Why It’s OK to STOP Watching the News

Summary

Luke Thomas discusses the tension between staying informed and protecting your mental health. He says news tends to emphasize negativity, regardless of its political leaning, and that constant exposure can worsen well-being. While tuning out completely may leave someone less informed, he argues that no amount of news is worth seriously harming your mental health.

Key Strategies

• Notice how news affects you. If your mental health or quality of life is deteriorating, treat that as a signal to reduce your exposure.
• Unplug when needed. Step back rather than driving yourself to distress over events you have little control over.
• Calibrate your news consumption. Consider what news you need to follow, what you want to follow, and how much exposure is manageable.
• Focus on what you can control. The world is largely beyond any one person’s control, but you can make choices about your own habits and behavior.
• Seek balance, not necessarily total avoidance. Disengaging entirely can mean knowing less, so aim for a level of news consumption that supports both your well-being and informed awareness.

Presenter and Sources

Luke Thomas refers to conversations with his brother and wife, as well as research on news exposure and mental health, without naming specific studies.