In the months leading up to the election, many people became a lot more involved in politics. This past election showcased the deep divide between the American people and caused us to examine more closely everything that happens in the White House. Yet the past couple of months has been one roller coaster of a ride. From the travel bans to the rollbacks for the climate change laws and more recently, the missile attacks in Syria. So much has occurred in such a small amount of time that it causes nothing but anxiety and stress for most of us who are just spectators in what is happening around us constantly.
Every day I constantly receive multiple news alerts and sometimes it can be extremely overwhelming. Although it is important to know what is going on around you, it is just as important to take a break and have calming moments without the looming threat of the whatever te danger is at the forefront of your mind. Here are just a few ways to look out for yourself in these contentious times.
- Unplug
News alerts on your phone are often the fastest way to find out about the latest news. I’ve found that after watching or reading the news, after a while I get extremely stressed and worried, especially since Trump has gained office. The best way to deal with this is simply to unplug. Turn off your notifications, and read the articles on your own time when you feel better. Taking care of yourself is a thousand time more important than having to know about an issue the second the story breaks.
- Read a Book
Reading is the age-old technique of escaping reality. Reading books have long been cited as a way to escape reality. The ability for just a few hours to forget about yourself and all the troubles that plague you and travel to a different world through words on a page can have a calming effect. If you find that the real world is too chaotic and stressful, crack open a book for a few hours of relative peace.
- Volunteer
A lot of the time, all the tragedies that we read about on the news can often make us feel helpless. Other people suffer and there’s nothing that we can do about it. A good way to mitigate that helplessness is to do our best to remediate the situations around us. Volunteer at a local shelter or an elementary school, it can be a great way to feel helpful and that you can affect some people’s lives for the better.
Remember, being aware of the actions going around the world may be important, but being healthy is more so.
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