Change and transformation are one of life’s greatest guarantees. And now more than ever, we have the ability to keep track of these changes at our fingertips – from social media, online news sources, streaming and more. Click-bait headlines and sensationalized stories are created to evoke emotional reactions, and with each new ping on the phone or breaking news announcement, it can all start to feel overwhelming.

However, being informed and active about what is happening around us is important, so we can’t avoid it all together. So, what can we do? We can start by strategically and intentionally connecting with the world around us while not spiraling.

Ask yourself “what now” – consuming the news is just one part of the process. We can easily get caught up in the emotions of the piece, but we can also take intentional action to bring positive change by volunteering at a local nonprofit, donating to charities that support your values, and contacting legislators and advocating for specific legislation important to you.

Set boundaries – being clear about when, where, and how we go through news is critical to staying informed without being overwhelmed. Start by setting time aside to read updates, such as an hour in the morning or evening. Many phones also have built in abilities or downloadable apps you can use to set timers on other apps like social media or news apps to help limit the time we spend scrolling.

Be balanced – use credible sources when reading and double check when seeing shocking headlines through sites such as social media. Be open to hearing angles from multiple sides. Explore other outlets and take time to learn how other people may be experiencing the same thing, but in a different way.

Disconnect – it’s okay to step away for a while and take care of you. Find ways to center yourself, focusing on your person values and beliefs. Use tools such as mediation or journaling to stay grounded.

Consider traditional outlets – do you remember the days before technology, where news was not on-demand? News stations were only on at specific morning and evening times and the paper was delivered first thing in the morning. If on-demand news feels overwhelming, try sticking to more traditional outlets like your local news station or the printed paper.