Stay Informed, but Stay Sane

By Angela Zhang

Columnist

I’m sure we’ve all done this at one point or another: seen an alarming headline, probably related to COVID-19, and gone to Google for more information. Once I do this, I must admit, I get drawn into the endless collection of COVID-19 chronicles that seem to bring me nothing but more worries. 

I know the infection rates are rising, I know deaths are increasing by the minute and I know there are still people not staying home when we very clearly, very desperately need to flatten the curve—as morbid as this sounds, none of this is really shocking to me anymore. I’ve become accustomed to watching, reading and hearing news related to the coronavirus because that’s all it seems there is nowadays. 

So why do I keep going back? Why do I keep watching and reading and listening when it usually diminishes my hopes? Why even bother?

I guess the keyword here is usually. The news right now isn’t usually positive. It’s usually filled with worrisome models and statistics or infuriating stories of naive and ignorant people who break quarantine. 

But there is also other news: positive news related to the coronavirus, and domestic or international affairs unrelated to the coronavirus we would only know about by staying updated. There are also tremendous stories of heroism amid this crisis.

Sure, coronavirus news can be pretty disappointing, and surrounding ourselves with constant negativity or pessimistic news can be detrimental for our mental well-being. However, I think it’s still important for us to stay in touch with the world by keeping ourselves updated. Especially now, this is one of the very few ways left for us to connect. Watching the news reminds me there is still a world outside the walls of my home. Plus, as global citizens, I feel as though it is our responsibility to understand world events.  

I completely understand, however, if it is too emotionally and mentally taxing to pay attention to the news right now. If the news is discouraging, and you need to step away from the television and social media, that is wholly valid. Listen to your needs and focus on yourself. Your health is of the utmost importance, and you should always value that above anything else. 

That being said, if you want to approach the news during quarantine, pay attention to the positive headlines, maybe even avoiding some of the coronavirus overload. Perhaps variation and moderation are the keys—we can stay informed while still caring for our mental and physical well-being. 

For example, when I hear news reports of cures currently under the works, recovery stories or improvements in testing, my mood is elevated. News like this is more reassuring than the usual “Death Rates Continue to Rise In New York” or “Las Vegas Mayor Wants to Reopen With No Plan.” Positive news serves as gentle reminders of small improvements we are experiencing—and there are small improvements. We should remind ourselves of this, so we are motivated to look for the light at the end of the tunnel rather than sulk in our worries. 

Some other silver linings that greatly improved my spirit during these hard times include news of a reduction in air pollution and stories of people from around the world uniting to support each other. Reports like these are nice breaks from the usually disheartening reports of COVID-19; they restore my hope and faith in the future of humanity. It’s what keeps me going back to read the news every day, going back in hopes of finding something positive. 

And with the 2020 election coming up soon, there is also plenty of news regarding campaigns and candidates, like Bernie Sanders dropping out of the race or Elizabeth Warren finally endorsing Joe Biden for president. These are refreshing too, insofar as they aren’t about coronavirus. And this stuff is still important—political news will greatly affect the future of our country and ourselves, so it’s important to know our representatives, what they stand for and what they plan to do. 

There’s also news regarding international politics, such as Kim Jong Un’s reported health condition. Again, refreshingly not about coronavirus, to say the least. I find it important for us to stay aware of news like this, too—these issues will affect the world after this pandemic. Kim’s health issues, for instance, could be a major power transformation in the region. Other countries may have to step in to instigate a plan. Again, the apparently unrestrained virus is not all that is occurring worldwide. There is a world we will be returning to, and keeping track of these issues will ready us to resume our regular lives.

Overall, we should keep watching the news—but we must do so with caution. It can be unhealthy and tolling to be addicted to reading disturbing headlines every few minutes. So, verify you are getting your news from credible and trustworthy sources and that your news relates to a wide variety of topics—not just coronavirus. Stay informed, healthy, sane and safe!