This article does a good job of covering the basics of how and why news can rattle us when we don’t consume it with intention: Here’s what happened when I gave up following the news for a week.

When you are constantly bombarded with “exciting” news, you are connecting with it emotionally rather than cognitively. Your original goal may be to stay informed, but if you don’t curate what you take in you can end up emotionally overwhelmed instead of informed. The fear-based state of mind news thrives on can follow you throughout your day, even after you are on to other things.

Here’s a key quote from fellow Fielding alumna Pamela Rutledge:

“It’s important to leave mental ‘spaces’ instead of filling up every minute of your thoughts with news.”