Last week I cried in my car for 45 minutes after listening to the news. I am not talking about a single glistening tear glimmering down my cheek either. I am talking about hysterical breathe-wrenching sobbing after a particularly brutal news day. So much sobbing, in fact, that a stranger walking by my car glanced at me and mouthed, "Are you okay?" While I could lay out the particular details of what triggered me in the news stories for that day, the reality is in today's 24/7 news cycle this could have happened any day of the week.
We live in a time where we receive a constant influx of news.
An average day might go as such: Alarm rings in the morning, scroll through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit to see what you missed since last night, make breakfast, read the headlines, drive to work listening the radio which intersperses today's hottest hits with the big news stories, get to work, open your email to read the Skimm (My absolute favorite news source which I cannot recommend enough. Easy to understand with a hilarious spin. Sign up for free here), work, go downstairs for lunch and pass a TV showing breaking news by CNN, scroll through social media on your lunch break, work, drive home listening to the radio, make dinner, watch Netflix, scroll through social media, go to sleep. Do it all over again.
While the growing ease of access to news has allowed us to better understand the realities of people around the world and provides a critical avenue to be informed about the major events that shape our lives, it also comes with major challenges, among them the growing popularity of fake news stories, hopelessness and cause fatigue. While this post will not speak specifically about fake news stories (here is a great article on how to recognize fake news), I do want to speak to cause fatigue.
Cause fatigue is the process by which we are so flooded with different "causes" and stories we are supposed to care about that we become fatigued by the whole process. If not properly addressed, this exhaustion may often lead to the exact opposite reaction: apathy.
One concerned I have raised with friends is that any time I see a major crisis on the news, even one about which I should be outraged, at this point I am not longer shocked. In fact, many friends have grown accustomed to just using the phrase, "It is the world we live in." The anger that should spur me to action, has been replaced with feeling physically sick, resigned, and above all hopeless.
Let me be clear: I am not advocating that people stop reading the news. In fact, I find reading the news to be a critical step as an active participant in our citizen democracy.
However, I do think that in order to not feel paralyzed by the constant amount of news we receive (particularly negative stories), we need to come up with a plan of action for how to tackle hopelessness in the 24/7 news cycle.
Here are my tips:
Look For The Helpers
When we watch the news, we are often faced with seeing the most heinous acts that human beings can commit against one another. We see mass shootings, genocide, discrimination, crimes against humanity, all of which is live streamed to us in the comfort of our living rooms.
Despite these grim realities, often if we look closely, we can see true humanity in how people respond. After the Boston Marathon Bombing, floods of donations crashed the Red Cross website. Marathon runners from around the world pledged they continue to participate in future marathons. After the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, thousands of people lined up and waited hours to donate blood. Orlando hospitals stated they would not bill the survivors who had been treated at their hospitals. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world rallied around Bana Alabed, a 7-year old girl reporting on the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo. By shifting our attention away from singular individuals who commit atrocities, not only do we remove their power, but we allow ourselves to see the depth of humanity in the response.
Build A Support System
I have at least three different support systems I regularly reach out to when I am processing the news. Some of these support systems serve different purposes. It may be for you to emotionally vent with individuals who share the same point of view. You may wish to engage in a dialogue and hear the perspectives of different individuals. Sometimes you just need someone to hug you and listen (see: emotionally sobbing in my car). You can find this support anywhere: friends, family, coworkers, significant others, colleagues, and community members. A central part of this process is being able to discuss without judgement. While I am full-heartedly in support of individuals being able to engage in political dialogue (some of my closest friends have vastly different political opinions and process the same piece of news very differently), it is critical that you have a strong support system in place. I have found that by talking through my thought-process with others, I am better able to develop a plan of action.
Establish A Self-Care Routine
Take a step back. Self-Care is critical, but it is often the first thing to go out the window. Self-care looks different for every person. For some, you may wish to unplug for the weekend and have a technology-free retreat. Others may wish to spend time outdoors and connect with nature. Others still may engage in yoga, meditation, or a spiritual practice. While a bubble bath, candles, and a glass of wine are my ways of taking a mental break, try different forms and see what works for you.
Contact Local Organizations
If you are upset by something you hear in the news, find a way you can take action in your local community.
One podcast host I listen to recently spoke about how she was furious to hear that a politician disapproved of federal funding for free and reduced lunch programs. What did she do? She contacted local schools in her district and asked if she could pay some of the balance for the school for free and reduced lunch.
While not everyone has the ability to take action in a financial way, everyone has the ability to take action in a way that is personally meaningful. One of the best ways I can recommend doing that is through volunteering. Are you passionate about refugee issues? Many local resettlement agencies use volunteers to assist with language training and helping refugees adjust to a new community. Is financial literacy a topic that is important to you? Volunteer to teach it in your community (I recently met a phenomenal young woman who was using her background in business and statistics to teach financial literacy on Skid Row). Is it animal welfare or environmental activism that speaks to you? Animal shelters and Sierra Club are constantly seeking regular volunteers.
Don't Like It? Fix It!
That hopelessness we feel after hearing a negative news story primarily comes because people feel unable to take action. The reality is there are innumerable steps we can take.
In addition to contacting local organizations about addressing needs in your community, take your advocacy to the next level with citizen lobbying.
Are you upset about something happening nationally? Call your Member of Congress and schedule a meeting. Congresspersons regularly take meetings with constituents from their district, so schedule a meeting with your Representative to make your concerns heard. After all, if you aren't making your concerns known, nothing will change.
Want something to change in your community? Show up to your local city council meeting. In my experience, MAYBE 10 people show up to a regular city council meeting. This is a great way to address hyper-local concerns.
Do you want to make sure your friends and family are aware of a particular issue? Post about it on social media. However, don't let your activism stop with a single post. While it is wonderful to raise awareness on social media (it acts as a megaphone for our lives), have meaningful conversations with those around you in order to drive more impact.
Do you want to see bigger changes? Run for Office. Like it or not, the decisions made in Washington impact you every single day. The roads you drive on, the schools you attend, whether or not we are at war, State and National political officials have a role in those decisions. If you don't like what is being done, create a platform and run for office yourself.
How do you address hopelessness and cause fatigue in the 24/7 news cycle? Let me know what you do in the comments.