Ep. 15 Reflecting on: The News

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the chaos of modern news. From Trump and the threat of WW3 to compassion fatigue and activist burnout, we explore how 24/7 news cycles are affecting our minds, our moods, and our motivation to help. 📱 We unpack how being constantly plugged in can impact wellbeing, from heightened stress and anxiety (Johnston & Davey, 1997) to emotional overload from trying to do too much (McLaughlin, Gotlieb & Mills, 2022). 💥 But it’s not all doom and gloom. We celebrate activism and purpose as powerful forces for good (Kim, Herrmann & Nah, 2019), and also talk about how to avoid the trap of doing so much that you burn out. We chat about: The weight of bad news The psychology of overexposure Activism as a double-edged sword How to hold onto hope 🌱 Tips for taking healthy breaks, finding good news, and talking it out You are allowed to care and protect your energy. 📚 References cited in this episode: Johnston, W. M., & Davey, G. C. L. (1997). The psychological impact of negative TV news bulletins: The catastrophizing of personal worries. British Journal of Psychology, 88(1), 85–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1997.tb02622.x McLaughlin, B., Gotlieb, M. R., & Mills, D. J. (2022). Caught in a dangerous world: problematic news consumption and its relationship to mental and physical Ill-Being. Health Communication, 38(12), 2687–2697. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2106086 Kim, D. H., Von Herrmann, J., & Nah, S. (2023). News portals as a gateway to civic engagement: the case of South Korea. Media International Australia, 191(1), 147–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878x231206643   🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes! 📲 Follow us for more: Instagram: @themoodboosterpodcast TikTok: @themoodboosterpodcast Website: www.themoodbooster.co.uk 🎥 Prefer video? Watch this episode on YouTube! @TheMoodBoosterPodcast ⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, please rate & review, it really helps!