Break Free From Your Newsfeed Anxiety
A Practical Guide to Staying Informed Without Losing Your Mind
Ever catch yourself scrolling mindlessly through your newsfeed, thumb moving on autopilot, while headlines about climate disasters, food crises, and environmental collapse blur past?
An hour later, you're more anxious and less informed than when you started.
We have all been there, and it's not helping.
The problem isn't just information overload—it's how our newsfeeds are designed. They pitch us crisis after crisis, each competing for our attention with increasingly apocalyptic headlines. Climate catastrophe! Food system collapse! Biodiversity crisis! They want us to react with fear, so we stick around to argue.
As a writer, I feel a little guilty.
I want you to stick around, too and read about my take on it all. But I am also a realist.
I spent decades as an academic ecologist writing research papers that few people read.
Now, I write about ecological challenges for everyone overwhelmed by their newsfeed. I expect few people to read these epistles too.
But I think there's a better way to stay informed without losing your mind.
Tempting as it might be, the solution isn't to unplug entirely or resign ourselves to anxiety. Instead, we need to transform our relationship with information through mindful scepticism.
What do I mean by mindful scepticism?
It's the sweet spot between cynical disengagement, which society has decided is the artifice of the sceptic and the naive acceptance that can happen when you are all Zen’d out.
A mindful sceptic approaches information with curiosity rather than fear, questioning the content and their reaction to it.
And once curiosity generates good questions, critical thinking builds appropriate answers.
Meanwhile, mindfulness tempers the harsh edges of criticism with awareness.
It’s a great combination.
And when it comes to doomscrolling, here is how to start…
1. Notice Your Triggers
Pay attention to which headlines spark anxiety. Are they about specific topics? From particular sources? Understanding your triggers is the first step to managing them.
2. Question The Framing
When you see a crisis headline, ask… Why is this being presented as urgent now? Who benefits from my emotional reaction? What's the broader context I'm missing?
3. Set Boundaries
Create specific times for news consumption instead of constant scrolling. Just now I have deleted my news apps and replaced them with a weekly summary.
4. Seek Understanding, Not Just Information
Rather than bouncing between crisis headlines, choose one issue that matters to you and explore it deeply. Read long-form articles, scientific papers, and opposing viewpoints.
5. Take Action on What Matters
Channel anxiety into meaningful action. Whether it's supporting local initiatives, changing personal habits, or engaging in community discussions because action beats anxiety every time.
Let me share a personal example.
A while ago, my feed was flooded with headlines about global food security. Instead of spiralling into worry, I applied mindful scepticism.
First, I noticed my emotional response—concern about future generations. Valid, but not helpful if it leads to paralysis.
Then, I questioned the framing. Yes, there are challenges in our food systems, but also innovations and solutions that rarely make headlines.
Finally, I channelled that concern into research and writing about practical solutions, which became part of my work on mindful approaches to global challenges.
The result?
I'm better informed and less anxious, with more energy for meaningful action…
…and this book.
You can do this too.
Start with one issue you care about and approach it with mindful scepticism. Notice how different it feels to engage thoughtfully rather than react emotionally.
The world faces real challenges that deserve our attention.
But attention doesn't have to mean anxiety. We can stay informed and engaged while maintaining our mental well-being.
I write about these ideas every week in the Mindful Sceptic newsletter.
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Remember that your newsfeed is a tool, not your master.
Use it wisely, and it can inform rather than overwhelm.