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There are no simple answers herebut there are a lot of excellent tips and ideas that can really help.
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Give your body the food and water it needs.
Try some low-lift ways tofeed yourself well when youre burnt out.
Do what you’re able to to get enough rest.
Sleep is another basic need that, when unmet, can exacerbate your stress load.
If youre not getting enough sleep, your body will view everything as a threat to protect you.
The better rested you are, the better equipped youll be to handle a stressful news cycle.
Getting enough quality rest is often easier said than done, especially when youre stressed.
But its worth the effort to try.
Make time for stress-relief and self-care activities.
Different things work for different people, and there is no right way to go about this.
Remember that more information isnt necessarily better.
During uncertain, scary, or rapidly developing situations, its normal to feel anxious.
Stick to a few trustworthy news sources.
So try sticking to a handful of credible news sources that give you just the facts.
Strategically curate your feed.
Ask someone you trust to give you news briefs.
Dont watch every news story, or even any.
Set basic boundaries for yourself.
Try small, simple rules to setparameters around your media exposure.
Set time limits for social media and news apps.
Once youre doomscrolling, making the conscious choice to exit the app or window can feel almost impossible.
Turn off push notifications.
Give yourself full permission to tune out temporarily.
Some people do need a mental reset, Dr. Bonior told SELF.
It could help you recharge so you could stay engaged in the long term.
(Heres more onhow to use distractionin a smart, mindful, and balanced way.)
Take little action steps.
Its easy to feel powerless in the midst of a horrific news cycle.
When you take care of your own mental health, youre in a better place to assist others.
