Why do we pay close attention to negative news?
In this era of information explosion, we are exposed to all kinds of news every day, many of which are negative, depressing, and even scary. Epidemics, disasters, violence, conflicts… these events make us feel powerless and frightened, but also make us irresistibly want to know more. We constantly refresh the screen of our mobile phones and watch negative news one after another. This behavior is called ‘doomscrolling’.
Doomsday scrolling is a psychological mechanism for self-comfort. People seek a sense of control and security by reading negative news. They want to be able to:
-Remind yourself to think rationally
- Be better prepared for disasters
- Look for possibilities that overturn fears
However, doomsday swiping does not really solve the problem. Instead, it will aggravate people’s anxiety and depression and affect their quality of life and health. Doomsday swiping will lead to the following negative consequences:
- Decreased mood and motivation
- Reduce focus on other activities and interests
- Affect sleeping and eating habits
- Increased stress and tension
How to get rid of the trouble of doomsday screen swiping
So, how to get rid of the trouble of doomsday scrolling? We can take some of the following steps to improve our mindset and behavior:
1. Stay away from the source of troubles
If you find yourself constantly scrolling before going to bed or after waking up, you can try placing your phone further away from your bed, or set a timer reminder to limit your use of your phone. This can avoid receiving negative information before going to bed and when you first wake up, which will affect your mood for the rest of the day.
2. Limit exposure to negative news
You can set a maximum time limit for browsing relevant web pages every day through the app or schedule to strike a balance between doomsday scrolling and daily life. In addition to reading negative news, you can also pay attention to other good news and take an interest in it to neutralize the sadness or fear caused by negative news.
3. Keep thinking positively
You can carefully filter the credibility of information and pay attention to whether the level of your worries is unreasonable, which can help reduce the uneasiness about news events to a controllable range. You may also choose to share your concerns about these events with someone you trust, who can allow you to vent your inner stress and fears.
We cannot control the good or bad of things in the world, but at least we can adjust our mentality to meet future challenges with a healthy and positive attitude. What’s more, the future may not be as bad as we expected~
It’s important to develop the courage to face your fears head-on, but when you feel tired, remember to get enough rest first!
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