3 Tips To Stay Sane in a Politically Charged Mad World
In today's 24/7 news cycle, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant barrage of political chaos. It’s possible we’re too hard on ourselves for the stress, fear, and anger that comes with living in an information age where the spigot is always open. Unless you take proactive steps to get distance from the daily news, you’ll be drinking a firehose of controversy, scandal, lunacy, and tragedy. Seriously, this all happened in JULY…
That’s part of what I talked about with Robby Soave, senior editor at Reason Magazine and host of The Hill’s “Rising” web series. Robby operates at a very high level of news intake, and he wanted to share some tips for how to guard your life from all the madness.
If you’d like to dig deeper into the modern media landscape and how it impacts the world around us, check out my full interview with Robby Soave.
Whether you're a journalist, a CEO, a writer, a teacher or just a concerned citizen trying to stay informed, maintaining your mental well-being amidst the endless noise is a challenge.
Here are 3 tips from Robby Soave on how to stay sane and not let politics drag you down.
Set Boundaries with News and Information
One of the most effective strategies is to set clear technological boundaries around news consumption. Limit time spent on platforms like Twitter, which radically amplify stress and negativity. Use apps like Freedom to set time limits on the social media apps that distract you. Set limits so that you’re checking Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter maybe once per day. Go back to the good ol’ days of daily newspaper reads and nightly news. You do not need to be plugged into The Matrix from sunup to sundown.
Also, try this strategy from Ryan Holiday, a prolific author and YouTuber. Do not touch your phone before you’ve had some “you time” in the morning. Wake up. Shower. Walk. Eat. Enjoy your kids. Then take a look at your phone. This is possible and changes the entire tone of your day.
Engaging in Non-Political Hobbies
Find hobbies that have nothing to do with politics – it is a great way to decompress. Whether it's playing video games, Dungeons & Dragons with friends (one of Robby Soave’s favorite activities), or hitting the gym, these activities provide a much-needed mental reset. When at the gym, for instance, opt for listening to fiction audiobooks or music instead of political podcasts. This helps create a mental space where you can train yourself to think about other things.
And it is training. If you get into mental habits where political banter is your usual background noise, nothing else will satisfy. You have to create spaces where politics is not on the menu. By setting boundaries and engaging in non-political hobbies with people who share your interests, you can stay informed without letting the political climate take a toll on your wellbeing. Remember, it's okay to step back and focus on what truly brings you peace and happiness.
“Touch Grass”
The real problem of 24/7 political news is that it makes us feel exceedingly powerless. Everything is going to Hell in a handbasket and there’s nothing we can do to stop it. Wars are breaking out. Violent deaths happen daily. Natural disasters continue to occur and destroy people’s lives. It’s incredibly stressful and disheartening. That's why getting involved in your community can be so transformative: it allows you to reclaim a sense of control. Engaging with a community organization (Rotary, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis) or even working with a local political party can entirely change the things you’re focused on day-to-day. Local political parties are working on tax rates in your town, zoning in your neighborhood, and other policies that you can actually affect. It's not a total political detox, but it's a change you can feel. It's possible to find tranquility amid the chaos, but you might have to try something new and go outside. The expression “touch grass” is common parlance online these days, and it’s used to implore people who have lost touch with reality to go reconnect with the real world. What has caused them to lose touch is the impression left by strong personalities on Twitter/X or YouTube, where polarization is radically high compared to how average voters tend to think about politics. Don’t let the nameless, faceless rando on Twitter with a MAGA bald eagle for a profile photo or “ANTI-FASCIST” in their bio fool you. These folks (if they’re even real at all) are not representative of who you’ll meet on the street or at a city council meeting.