A study in the British Journal of Psychology found that seeing a negative newscast made people more likely to turn small personal issues into major sources of anxiety. The more worried they were about the world, the more they worried about things happening in their own lives. This study was conducted in the late 1990s, before we were all digitally connected to news sources at all times, so the takeaway is more important today than ever. One tool for managing this distress: Take breaks from the news cycle. Whether that’s declaring a “Digital Sabbath” over the weekend, or just stepping away from Facebook when it’s stressing you out, being mindful of how and when you absorb negative headlines can help you control your emotional response.
READ MORE: What to Do When the News Bums You Out
