The News, Your Stress, and My Top Tips to Relieve It
Why I’m Taking a News Detox
I’m in the middle of a news detox. Why, you may ask?
I’m someone who loves politics and what’s going on in the world. Hell, I even studied Politics A Level many moons ago! That was in the days when the Berlin Wall was crumbling, Margaret Thatcher was being ousted, and Spitting Image was required viewing for homework. That interest in politics has continued on and off throughout my life – I’ve been known to write to my MP and have appeared on the radio on the Roundtable current affairs discussion programme numerous times, discussing everything from the death penalty to American politics to local council funding. More recently, I’ve discovered that I love listening to The Rest is Politics podcasts – both UK and US versions.
The last few days, however, I’ve found that my mood has dipped a little, and that’s pretty unusual for me, so I questioned myself as to why that would be. I discovered that every time the name of the President of the United States was mentioned, my heart would sink with doom, and that feeling was staying with me. There was only one thing for it—I needed a news detox.
The last time I did one of these was during the COVID pandemic. I found the constant ping, ping, ping of my phone with an ever-increasing number of deaths was becoming overwhelming.
How to Spot If You Need a News Detox
Do you remember the days when your parents would watch the news either at 6 pm or 10 pm, and that was pretty much it? Wow, so much has changed! These days we’re bombarded with it – on our phones, on social media, and on the old-school radio and TV. There feels like there’s no escape.
A client I once worked with was struggling with sleep, alcohol misuse, and stress. It turned out they had News 24 on in the background all day long while working from home! We changed that to music they loved and a few magical hypnosis bits and bobs, and they were right as rain in no time!
If you’re noticing any of the following signs, you might be in need of a news detox:
- Inability to focus
- Disturbed sleep
- Low mood
- Irritability
- Unnecessary worrying or anxious thoughts
How to Have a News Detox
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Turn off the notifications from the news apps on your phone, or better still, delete the app altogether. Even without the notifications, it’s all too tempting to click on it because you’ve got into a habit.
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Stay away from the news, especially immediately before bed. You don’t need to be taking on board a load of negativity just before you plan to have a peaceful night’s sleep.
- Do something else instead that feels good – read a book, go for a walk, or have a bath.
Final Thoughts
A news detox doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand—it means setting boundaries to protect your mental well-being. You can still stay informed without being overwhelmed. Try a week without constant news updates and see how you feel. You might be surprised at just how much lighter your mind becomes!
