Happy Monday readers!
In this current political and social climate of the election, COVID-19 shutdowns, stress, and even Thanksgiving, I think that this blog topic will hopefully be relevant for most of us. It can be easy to watch the news, or scroll through your social media over and over again, and get depressed or anxious about what's happening around you. Often these anxious or depressive thoughts can be triggered by a scary event, or the lack of "likes" you might have expected on a post. The tips I give below about how not to be depressed from watching the news or social media will hopefully be practical and easy enough for you to work on in your daily routine.
Remember that it's okay to be depressed or anxious when reading the news, or looking at your social media, and is quite common. You're not the only one going through this problem, and you can ask for help and talk to friends and family about it. If you're going through a really hard time, reach out to a therapist or expert that can give you the help you need and deserve.
1. Understand why you're feeling anxious or depressed
Going to the root of the problem and understanding what triggers these negative emotions is helpful in moving forward. If you're upset because you didn't get as many likes on a post, or upset because someone posted a negative post about your favorite political candidate, understand why these things upset you. This can help you modify your behavior, and change your expectations about social media. Starting here, and knowing why these things upset you will help you to understand your own motivations for being on social media, or watching the news.
2. Limit your exposure
Whether it's to watching the news, or being on Facebook, limiting how much time you spend on each can easily help you with your depression or anxiety. It can be difficult to do, as being on our phones and being on social media, in particular, is quite addicting and has become a norm for conversation, but it will seriously help you to not stress as much. By turning your TV off, putting your phone away, or taking a break from social media, you can allow yourself to relax and spend time with yourself.
3. Focus on the things you CAN control
This is specifically for news, but if you're depressed or anxious about what's going on around you, focus on what you can control to help relieve that stress. For example, sometimes I get worried about the environment, so I work on what I can control by using recyclable and compostable products and buying more eco-friendly items. These things will make me feel more in control and happier because I know I'm making a difference.
4. Try looking for news outlets that are positive
This can help break up the bad news cycle that might cause you some stress. Finding good news outlets are helpful in boosting your positivity and reminding you there are good people out there. These positive news outlets might be hashtags, like #goodnews #goodnewsoutlet that you may find on social media. Just remember to keep being positive, even if you're looking at negative news
5. Distract yourself from the news and social media by doing other things
Distracting yourself from the news and social media can help to decrease stress in your life, but also allow you to focus on things that make you happy, such as hobbies, skills, or learning something new. Take time to read, learn, or spend time with family and friends. This will also help distract you from the news or social media and make you more positive.
There are plenty of ways to increase your positivity and not get depressed from watching the news or social media, but I hope these tips help you to decrease the stress in your life. Remember that it's okay to ask for help and that you have a support group around you. Feel free to reach out on my social media for any questions or ideas you may have.
Until next time!
Katie
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