Feeling Burnt Out From News Overload? Here's How to Stay Sane (But Still Informed)

News burnout is a newer phenomenon, brought to us initially by the advent of TV news and more recently by social media. Think about it: Up until the past few decades, we didn’t have easy access to information from across the country, much less from around the globe. News travels fast nowadays, and sometimes keeping up with it can be overwhelming. 

The Burnout Is Real 

At the risk of sounding calloused, here’s the truth: As humans living in the modern world, we simply don’t have the capacity to emotionally invest ourselves in all of the events that don’t directly affect us. Let me be clear, we each have a responsibility to stay informed and know what’s going on in the world. But when news overwhelm begins to affect your relationships or mental health – well, that’s a sign that you’re burnt out.  

Let’s face it, we only have so much mental and emotional bandwidth. And too much news consumption can deplete that bandwidth very quickly, leading to mental health concerns. Study after study shows that depression and anxiety rates are increasing at an alarming pace, and the rate of deaths of despair is a largely unspoken epidemic. While there’s obviously more to blame for these figures than just increased news consumption, the constant ambush of bad news that surrounds us on TV and social media almost certainly doesn’t help matters.   

How To Fix It 

Our main focus day-to-day should be the people and things that are dear to us. If you find yourself too drained to prioritize these things, it’s probably time to rethink your news consumption. Completely blocking out the news will make you ignorant, but getting too wrapped up in it can drive you crazy. Let’s thread the needle on how to stay informed without turning into a Debbie Downer.  

Find a News Source That Doesn’t Give You Anxiety

It’s possible to consume the news without letting it consume you. One easy way to do this is through Evie’s newsletter The Glance. The Glance provides a quick snippet of everything you need to know about politics, world events, and pop culture, delivered daily to your inbox. It’s basically the best way to stay informed while only committing 60 seconds per day to the news. And it’s free with your Evie subscription. 

Podcasts are another good alternative for news. Instead of the two-minute news story segments that are the trademark of legacy media, podcasts are generally long-form discussions, meaning they have the time to delve deeper into a particular topic. This leads to more detailed and nuanced conversations, which leaves you with a better grasp on complex topics and lets you avoid the whiplash feeling of quickly bouncing from one story to the next. 

Ever feel like you’re bombarded with news without actually seeking it out? If so, then it’s time for some defensive measures. First off, delete the news widget from your phone – you don’t need to see the bad news headlines when you’re swiping for your phone's flashlight. While you’re at it, turn off push notifications from news apps. Even if you don’t read the articles, the constant barrage of headlines and notifications is anxiety-inducing enough. Also take a few moments to unfollow social media accounts that share too many doom-and-gloom news stories. Chances are, you won’t miss them. The point is, being intentional with your news consumption will make you feel like you have more control over what enters your psyche. 

Decide Which Issues Are Most Important to You and Focus Your Energy There

Remember when the Ukraine/Russia situation first broke out and suddenly everyone on your Instagram feed was well-versed on the intricacies of Eastern European foreign policy? Well as much as some people on the internet would like you to believe, nobody is an expert on every news topic. In fact, most of us aren’t experts on much of anything when it comes to the news. And you don’t have to be. Consider this your permission to take the pressure off yourself when it comes to knowing every detail about every hot-button world event. 

There’s simply too much news to keep track of. So instead of feeling like you have to know the ins and outs of everything that’s going on in the world, allow yourself to focus on a few issues that are near and dear to you. 

The events you focus on don’t even have to make national headlines. Maybe you don’t have the capacity to focus on the latest natural disaster or big news event, but the curriculum in your local public school district matters very much to you. Focus on that. That’s something you can actually make a positive change to, and something that directly impacts you and your loved ones. And if international events are more your thing, that’s great! You can be that friend who fills the rest of us in on what’s going on around the globe. 

Focus on the Things You Can Change

One thing I notice about myself when hearing or watching the news is that I feel helpless. A lot of the issues we hear about are large scale problems – shootings, natural disasters, etc. There’s nothing you or I can directly do to fix these things. Sure, we can send donations or take political action by writing to our elected officials. Both of those are beneficial, and they do make a difference. But then we move on and go back to our normal lives, which can leave us with a sense of helplessness and despair. 

The remedy for this despair is shifting your focus to the things you can change, including:  

• Caring for your family

• Being a good friend 

• Nourishing, moving, and caring for your body

• Treating the people in your community with kindness 

Focusing on improving your corner of the world and bettering the lives of those you love gives you a healthy sense of control. Not to mention, tending to all of these adds up to a more thriving society and a more fulfilled life for you. 

Closing Thoughts  

It’s easy to get sucked into the 24-hour news cycle vortex. And while we all have a responsibility to stay informed, it shouldn’t come at the cost of relationships and health – arguably the two most important things in life. Rethink your approach to the news, and improve your overall well-being. Your brain, body, and heart will thank you!

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