As a country, we’ve had a rocky start to 2020.
We came terrifyingly close to starting another war in the middle east. American firefighters have gone to help fight the Australia bushfires and storms ravaging the lower 48 states. We also know there’s a lot of newsworthy moments to come — we have a presidential election this year, after all.
How do we move forward in a world that feels like it’s falling apart at the seams?
Balance is one of the most important things to learn in times like these. It’s hard to keep reading the news especially when it’s only sad, angering or terrifying, but necessary to do so. Keeping ourselves informed allows us to participate in conversations about what’s happening around us from a local to an international scale.
This should not however come at the cost of our mental health. Everyone has different limits for what they can handle. Some people can watch, read or listen to the news every day without feeling more depressed or anxious. Others can only manage to do so every so often, and that’s okay.
Avoiding the news or social media for the sake of keeping ourselves sane isn’t the same as burying our head in the sand and ignoring what is happening. The act of avoiding news itself is not reprehensible. Refusing to incorporate new information into an opinion is.
That’s why balance is important. We all need to realize the world won’t stop spinning for us. Every one of our actions (and inactions) affects those around us. But that doesn’t mean our mental health isn’t worth taking care of, too.
I will always recommend keeping up with the news, I’m more than a little biased there. I’ve fallen in love with understanding the world and constantly learning, but not everyone has. I understand I have a different worldview than others. That doesn’t make anyone bad, it makes us different. That’s one of the things I love about the world, even when it feels like everything is going to hell.
Making sure we have proper context for what is happening at home and abroad while willing to listen to the opinions and information of others makes us better, more understanding people. However, ensuring our mental health is well taken care of is the most important thing any of us can do. More than anything else, that is what makes us better people.
Mental health aid is available at the University of Idaho Counseling and Testing Center. To schedule an appointment, call (208)-885-6716.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]