It’s safe to say that globally, these are anxiety-inducing times. Reading the news or scrolling through social media during this pandemic is certainly stress-inducing, and it’s been difficult to cope. So how can we stay (reasonably) productive when the media and current events are causing us excessive anxiety?
Let’s first talk about the root of the problem before diving into some productivity tips: reducing our news and social media consumption.
As hard as it can be to look away from bad news when it’s right on our phone at all times, this is key. A recent survey from the American Psychological Association found that more than half of Americans say the news causes them stress, and many report feeling fatigue, anxiety, or sleep loss as a result. The survey goes on to say that one in ten adults checks the news every hour, and 20% of Americans report constantly monitoring their social media feeds, which is a constant reminder of the chaos we’re feeling right now.
A recent survey from the American Psychological Association found that more than half of Americans say the news causes them stress, and many report feeling fatigue, anxiety, or sleep loss as a result. Click To Tweet
Mental health is just as important as physical health right now, and even the World Health Organization is urging people not to check news and updates that often:
”Minimize watching, reading or listening to news that causes you to feel anxious or distressed; seek information only from trusted sources and mainly to take practical steps to prepare your plans and protect yourself and loved ones.”
“Seek information updates at specific times during the day, once or twice. The sudden and near-constant stream of news reports about an outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried.”
“Get the facts; not the rumors and misinformation. Gather information at regular intervals, from the WHO website and local health authorities platforms, to help you distinguish facts from rumors. Facts can help to minimize fears.”
So, according to these experts, decreasing how much we open our news apps or turn on our local channel is essential to preserving our mental states.
If you’re fortunate enough to be working from home right now, you know you still have lots to get done despite your anxiety. So, let’s dive into some tips to be productive and take care of yourself during this strange and stressful time.
While anxiety is an inevitable part of life, there are a few things you can do to settle your mind, if only temporarily. Anxiety isn’t something to be conquered, rather something to recognise and manage mindfully.
It’s essential to be kind to yourself and cut yourself some slack on the days when you feel unmotivated and feel like you can’t get anything done. We will all have bad days during this challenging time – we’re living through a global health crisis, after all. Overwhelming feelings are sure to be a mainstay, so it’s important to be realistic about what you can get done.
Stay safe and healthy out there, and let us know your own tips for avoiding social media and the news by tweeting us @SaneBox and @RingCentralUK.
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