Reflecting on this chain of events, it amazes me that despite knowing deep down that the basis of my friend's fear was incorrect, it still impacted me. What's worse is in that moment of panic, I quickly spread my nervous energy to my loved ones. I share my story because the chain reaction that I experienced is representative of the current climate of panic. We are consuming stressful news on the media available in one medium or another, which we then pass onto others compounded with our fear. We need to be responsible for how we consume the news, how we respond to the fear of other people, and how we contribute to the anxiety of others— especially during these turbulent times. Here are a few strategies that we can apply to consume and spread news regarding the current state of affairs responsibly:
When Consuming News:
Be curious about your intention before you check the news. Ask yourself: Is it coming from compulsion and fear or curiosity and a need to be informed?
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2. Decide how much information is necessary for you to make a responsible decision for yourself and others. Y ou need some amount of information to make strategic plans for the well- being of yourself and others. After that point consuming more information will not contribute to smarter decision making and may only add to your stress level. 3. Be selective about the source of your news: Not all sources of information are created equal. There are many sources out there merely fighting for your attention. Negative and extreme news that captures your attention but provide little reliable data must be avoided. Get your information from the government, medical, and research institutions. These sites are not driven by traffic to their sites. A few of the valid sites to look out for are, WHO, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Corona Virus Resource Center by research institutions like John Hopkins and Harvard.
4. Turn off your news notification : To ensure that you can be intentional about your news consumption, you should consider turning off notifications.
5. Label the emotion that comes up when you hear bad news: Ask yourself: Is this fear? Is this anger? Labeling these emotions will help you avoid letting the emotions consume your rational mind. When you contain the emotion, you create the space to begin reasoning with yourself.
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