News has become an extremely pushy and stressful part of daily life. Its constant bombardment is wreaking havoc on mental health triggering unnecessary increases in anxiety. Here's five ways to avoid those stressful news feeds while staying in the know.
Talk with the Youth
Children offer a bounty of information starting with the state of education. No need to weed through journalistic fluff to find out what junior is learning. Looking for celebrity gossip? Teens have the lowdown on what's hot and what's not.
Go for a Walk
From graffiti on the walls to a new playground at the local park, a local jaunt offers a snapshot of the highs and lows of your community. Gloom and doom news rarely report on the handful of families you'll see enjoying each other's company at the park you pass.
Join a CSA
Join a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) co-op in your area and you'll be supporting local farms, enjoying healthy veggies and learning about local agriculture, menu planning and healthy living.
Visit an Independent Coffee Houses and Restaurants
Local coffee joints and eateries indulge visitors in social interaction, art appreciation of local up-and-coming artists and free live music from rising stars. Ask the owners about business and you'll learn more about the recession than the evening news.
Call Your Family
Relatives all around the country are feeling the strain of day to day living and still getting by. How do they do it? Learn what's happening around the country, and even the world from your friends and family while enjoying some new ideas for coping.
News can be a great thing, but the tragedies of 9/11 showed us the dark side of too much information. Sometimes a step back from the fire can reveal the entire scene instead of one finely edited and smoldering detail.