I am addicted to the news. I have always found pop culture and headline news articles to be fun reads and carriers of information. It is not unusual for me to start my day by scrolling through a news outlet on my device. I am a sucker for all the clickbait articles. If it has “10 Reasons,” “Best Books of Summer 2026,” “5 Health Tips,” or “Here is what [insert famous person] home décor looks like,” I am in. I am an advertiser’s dream.

I also find myself clicking on a news app before I go to bed, reading about the day’s events and what has transpired around the world. I search not only news outlets in the United States but also sources outside of the country. I pride myself on being a well-rounded news reader and try to stay well-informed. You never know when you will need that information in a meeting or conversation.

My podcast subscriptions look very similar too. It contains pop culture podcasts, news, and general information in society. I find it hard to stay out of the news cycle, especially when information is so readily available across so many different platforms. It is easy to find that one specific news article that confirms everything you have already been thinking. I find myself searching for things and saying, “I knew it! I knew that was happening!” Then I go to a different news source and realize that something quite different has been reported.

While fall is a season of change, October is prime time season for political ads. It is a nonstop loop of reporting on candidates, issues, and levies. It can be overwhelming. You hear one ad say one thing about a candidate, and then you watch another ad that says something completely different. It can be difficult to know what to believe. It is hard to stay calm and well-informed in a society that often seems to want us to be anxious, reactive, and glued to a screen. When really all you want to do is turn it off. The ads are everywhere too. I love a good calm screen streaming through my TV, and every 30 minutes a 15-second ad comes on that you cannot skip. All this time spent decompressing, and then the ads hit. And the ads always seem to blare through the speakers at a way higher volume than the show you were watching.

I have been taking notice of the people around me. They are unplugging with books, walks without a device, or simply disconnecting from the news altogether. I find that so hard to do and found that I have had to place some significant boundaries to maintain hope.

First, I have found that ear reading a book (audiobook) is a great escape for me. So, instead of turning on the podcast app, I reach for the Libby app. I also take a walk outside every day to ensure I touch grass. So much of my time is spent inside that going outside is such self-care. I have also committed to not taking my phone with me. I find that when I take my phone, I scroll and walk, which just brings the news-cycle noise with me into my outside time. Additionally, I have been going to places that bring me joy. An outdoor play, a book festival, and a farmers’ market are not to-do list items, but have become just-be activities. It could be a conversation with my book club, a walk through a store, a puzzle, or serving someone. There is joy in the world of minute-to-minute updates and commentary.

 I am still addicted to the news. I still want to know what is happening, what people are talking about, and, yes, what the “10 Best Books of 2026” are. I don’t think that part of me is going away. But I am learning that being informed does not require me to be constantly connected. The world will keep updating whether I am watching it or not. There will always be another headline, another notification, and another opinion waiting for me. What I am beginning to understand is that hope requires some of my attention too. Sometimes that means closing the app, leaving my phone at home, touching grass, listening to a book, or simply being present with the people around me. The news will still be there when I get back. I just don’t have to be there for every update.