We’re careful about so much these days - social distancing, hand washing, staying home, staying safe.
Yet we don’t tend to be overly careful about the endless stream of information that permeates our current reality.
The non-stop loop of Covid coverage is in your in-box and it’s on your social media. It’s broadcast on every TV, radio, and YouTube channel. It’s at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and it’s the main topic of conversation.
It doesn’t stop, of course, with the constant updates. There’s a side hustle (and booming business) in Dire Predictions. It’s a safe bet you’ve heard a dozen of them before lunch. Doomsday scenarios are thick on the ground these days: we’re all going to be re-infected, this will go on for decades, this is the end of the world as we know it.
Facts not Fear
All this chatter is clogging our consciousness, and I would argue it’s very likely doing more harm than good.
I don’t suggest we make like an ostrich and bury our heads in the sand. But I do think it’s worth pausing and considering - is this tsunami of information good for your state of mind?
Unless you’re a Jedi level mind master, the answer is probably no.
The unfiltered Covid narrative is, in fact, highly conducive to a constant, low-level undercurrent of fear and anxiety. Does that anxiety help you stay healthy and safe? Of course not. Sustained anxiety has real physical consequences, and lowering your immunity is one of them.
I would argue that fear is equally as contagious as the virus itself.
Be Discerning
We’re discerning about our food, our workout habits, our friends, our clothes (at least when normal life resumes)! Perhaps it’s time we become discerning about consuming the news.
Next time you’re delving into the headlines, try asking yourself, is this information helpful? Quality though it may be, do you really need to hear it more than once a day?
Nobody knows what our reality may be in the months and years to come. Trying to project into the future is an attempt to impose some logic on what is, essentially, an unprecedented time. I think we can all agree this is our first pandemic, and despite everyone’s best guess, we’re mostly making up the rules as we go along.
A few tips to navigate the news cycle,
- Start with the facts, and be mindful of bingeing on the editorials
- When you do delve into the narrative, consider choosing a source that balances hopefulness with pragmatism
- No matter what you choose, remember to qualify whether it’s an opinion or a fact
Sunny Side Up
Despite the unknowns, it’s healthy for our morale and for our physical self to look at the cup half full. Optimists live longer, and in the meantime, let’s face it: they’re having more fun.
The good news is that the measures we’ve taken so far seem to be working. We’ve pulled together as a society, dare I say as a planet, and we’ve seen many, many silver linings as a result. We’re in pretty good shape for the shape that we’re in.
Yes, there are challenges, and yes, there are tragedies. But the environment is looking pretty great, traffic is a dream, neighbours are connecting, and businesses are innovating. Our new shared reality is a chance to build community - virtual or otherwise, and to reinvent ourselves for the better.
So try a walk with a friend (distanced, of course), pick up the phone and call someone you love, and tune out the news for a few hours. It will do you a world of good.
