How to cope with bad news
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1. Put the kettle on
The quintessentially British response of ‘putting the kettle on’ in troubled times might seem like a quaint notion, but the naturally calming effects of tea – which is shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol – makes it a sage place to start.
2. Manage your media diet
The temptation to doomscroll through social media or watch rolling news may be strong in times of crisis, but is best avoided. The link between such behaviour and poor mental health has been proven by studies.
That’s not to say don’t engage – it’s important to know what’s going on – but limiting news consumption, rather than gorging on it all day, is advisable.
Offsetting the doom with uplifting stories is also vital. The World Health Organization recommended that people do this during the pandemic, but the advice applies to any crisis.
3. Take positive action
In the face of bad news – and there’s a lot of it about – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.
Harley Stre...
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