Years back I read in a book by Dr. Andrew Weil, a champion of holistic healthcare, about the idea of taking a 'news fast' where you intentionally abstain from viewing any mass media on certain days/times. The rationale is that much of the news focuses on negativity that we are powerless to do much about, contributing to feelings of anxiety and despair. Media critics point out that the various outlets and platforms know that fear and anger keep viewers engaged with them thereby increasing their profitability, so they design their products accordingly. Kind of how you cannot not look at a train wreck.
I appreciate how hard it can be to pull yourself away from the near constant stream of information we now have available. And we are living through some challenging times and it is important to be well informed-to a degree. Here is what I suggest.
We are most suggestible when we first wake up and and prior to sleep. The brain wave activity at those times is similar to the hypnotic state; where our imaginations are more active and receptive while the conscious mind goes offline a bit. Essentially what this means is that outside input (and your self-talk) at these specific times can have a profound impact that you may not be consciously aware of. However it has an effect on you nevertheless.
A good idea would be to avoid mass or social media the first 30-60 minutes in the morning when you first get up and the same amount of time leading up when you go to sleep. At those times you may wish to read something inspiring, make a journal entry, or get some light exercise. Give it a try and see how it works for you. It is quite possible you will be pleasantly surprised at how much better you feel.
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