voice!
I have been avoiding news since 2017. At first this was because I was traveling internationally and didn't have exposure. When I began to notice a shift in my worldview (less doom) and ability to personally engage with people around me (more space for communication), I decided to intentionally limit my news exposure.
I didn't publicize this choice, because I knew I would be judged. I knew that by consuming news I was paralyzed by feelings of doom in a way that didn't serve myself or anyone; yet I also couldn't shake the belief that I was being a "bad citizen" by tuning out news media.
In one conversation with a friend in 2023, she was disgusted by my lack of news consumption. I tried to explain why I don't watch the news, and she refused to listen. I left the conversation feeling drained, but still knowing in my heart that not watching the news was the healthy choice for me.
So this well-written piece and the research you cited felt very validating. Thank you for sharing this! And for the tip on the Scripps fact-based news application.
Really good. Thank you for sharing! I'm a big fan of Oliver Burkeman, too. Also, I am old. My number of weeks is dwindling. I do not want to spend it outraged. It ruins me.
Oh I think I went insane a while ago. Lucky for me sanity is on a spectrum people keep me around because I have moments when I can get things done.
Seriously though I think a lot of how we feel comes down to working on things that we can have a positive impact with. It's better I feel to engage with the people around you in a good way rather than worry about the whole world where your actions feel too tiny.
That old saying that if everyone swept their own home the world would be clean in a day seems appropriate.
Much needed reminders. I want to do it differently this time around, too. I’ll need to! In a time of exhaustion from so many inundating headlines, the idea that we can try to enjoy our lives as much as possible while paying attention selectively feels like a huge relief.
Ugh! this is all soooo true. I have a really unhealthy relationship with the news, but I'm not sure I'm ready to quit it... I like what you say focusing on the good things that could replace the time I spend "living in the news." How would my days look if they are focused on creating rather than consuming? Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you, Emily. It is really hard! I feel weird being kind of out of it. On the other hand, I'm getting a lot done and not miserable. That will come soon enough!
Thank you, Sara. Great wisdom here. I needed it. I've been avoided getting too involved in the news. I used to live there, checking home pages of news sites relentlessly throughout each day. All it did was fuel my fear and rage. Not productive. I'm turning inward toward my goals, and outward toward my beautiful friends and community. Keeping it smaller enlarges my life. Sending you a hug in gratitude. xo
I’m a Canadian who’s visiting England right now because I needed to run away for a little while and I don’t even live in the United States! I’m so fortunate to have been able to take likely my last long distance trip away to this wonderful place.
Instead of wondering how we’re ever going to be able to look after the thousands of immigrants who will pour over our border in their fear and distress fairly soon, I went to the National Art Gallery yesterday to see the Van Gogh and Constable exhibitions and much more. That heavy dose of sunflowers and English countrysides will give me lots of energy to roll my sleeves up when I return home! Now, on to the V & A today for a little dose of William Morris wallpapers. A little bit of art goes a long way to calming fear and we all need that. Visit a local art gallery for free today!
Thank you - this was a much needed piece to read today.
Also, I really enjoyed 4000 weeks and have bought meditation for mortals, but have not started it yet! I did listen to an interview that Burkeman did when the book was released and I love how he described the book as something to dip into each day.
Yes, I'm really enjoying it, and have been trying to read it slowly. Though I sometimes cheat and read more than one chapter a day! Thanks so much for telling me my piece was helpful!
We stopped watching cable news soon after the 2016 election. I still read my NYT, but when it comes to news-related articles, I am learning to read the tone of the headline and check multiple resources whenever possible. For example, as a Chinese American immigrant, I pay attention to China-related topics. But I make sure I read/listen to not just American/Western sources but also the opinions and voices from other Asian countries.
The past 8 years have really taught me to apply critical thinking and look at any topic from a broad perspective.
I still got insanely depressed last week, just that my recovery time is shorter than in 2016 ...
We’re so sympatico. I haven’t made my way to Scripps yet but will, eventually. I definitely lived in the doomcycle but this time I’m keeping the one thing alive from Kamala’s doomed campaign: I’m not going back. I’ll be marching & knocking on doors and phone banking, but also, a lot of other restorative things too. And maybe joining a militia, who knows? I shot a gun once in Nome, Alaska. It could happen.
This is great, thank you. I'm trying hard to take Zen to heart and really live moment to moment (within reason) and not to let my thoughts about the future take too much hold. This story about the wetlands guy will really stick with me. Also the idea of "living inside the news."
Oh, also! I watch my news on the NBC News app thing, i.e. where you get NBC News NOW in the morning instead of the Today Show. They, too, simply report the news that you need to know that day. It has been life-changing.
BRAVO! "...on a hike... in front of laptop...". Always choose hiking. Best decision to limit screen time, regardless. I dropped cable over 15 years ago. I don't miss it. I also stopped watching the news. Being away from the screen is refreshing, rejuvenating and so much fun!
The idea of living inside the news, and then choosing not to is brilliant! I just discovered OB’s newsletter The Imperfectionist, in which a Part 2 How to deal w Election” pointer was to live in reality, also super helpful. Your news watching tips also 💥. Thank you!
Enjoyed reading. Good advice for difficult times. I had to stop listening to NPR morning news. I want someone to start a T-free news station covering just the parts we really should know and mostly world news, with guarantees of not hearing his voice!
I heard a political reporter say that he only reads the transcripts and only when it's something he REALLY needs to know I think its genius!
Thanks, Karen! Hope you are doing well--you were so smart to get out of dodge!
This article is very thought-provoking.
I have been avoiding news since 2017. At first this was because I was traveling internationally and didn't have exposure. When I began to notice a shift in my worldview (less doom) and ability to personally engage with people around me (more space for communication), I decided to intentionally limit my news exposure.
I didn't publicize this choice, because I knew I would be judged. I knew that by consuming news I was paralyzed by feelings of doom in a way that didn't serve myself or anyone; yet I also couldn't shake the belief that I was being a "bad citizen" by tuning out news media.
In one conversation with a friend in 2023, she was disgusted by my lack of news consumption. I tried to explain why I don't watch the news, and she refused to listen. I left the conversation feeling drained, but still knowing in my heart that not watching the news was the healthy choice for me.
So this well-written piece and the research you cited felt very validating. Thank you for sharing this! And for the tip on the Scripps fact-based news application.
Thank you so much for this, Madeline. Great to get your perspective. I honestly don't know how I'm going to proceed with all this!
Really good. Thank you for sharing! I'm a big fan of Oliver Burkeman, too. Also, I am old. My number of weeks is dwindling. I do not want to spend it outraged. It ruins me.
wise! thank you!
Oh I think I went insane a while ago. Lucky for me sanity is on a spectrum people keep me around because I have moments when I can get things done.
Seriously though I think a lot of how we feel comes down to working on things that we can have a positive impact with. It's better I feel to engage with the people around you in a good way rather than worry about the whole world where your actions feel too tiny.
That old saying that if everyone swept their own home the world would be clean in a day seems appropriate.
Thank you, Mike! Wise words.
Brilliant handling of complex feelings. Restacked and posted on FB.
Thank you so much, Laurie!
Much needed reminders. I want to do it differently this time around, too. I’ll need to! In a time of exhaustion from so many inundating headlines, the idea that we can try to enjoy our lives as much as possible while paying attention selectively feels like a huge relief.
I'm so glad to hear that was helpful, Jennifer! Thanks for telling me that!
Beautifully written and insightful essay. I’m so grateful I discovered you.
Thank you!!
Ugh! this is all soooo true. I have a really unhealthy relationship with the news, but I'm not sure I'm ready to quit it... I like what you say focusing on the good things that could replace the time I spend "living in the news." How would my days look if they are focused on creating rather than consuming? Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you, Emily. It is really hard! I feel weird being kind of out of it. On the other hand, I'm getting a lot done and not miserable. That will come soon enough!
Thank you, Sara. Great wisdom here. I needed it. I've been avoided getting too involved in the news. I used to live there, checking home pages of news sites relentlessly throughout each day. All it did was fuel my fear and rage. Not productive. I'm turning inward toward my goals, and outward toward my beautiful friends and community. Keeping it smaller enlarges my life. Sending you a hug in gratitude. xo
Thanks you, Nan! Hugs to you, too.
I’m a Canadian who’s visiting England right now because I needed to run away for a little while and I don’t even live in the United States! I’m so fortunate to have been able to take likely my last long distance trip away to this wonderful place.
Instead of wondering how we’re ever going to be able to look after the thousands of immigrants who will pour over our border in their fear and distress fairly soon, I went to the National Art Gallery yesterday to see the Van Gogh and Constable exhibitions and much more. That heavy dose of sunflowers and English countrysides will give me lots of energy to roll my sleeves up when I return home! Now, on to the V & A today for a little dose of William Morris wallpapers. A little bit of art goes a long way to calming fear and we all need that. Visit a local art gallery for free today!
What a wonderful thing to do!
Thank you - this was a much needed piece to read today.
Also, I really enjoyed 4000 weeks and have bought meditation for mortals, but have not started it yet! I did listen to an interview that Burkeman did when the book was released and I love how he described the book as something to dip into each day.
Yes, I'm really enjoying it, and have been trying to read it slowly. Though I sometimes cheat and read more than one chapter a day! Thanks so much for telling me my piece was helpful!
We stopped watching cable news soon after the 2016 election. I still read my NYT, but when it comes to news-related articles, I am learning to read the tone of the headline and check multiple resources whenever possible. For example, as a Chinese American immigrant, I pay attention to China-related topics. But I make sure I read/listen to not just American/Western sources but also the opinions and voices from other Asian countries.
The past 8 years have really taught me to apply critical thinking and look at any topic from a broad perspective.
I still got insanely depressed last week, just that my recovery time is shorter than in 2016 ...
You were so smart to quit cable news 8 years ago! Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat better this week, Yi.
We’re so sympatico. I haven’t made my way to Scripps yet but will, eventually. I definitely lived in the doomcycle but this time I’m keeping the one thing alive from Kamala’s doomed campaign: I’m not going back. I’ll be marching & knocking on doors and phone banking, but also, a lot of other restorative things too. And maybe joining a militia, who knows? I shot a gun once in Nome, Alaska. It could happen.
I'd be a foxhole with you any day, Scout!
This is great, thank you. I'm trying hard to take Zen to heart and really live moment to moment (within reason) and not to let my thoughts about the future take too much hold. This story about the wetlands guy will really stick with me. Also the idea of "living inside the news."
Thank you, Jennifer! Yeah, the "living inside the news" thing really resonated with me, too!
Oh, also! I watch my news on the NBC News app thing, i.e. where you get NBC News NOW in the morning instead of the Today Show. They, too, simply report the news that you need to know that day. It has been life-changing.
We just watched it! Thanks!
Oh, great to know! I can't believe I suffered through CNN for so long! No more John King at the big board for me!
The two anchors on NBC News NOW are so lovely and grounded. Truly one of the greatest recent decisions of my life.
BRAVO! "...on a hike... in front of laptop...". Always choose hiking. Best decision to limit screen time, regardless. I dropped cable over 15 years ago. I don't miss it. I also stopped watching the news. Being away from the screen is refreshing, rejuvenating and so much fun!
Thanks, Irma! Glad to know you have limited screen time too!
The idea of living inside the news, and then choosing not to is brilliant! I just discovered OB’s newsletter The Imperfectionist, in which a Part 2 How to deal w Election” pointer was to live in reality, also super helpful. Your news watching tips also 💥. Thank you!
Thank you, Tatyana. I agree--I loved his post on the election!