Doomscrolling Detox
By: Rachel Williams
In 2025, bad news can feel like something we consume daily or even hourly. Over the past decade, we have been living in a time of drastic changes environmentally, socially, politically, and spiritually. As the world becomes more polarized, it can be challenging to find the balance between staying informed and protecting our mental health has become increasingly challenging. While being educated on history and current events is essential, many are starting to wonder: Is there a way to consume news without letting it consume us?
The phenomenon of news fatigue isn't new, but it might be something you have been feeling more recently. Some argue that avoiding news is a privilege—after all, not everyone can afford to disengage. For activists, journalists, and those directly affected, staying informed isn’t just an option; it’s survival. The challenge is finding a way to balance awareness with emotional well-being.
As we navigate 2025’s chaos, maybe the question isn’t “How do we escape bad news?” but rather, “How do we redefine our relationship with it?”
How to Find a Balance in News Consumption
Intentionality is Key. Sometimes, it is nostalgic to think about the way social media used to operate-From six-second Vines to Facebook memes to square being the only format on Instagram, our relationship with social networking has drastically changed.
If you are someone who relies on social media to get your news, it’s important to acknowledge the harmful effects of mindlessly scrolling. According to the Newport Institute, “Endless scrolling can dysregulate the nervous system and also appears to cause mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety,”
Personally, I’ve found that going on social media does not help me stay informed as much as I would like. With the rise of AI and the decline of fact-checking systems, we can’t be sure that all we’re reading online is true. It can be difficult to define your relationship with social media when one minute you are watching a video of your favorite singer and the next is a video about an issue in your community.
I now reserve time in the day to listen to and read news from credible and trustworthy sources. Of course, I still read stories as they come throughout the day, but setting this boundary has helped me find balance between staying up to date and managing my consumption with what’s going on in the world. Whether you want to listen to a podcast in the morning, read articles during your lunch, or consume your news at night, being intentional with where and when you are getting your news is important.
Engage with Positive Change
Feeling powerless is one of the hardest parts of dealing with bad news. So instead of just absorbing the headlines, I try my best to focus on what I can control.
For example, instead of turning a blind-eye to the banned book crisis and giving someone the power to take away knowledge, I’ve been participating in a mini book club with friends to turn the negative rulings into something positive for myself. Now, I have a safe place to analyze books, hang out with friends, and still continue to grow my understanding of classic, contemporary, and modern literature.
Other ways you can engage with positive change in your day-to-day life can be through volunteering at local organizations, supporting small businesses, or donating to an organization helping victims of a crisis. Sometimes taking tangible steps toward solutions makes a difference not just in our community, but in how we view and interact with the world.
Diversify Your Media Consumption
Not everything that’s happening in the world is negative. The best way to move away from sensationalism and clickbait is by following independent journalists, listening to global perspectives, and engaging in solutions-based journalism, which highlights not just problems but also potential ways forward.
Relying on a single source or an algorithm-driven social media feed means you’re only getting a narrow slice of reality. And let’s not forget, these platforms are designed to keep you engaged, not necessarily informed. They prioritize content that reinforces what you already believe, which can make it harder to see the full picture.
If you usually read your news, try listening to a podcast to gain a new perspective. If you only engage in legacy media outlets try following positive news accounts and independent newsrooms. Personally, I love watching documentaries and long-form journalism content that helps me engage with important topics in a more thoughtful and less frantic way.
It’s okay if there are days when you see the news and feel overwhelmed or anxious about what’s going on. Bad news isn’t going anywhere, but we don’t have to let it control our lives. When we’re intentional about how we consume information and the way we react to it, we can stay informed and protect our mental health.