Reading the news is a great way to find out what's going on in the world. Paying attention while reading can help you understand the content better and open yourself up to new ideas. By focusing on one article, practicing your skills, choosing news items, and dealing with possible fatigue from too much information, you can become an informed and engaged reader.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Focus on an Article
Step 1. Take a few deep breaths
Breathe slowly and deeply 3-5 times to relax before reading the news. As you exhale, clear your mind of any distracting thoughts about school or work. If possible, try to find a time when you feel you can give your full attention to the article.
Step 2. Set yourself a goal
Choose a time or number of pages you want to read for each session, then think about why you are reading an article. Keep in mind what you hope to gain from the reading before you begin.
- You can tell yourself, "I want to read five pages of this article right now and I'm doing it because I want to know more about finance law."
- Set yourself a goal in terms of minutes or pages that you know you can achieve. It's best not to be in too much of a hurry.
Step 3. Notice the emotions that arise during the reading
Pay attention to how you feel as you scroll through the words, but don't get distracted from your goal. Recognize the feelings, then read on. If the article raises questions, write them down so you can explore them later. This way you will be able to stay focused.
Step 4. Pay attention to your breathing
Do your best to relax and breathe normally when reading. If the article arouses anger or anxiety and causes you to hold your breath, take a moment to let the air out. At that point, remember what you want to learn and resume reading.
Step 5. If you feel overwhelmed, take a break
If the article makes you so nervous that you can't process the information, stop. Get something to eat or play with your pet for a couple of minutes to decompress. When you feel ready, go back to reading. It may be helpful to remember the reason that prompted you to choose the article.
Taking a break can help you feel refreshed and ready to absorb difficult information
Method 2 of 4: Practice Mindful Reading Skills
Step 1. Read the news regularly
Develop a reading routine that you think you can keep. This will help you stay up to date on current events and allow you to exercise your awareness regularly. For example, you could spend the first 20 minutes of your working days reading newspapers, or decide to read an article that interests you every day after dinner. It doesn't matter which routine you choose, as long as you can stick to it.
Step 2. Use articles to question your way of thinking
Look for articles that test your normal thinking. It may be helpful to consider why you believe in something or whether that belief still holds true for you. In some cases, your natural tendency may be to only read articles that confirm what you already think about a certain topic. Instead, try using the newspapers as an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone.
- For example, you might decide to read a piece about the daily life of a prisoner on the death penalty to question your thoughts on the justice system.
- Exposing yourself to various points of view can allow you to better understand the world. Even if your opinion on a topic doesn't change, a willingness to consider other points of view helps you grow.
Step 3. Learn to accept your feelings
In some cases, reading the news can make you happy and in others it can make you worry. Regardless of how the news of the day feels like, take some time to process and accept those emotions when you're done reading.
Step 4. Take action on the news you care about
Reading about the tragic events affecting the world can be stressful. To deal with the problem, try to turn emotions into actions. You can donate, volunteer, or collect goods. These are great ways to help your local community or even people thousands of miles away.
- For example, if news about the future of the Arctic makes you feel depressed, you can make a donation to an organization that works to preserve polar bear habitat. This is a healthy way to process your negative emotions.
- If you feel sad after reading that the local school does not have enough resources for their pupils, you can volunteer at that institution once a week to help solve the problem.
Step 5. Meditate after reading the news
Sit down in a quiet place and close your eyes for five minutes immediately after reading the news. This activity can give you a lot to think about, so clearing your mind right after doing it can help you get on with your day. Focus on your breathing. Let the thoughts come and go, without deepening them, until you regain your calm.
Method 3 of 4: Choose Reliable News
Step 1. Look for the most reputable leading publications
The most important and established media have staff dedicated to verifying the validity of the news and reporters who witness the events that happen firsthand. Thanks to these very high journalistic standards, they are the most reliable news sources. Avoid sources that comment or debate the topics and do not report the news directly. Relying on facts alone allows you to formulate your own personal opinion on current events.
- Here are some examples of publications and newspapers that can be considered reliable sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Ansa, la Repubblica, Corriere della Sera, Il Sole 24 Ore.
- Magazines offering the most accurate reporting include Forbes, Panorama, L'Espresso.
- The most reliable television stations are RAI, Sky and La 7.
- Radio Rai broadcasters are a good source of high quality news on the radio.
Step 2. Read the information section of the news source you are using
View with skepticism all websites that use very emphatic or political language to describe their mission. Usually those sources offer comments or opinions rather than crude representations of the facts. A good news organization provides information about its editor and the ethics of disclosing the facts.
Step 3. Pay attention to the web address of the source
Look for professional websites ending in.com,.it, or.org rather than.com.co. These URLs are not used by major news organizations. Some fake news sites try to mimic the URLs of the most trusted sources by ending in.com.co to deceive readers. A quick glance at the end of the address will always give you a clue as to the quality of the source.
Step 4. Read the editorials of the major newspapers for different points of view
Editorials are high-quality opinion articles published by newspapers. They do not reflect the point of view of the newspaper, but are often written by professors or other professionals experienced in the field of news. If you want to know different points of view on a topic, read the editorials on both sides of an issue, for example in La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera.
Editorials are not news. They are opinions, but knowing those points of view can help you understand how people other than you think
Step 5. Don't check the news on Facebook
Avoid forming opinions on current events based on what you read on your wall. Not everyone who posts information checks that the source is trustworthy before sharing it. In some cases, they publish sensationalist headlines that excite or anger them. Keep reading news from sources that check the validity of the facts and written by real reporters.
If you see a friend or loved one posting something from an untrustworthy site, you may want to write to them privately to let them know. You can say: "Do you know that Bomb News has no staff to verify the validity of the facts and has no reporters? It is actually an opinion site."
Method 4 of 4: Coping with News Fatigue
Step 1. Detox from the news
Turn off automatic alerts on your phone or tablet if you feel overwhelmed with information. It may also be useful not to read articles for a few days or to hide the news windows on the social networks you use. Instead, spend your time on activities you enjoy. Those that do not involve the use of technology, such as gardening or walking, can help you find peace.
Step 2. Filter your inbox
Many e-mail clients, such as Gmail, allow you to store news in a specific folder. If you receive digital alerts or newsletters, temporarily filter them in a section you don't check every day. That way you won't be surprised by news even in your personal communications, while trying to work or talk with friends.
You can even create a specific inbox called "News", so you can read all the messages when you feel ready
Step 3. Focus on the causes that matter to you
If you feel overwhelmed, choose publications that specialize in your area of interest. This allows you not to be burdened by the news you want to avoid for a couple of days. You can also decide to read only the section of the newspaper that you like best for some time.
- For example, if you like foreign policy, for a week you can read a magazine that deals exclusively with that topic.
- If you are tired of national politics news, just read the local section of the paper for a few days.
Step 4. Look for positive news sources
Replace your normal routine with one that helps you see the world from the bright side. Some websites and magazines, such as Positive News, specialize in quality reports based on real facts, but which cheer up the soul. If you find yourself feeling tired or overwhelmed by traditional media, take a mental break with these sites. You will still have a lot of things to talk about with friends and may even put them in a good mood.
Advice
- Remember that there is nothing wrong with taking a break from the news if you feel the need.
- If the latest news has put you in a bad mood, try watching a comedy news program to learn about current affairs events with a humorous twist.
