All jokes and Smashmouth lyrics aside, I’m sure most people can agree that it feels like our world is on fire most of the time. Whether it be photos and videos of the world literally on fire or facing other weather crises, news from around the globe about wars and escalating tensions, or pinging notifications from local sources and/or social media about the tragedies occurring in our local communities, we are constantly on the receiving end of information, data, and opinions. It feels as if there is an active battle for our attention being fought in our brains (and sometimes hearts). It’s overwhelming, and almost daily, it leaves me feeling like I have to choose whether I want to be well-informed or I want to preserve my sanity.
READ: How to Cultivate Calm in a World That’s Seemingly Crazy
This isn’t a new dilemma for our brains. It’s part of what makes human beings as developed as we are — our brains are incredible at categorizing, processing, and storing info. What is new, however, is the rate at which we are receiving new information and the urgency with which most of it is being delivered to us. Compounded with the onslaught of information is the fact that the urgency of most headlines prompts us to feel before we think. This means it’s not only the logical part of our brains being activated but also the emotional side of our brains being triggered. Complicating it even more is that the content of news articles, social media posts, etc. are just as often untrue as they are true, which means more time and work is demanded of us to investigate the information before digesting and/or regurgitating it. It is exhausting and, as moms, our brains are already functioning with approximately 468,284,484 tabs open at all times. I don’t want this post to be another one of those things you read, and at the end, are left feeling seen… but also helpless.
So, let’s explore what we can do to take control of this raging war in our brains.
1. Turn off those push notifications and badges. The only apps I get push notifications from are my texts, calls, health apps (MyChart, etc.), and DCPS (for messages from my son’s school). I don’t get alerts on my screen or the little badge on apps for anything else at all. This reduces the urgency and frequency with which I feel like I have to check my apps.
2. Schedule the time during which you allow yourself to check news and/or social media sources. Set a timer for 15 minutes (or however long you want it to be for yourself) and after that time is up, close the apps. This will help us focus our attention on the sources we want to read from and prevent us from doom scrolling.
3. Narrow down the sources from which you are getting your information and news. Set intentional time aside to do research on information sources, determine which ones you believe are proven to be trustworthy and unbiased, and eliminate the other sources. I’ve stopped watching most news stations and instead have a podcast I listen to daily (I like Up First from NPR; it’s no more than 15–20 minutes long) that provides factual information on the most important headlines of the day.
4. Keep a small notebook to use for brain dumps after reading or hearing new information (the notes app on your phone). Write down questions, concerns, immediate reactions, etc. to help move our brains from a space of feeling “stuck” into a space of control.
5. Get involved in your community. The reality is, and always has been, that our communities are not perfect. There is regular harm being done to people on individual and societal levels, and it happens in our backyards, our state, our country, and across the globe. It is a harsh truth that can leave us feeling helpless, but getting involved civically can counteract that feeling of helplessness by giving us a sense of control in our personal contributions to change. It can also remind us that we aren’t alone in our desire for change by putting us in groups of people who are working alongside us for a shared goal. Ways to get involved:
- Volunteer. Find a group that is working on a cause that matters to you. You can find organizations in NEFL by checking JAXUSA Partnership, United Way of Northeast Florida, or the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.
- Assist at the polls. Become a poll worker during elections.
- Contact your legislators about policies, laws, and events that matter to you. From City Council all the way up to the President — these are people who are elected to represent We the People. Make your voice heard. Find your legislators here. This is a great article on ways to contact elected officials. I personally have used and found the app 5 Calls to be very user-friendly — it provides helpful legislative updates, gives direct and simple instructions on who to call for what issues, script suggestions on what to say, and lets you log your actions.
- Vote. Exercise a right that, for women and people of color, has been fought hard for us to have.
And before you go, let’s take it back to the gurus of Smashmouth for some inspiration…
“Hey now, you’re an all-star
Get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a rock star
Get the show on, get paid
(And all that glitters is gold)
Only shootin’ stars break the mold”
