On an average day, I spend at least a couple hours consuming news media. I read articles from the news sources I follow on Facebook, I scan Twitter, I occasionally watch the news on TV, and when possible, I listen to NPR. This habit was formed early in my life because I grew up in a household where current events happening locally and globally were always more important than pop culture. The habit continued when it became a requirement in journalism school -- it was already natural for me. The habit was even easier when social media changed how I accessed news from having to seek it to now being delivered to me as it happened. During times of tragedy or major events, my news consumption easily increases to several hours in a day at sacrifice of sleep and time spent on soul-lifting activities.
Over the past couple years as media coverage of police brutality against black men has increased thanks to cell phone videos and social media sharing, I have found myself watching disturbing videos that left me crying and hurting and feeling helplessly anguished during my workdays -- at risk to my job performance and emotional health. Still I watch and still I share because it is important to let it affect us all until we are able to stop it from affecting anyone. Leading up to the 2016 election and since then, I can barely pull myself away from the news despite the intense negative emotions that come along with what I'm reading. Bubbling up are feelings of fear and anger and hurt as dialogue takes place with people who are dismissive of the dangers of a Trump presidency for non-privileged groups. Thankfully, through social media solidarity, I am able to balance the negativity with feelings of love and gratefulness and pride as I see friends and strangers come together to show their concern and support for each other.
It's very easy to drown ourselves in the news and feel dejected and hopeless about the state of the world because we allowed ourselves to read user comments from ignorant and hateful strangers. It's such a quick path down all the rabbit holes we can fall into when trying to learn about what's going on around us, particularly if it's new and unfamiliar, and our empathy forces us to immerse ourselves in all that we can find. It's understandable that we absorb the energy from social media and the news into our personal lives, letting it affect our well-being and outlook.
I will always consume news media and I will always share it with others without apology. However, I do recognize the need to take a break when feeling fragile and overwhelmed. With how much stimulation we have constant access to through media on our phone, on our computers, on the TV, on the radio -- sometimes it's good to unplug and recharge. I encourage people to work a break into every day for at least an hour or two if you can. Take a walk. Get out in nature. Have a nice meal with friends and share laughs over old memories. Enjoy a bubble bath and take a nap. I'm not suggesting you shut out the news and isolate yourself from what's happening in the world altogether. But give yourself a break from time to time and allow yourself to recharge. When your tears have dried up and your heart is feeling stronger, and your mind has been cleared from all the ugliness, come back. The news will still be there for your consumption and there will always be more for you to learn. The news is important and empathy for others is critical, but you and your well-being need to be nurtured as well in order for you to keep caring.