How do I set healthy boundaries around disturbing news and media?

News reports and social media posts are available to us 24 hours a day. Do you find it hard to turn away no matter how bad the news makes you feel?

Take steps to recognize how to deal with all the noise and consider setting limits on your news consumption habits.

Doomscrolling can feel like a hard habit to break, even when we know we should turn away. There are a few reasons why we do this such as:

• Reading negative news gears us up to fight, whether through disagreeing with others or feeling like we can improve a situation.

• Comparing our lives to others to learn that we have it better than others who are facing worse issues.

If you're spending too much time reading bad news, try these tips when you need a break:

• Check the news at specific times per day, taking no more than 20-30 minutes to do so.

• Avoid checking in before bedtime so you can get a rested night's sleep.

• Learn to recognize and choose reputable news sources to get your information.

• Turn off the news if you start having negative feelings or seeing repeats of stories.

Social media drives the 24/7 availability of news, but that doesn't mean you can't use it in a way that works for you. Make your mental health a priority.

• Unfollow pages where you're likely to see misinformation or sensationalized reports.

• Think about what pages and people you're following and why.

• Remove apps from your phone.

• Temporarily turn your phone off (being "unplugged").

Read this Byte to learn how to create healthy boundaries with social media.

⚡Test your knowledge.

Olivia wants to have a better news experience on social media.

After you've reviewed your social media feeds and set a schedule for when you'll check the news, it's important to maintain your mental health going forward.

Here are some healthier habits you can develop when you need a break:

• Practice self-care, such as getting regular exercise and plenty of sleep

• Reconnect with family and friends

• Engage in more positive activities (hobbies, listening to favorite music)

• Create digital boundaries to improve relationships

• Learn strategies to reduce screen time