The News Is Stressing You Out—Here’s What to Do About It
The News Is Stressing You Out—Here’s What to Do About It
By James Porter
I’m a Democrat, and recently, I did something that might surprise people who share my political views—I cancelled my online subscription to The New York Times. You might think that’s counterintuitive, given that the Times runs articles that are consistently critical of today’s political leadership. But here’s the truth: reading those articles was stressing me out. Almost as much as watching Fox News does—so I don’t watch that either.
It’s not that I want to bury my head in the sand. I believe in staying informed. But I realized I was spending way too much time doom-scrolling through articles that cast the current political situation in such a relentlessly negative light, it felt like I was swimming in stress. These days, the only politically charged content I let myself enjoy is Jimmy Kimmel’s nightly monologue—mainly because it lets me laugh at the absurdities without getting dragged down by them.
That choice may not be for everyone, but for me, it’s been an act of self-care. And it’s made me reflect more deeply on how all of us—Democrats and Republicans alike—are affected by the political environment we’re steeped in.
We tend to forget that Abraham Lincoln, the president who held the country together during its most divided moment, was a Republican. And back then, the divide was so intense that it led to civil war. Shockingly, the Democrats of that era were largely pro-slavery, while the Republicans were anti-slavery. It’s a staggering reversal to consider from a 21st-century liberal viewpoint. But it shows that party lines evolve—and that we all have a lot to learn from history.
Today, we live in a digital echo chamber where news is curated not to inform, but to engage—or rather, to outrage. Most media outlets, left or right, depend on clicks, eyeballs, and ad dollars. That means their first job isn’t to tell the truth plainly—it’s to keep your attention. And they do that by feeding you stories that confirm your worst fears and your existing beliefs. Psychologists call this confirmation bias. We believe the outlets that echo our own thoughts and instinctively reject those that challenge them.
The stress this creates is real. Political polarization doesn’t just divide us ideologically—it takes a toll on our mental health, our relationships, and even our sleep. I know I’m not the only one who’s struggled with that.
So, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican—or feel politically homeless these days—here are five takeaways that might help lower the temperature and reduce the stress of this turbulent political moment:
1. Limit your news intake.
Just like I stepped away from The New York Times, you might benefit from cutting back on your preferred news source too—whether it's MSNBC or Fox News. That doesn’t mean becoming uninformed; it means choosing when and how much to consume. Maybe 10 minutes a day is enough. And try reading across the spectrum to get different perspectives.
2. Recognize the role of confirmation bias.
Be honest with yourself about how much you’re being fed what you want to hear, rather than what you need to understand. When we only engage with voices that agree with us, we build caricatures of those who disagree. Break out of the bubble, if only once in a while.
3. Use humor as a pressure valve.
Watching Jimmy Kimmel (or for Republicans, maybe Greg Gutfeld) may not deepen your policy knowledge, but it can help you cope. Laughter helps discharge emotional tension, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need to keep from losing our cool.
4. Remember that relationships matter more than opinions.
I have a liberal friend named Tim whose identical twin brother Jim is a die-hard Republican. They’re still close because they’ve made a conscious decision not to talk politics. And you know what? That works for them. Maybe you don’t need to debate every issue with every friend or family member. Sometimes love means letting it lie.
5. Focus on what you can control.
You can vote. You can speak up when it matters. You can donate, organize, or run for office. But you don’t have to carry the weight of the entire political system on your shoulders. Obsessing over every headline doesn’t change the world—it just burns you out.
As Americans, we’ve gotten through deep divisions before. We can do it again—but not if we’re too stressed out, angry, or exhausted to listen. If Lincoln could call on the better angels of our nature, maybe we can too. Not by ignoring the issues, but by stepping back far enough to see the human being behind the opposing view.
Take a deep breath. Change the channel. Talk to a friend—about literally anything but politics. Sometimes that’s the healthiest, and most patriotic, thing you can do.
For Wellness Trainers: This blog is a valuable resource for wellness professionals who want to support their clients’ mental and emotional resilience in a politically and culturally charged environment. It offers real-life insight into how media consumption and political stress can quietly undermine well-being, and it models practical strategies for setting boundaries, cultivating perspective, and prioritizing self-care. Whether you're coaching clients on managing stress, improving sleep, or building healthier habits, this post can be a tool to help them recognize how external noise affects their inner peace—and what they can do about it.
Erica Tuminski
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