This week, I was planning to talk to you about how excited I am to be celebrating one year of City Fit Girls Strength Club. While I am super proud of this accomplishment, I decided that it would be better to shift our attention this week to managing our mental health as the political environment becomes more tense and uncertain.
As you know, last week was one for the history books. From Trump’s tax records, the presidential debate and the White House COVID-19 outbreak, I found it hard to focus my attention on anything else except for the news cycle.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by consuming information, you're not alone. Our phones make it almost impossible to avoid the headlines. While it is extremely important to stay informed, we never want to consume to the point our mental health is compromised. As we head into a new week, keep the following tips in mind:
Create a designated time to consume the news: No matter what you do, don’t get stuck in the 24-hour news cycle. Set aside time, no more than one hour / day, to watch the news, listen to current events podcasts, or read political articles. Unless you’re watching a debate, shut your TV off in the evening and leave your phone in a different room so that you can disconnect.
Watch out for fake news on social media: Make sure your news is coming from trusted news sites and share informational posts from FactCheck.org or Politifact to help your friends and relatives spot fakes.
If you’re feeling powerless, take action: Instead of getting caught up in the headlines, focus your attention on volunteering / donating for a cause or campaign that you identify with. Start by checking your voter registration status and making your voting plan.
Know when to step back: Stand up for what you believe in but don’t drive yourself crazy doing it. If social media debates or heated dinner conversations about politics are negatively impacting your mental health, give yourself permission to remove yourself from the situation in order to recharge.
Trust me , I know there’s a lot on the line and this is not the time to turn attention away from the issues, but in order for us to be able to make an impact and show up for our communities and our loved ones, we have to prioritize our physical and mental health first. If you need help navigating, respond to this email and we can get through this together.
