News, addictions and mental garbage

[bitheerani42135]

The fact is, I'm addicted to news. Flipboard is my favorite app, where everything trivial is blocked and I only get world and business news. After I've picked up the most important things, I go read online newspapers to get an even bigger dose of news and to spice up the information I get about current events in the world.

But what I've started to notice is that the news is mostly negative. It's not that afghanistan whatsapp list world is so bad and nothing good is happening (although that could be said now in the age of the zombie apocalypse), but that the media deliberately only puts out bad, negative, black news with bombastic headlines because it's proven to sell newspapers.

Yes, people love to read positive stories about firefighters rescuing kittens from trees, children carrying shopping bags for the elderly and giving up their seats on public transport, and we all love to get good news about the state of the world stock market, economic growth and economic progress. Who doesn't?

But most people will only follow the media when they are stressed and afraid, which the media is very good at achieving because it is easy to sell and force anything on the masses. So if we put an apocalyptic headline, like the death rate from the coronavirus has increased in the world, that there is no escape, or that the economy is permanently destroyed, we will all run away in fear and buy those newspapers even though we have been locked in our homes. It is worth the risk of going out for that.

We'll park in front of the TVs and listen to messages like "listen to those who know" even though it's clear to anyone with half a brain, or will soon be, that it's more than obvious that no one has a clue, not even those who should. But, okay...we'll talk about that another time.

The point of the story is this: regardless of whether we are currently in a zombie apocalypse or living a normal life like we were a month or two ago, the fact is that we are bombarded with extremely bad, negative, and depressing news. Non-stop.

Add to that stress at work, stress at home, stress with children if you have them, stress with pets and stress with ourselves because sometimes it's hard to be in our own head, and it's very likely that with all of that we will either go crazy or become depressed, grumpy or aggressive ourselves. There is no other choice. The amount of negativity would drive the Dalai Lama crazy, I'm sure of it.

So what? As a news addict, I can only say this – I decided to reduce the amount of information I consume because I realized, hopefully in time, that nothing else makes sense.

Especially now, when we are locked in our homes and have no idea what is happening, when it will end, and even less what will happen after it, because it is more than clear that a recession will occur, it is only questionable to what extent and with what consequences, it is a bad idea to sit around all day and follow the news.

Yes, it's good to be up to date, but no – it's not good to expose yourself to negative information all day long because it's proven to be upsetting. Add to that extraordinary circumstances in the form of this movie scenario that's currently unfolding, and you don't have to be mentally unstable to go crazy and have an anxiety attack that you won't be able to shake off for a long time.

Just as we clean our homes, offices, closets, and laptops, we should also clean our minds. At least seasonally, because dust accumulates and the brain cannot expel it, but instead begins to suffocate in it.

How to clean your mind and brain from accumulated dust, also known as mental garbage?

Reduce news and information
As I said, it's good to be informed and up to date with what's happening, but it's bad, really bad, to follow the news all day long, especially when you don't have much to do and you're stuck at home. Assuming you don't have a villa with a French garden and a swimming pool, you're most likely stuck in a confined space with several family members who will drive you crazy, sooner or later.

Watch the news once a day. Set aside time for it, but not before meals because it will negatively affect digestion (I'm not kidding). When you're done with the news, tell yourself that nothing big will happen until tomorrow and find some new activities, whether it's watching Tiger King on Netflix or whatever makes you happy and relaxed.