By Justin and Clara Hamel
Once upon a time, the news arrived quietly at our door each day. For many, it was a daily ritual to peruse the headlines and set the news aside for the day. Unfortunately, today the news never leaves us—it buzzes on our phones, fills social media and plays across our TV screens. It is readily available and beckoning at 2 a.m., 1 p.m, 5 p.m. … every second, every moment of the day. It pulls us in with new sensationalized headlines about the latest tragedy. The historical newsroom proverb, “If it bleeds, it leads,” is still often readily embraced by mainstream media.
The problem is humans are not designed to be exposed to this onslaught of alerts and dangers. Our brains and bodies were designed to see a danger, go into alert, assess and return to baseline. The current news environment rarely allows that last step. Instead of having that subtle flood of cortisol on an occasional basis, we are getting it multiple times per day, creating a mind and body that are constantly living in a low level state of alert. The endless treadmill of updates has become one of the most under-discussed influences on mental and physical health.
The news is designed to elicit reaction as stated previously—if a story bleeds, it leads. If it scares, it shares. And if it enrages, well … then it engages. This isn’t to demonize those producing the news. It is to recognize the world of media is submerged in a culture that generally values intensity over completeness and attention over reflection.
The cost of this shows up in our bodies and minds. Studies consistently link heavy news consumption with increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, feelings of helplessness and chronic stress. When every story feels catastrophic, the brain struggles to distinguish between real, immediate threats and distant events we cannot control.
Fortunately, there is much one can do to stay informed while balancing and minimizing the negative effects of the 24-hour news cycle. First, become a curator of the information you take in. Seek out thoughtful, balanced news. If this proves elusive, balance it yourself by seeking out news from two sides with opposing views. Also, seek out positive news. It is helpful to witness the abundance of good in the world to counter those things that feel heavy and dark.
Finally, focus on what you can control. This is not apathy but effectiveness. Compassion is a powerful force that should be used to create change. So, instead of carrying the weight of the world and feeling ineffective, have an effect in showing kindness to the person in front of you. After all, staying informed should expand our humanity, not corrode it.
Seeking out clarity and balance, setting boundaries on what the mind consumes and utilizing compassion as a tool for effectiveness can all ensure we don’t get swept into a world of nonstop headlines. This is how to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed; it is how our compassion can become a force for good rather than a source of burnout.
Dr. Justin Hamel and Clara Hamel have a combined over 30 years of experience in health fields. Reach them at 1° Performance & Longevity, located at 46 N. Central Park Plz., Suite 101, in Jacksonville, on Facebook or by phone at 217-243-6358.
