Turns Out, My Brain Wasn’t Built for This 😅

I used to feel like it was important to stay on top of the news.
To be informed.
Aware.
Engaged with what’s happening in the world.

And in many ways, I still believe that matters.

But I started to notice something: the more news and social media I consumed,
the worse I felt. Not just mentally—but physically.

Tension in my body.
Sleepless nights lying awake, talking to people—in my head.😆
A sense of unease and dread.
Moments of overwhelm, frustration, and plenty of anxiety.

I would watch, listen to, or read something upsetting, and it would stay with me.
Linger in my system.
Affect my mood, my energy, even how I showed up with my family.
For hours.
Sometimes for days.

And I realized:
Staying informed was coming at the cost of feeling well.

So I began experimenting:
I didn’t ignore the world.
I just changed how I engaged with it.

I stopped consuming the news regularly.
And I became more intentional about when and how I received information:

• no watching or listening, only reading (visuals and sounds tend to stick in my nervous system longer and are harder to release)

• only in the middle of the day (never morning, never before bed)

• more space to process instead of a constant flood of info

And something (un)surprising happened.

I felt calmer.
More grounded.
More energized.
More present in my life—the one right in front of me.

One of the biggest “aha’s” for me is this: If I freak out over the state of the world, it won’t change anything—except how I feel.

That doesn’t mean I don’t care.
It just means I’ve learned that being in a constant state of stress doesn’t help me,
and it doesn’t help anyone else either.

In fact, when I feel better, I show up better.

I have more patience.
More clarity.
More kindness.
More compassion.

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Something else to consider: for most of human history, people only knew what was happening in their immediate surroundings—their tribe, their community, their region.

Now, we’re exposed to everything, all the time.

Every event—good or bad.
Every crisis.
Every headline.
Every opinion.

Our minds—and our nervous systems—weren’t designed for this level of constant input.

So if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or a little on edge…
It might not be you.
It might be all you’re taking in.

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If it feels supportive, here are a few gentle shifts you can try:

✅ Choose specific days and times to check the news (instead of throughout the day, every day).
✅ Be mindful of your sources—social media isn’t always the most reliable.
✅ Give yourself space and time to process what you take in.
✅ Notice how your body feels before and after consuming information.
✅ Regulate your nervous system, as necessary (e.g. be mindful, move, and meditate).

You don’t have to know everything all the time.
You’re allowed to protect your peace.
Then, you can project your good energy!

Take a moment and ask yourself:
How does what I’m consuming affect how I feel?
And gently adjust from there.

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✨ In our Joy Alchemy Community, we learn and practice simple ways to regulate the body, calm the nervous system, and create more ease—which is especially important in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming.

If you’d like weekly support in feeling more grounded, present, and joyful, you’re warmly invited to join us. 💗 Try a week for free!

Learn more and join us here. ✨