If you’re like me, over the past few weeks, the flurry of news coming out of the United States has been stressful to navigate. The rate at which the new administration of President Trump has flooded the news cycle is at such a fast pace, it can feel like the casual news reader is drowning in trying to keep up. Many people are now shuttering and bracing themselves when they see the words “Breaking news from Washington.”

I get it.

I’m from the DC region, I’ve studied history, politics, and journalism, and the news coming from back home is deeply concerning. But I still do my best to keep up with the news, to stay informed and combat misinformation. I’ve had to put limits and monitor my news consumption so I don’t end up doom scrolling in an endless cycle of despair to maintain a normal life. And you can do that too!

So, to help everyone get back to their normal lives and not live in a world of despair and negativity but still stay informed, here are some tips to navigate this new news world:

-Put a hard limit on how much news you consume a day. Try 15 to 20 minutes maximum.

-When you consume news is important. Do you find that you end up reading news from the US over your morning coffee? Maybe shift that to later in the day so you don’t go to work with negative feelings. Maybe you read before bed and that leaves your mind racing and you find it difficult to fall asleep? Try reading news in the late afternoon away from work and rest times, or right before you go jogging or to the gym to work off any anxiety you get.

-Instead of reading articles, try listening to a mix of news that is factual and humorous. After all, with so many unprecedented things coming out of DC, why not have a laugh at it? Audio formats also run for a set amount of time so you can stop looking at news when the program is over.

I recommend this podcast from the US:

Another US-based podcast you can listen to is Pod Save America:

If you’re looking for something move local on what’s happing in the US and how it impacts us here in Australia, look no further than Planet America, a podcast from the ABC. It offers news and political analysis from co-hosts John Barron and Chas Licciardello.

Going back to the theme of limiting your news exposure and focusing on just important stories, I would recommend another US podcast from the New York Times:

Try to limit your time on social media since news can be easily found on platforms in click-bate formats. Don’t rely on TikTok or Instagram for news, and turn off Google Alerts. Forget about other outlets like the Washington Post that have banned critical commentary of the new administration and always be sure that whatever news outlet you read is giving you quality un-biased news.

Once you’re done catching up on the news, its important to give your mind a break and not get sucked into negativity or doom scroll. It is very easy to read or watch something and then click on another article with a click-bate headline. To combat this, limit your news consumption to a few sources for a few minutes daily and then stop.

If you want to continue looking at news, switch to Australian news and local news. Read about what’s going on in your community. Learn about events happening on the weekend, read features about people in your community doing amazing things.

And finally – most importantly – turn your attention away and listen to Eastside Radio! We are on 24/7 with amazing music to help you relax.

https://eastsidefm.org/listen