Last weekend we finally had some wonderful, sunshiny days here in the Netherlands and it seems that this week is going to be a prequel to Spring, with temperatures reaching up to 18 degrees Celsius this weekend! To me it feels as if the veil of Winter is finally lifting slightly and we’re getting into a brand new Spring season. I think a lot of people are looking forward to it as I have.

Creativity flows freely

The thing is that after all this dreary weather and a Winter that was incredibly disappointing when it came to some actual snowfall and wintry scenes, I feel that these first rays of Spring sunshine really bring a much needed flow of creativity inside of me. I feel like writing, I feel like spending time in nature to get even more inspired by the life that is slowly returning to the world after a deep slumber. The first flowers have arrived and some trees have already started growing small buds. It’s a reminder that soon Nature will be in bloom and we, likewise, can start working on realizing our plans and projects.

As I’ve shared earlier, I have become a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and am doing the course to become a Bard of the order. With this comes a time when you need to get initiated and with the current weather being like this, I plan on heading into one of our nearby forests soon, to perform this ritual on my own. I have already found a secluded spot that I think is perfect to do this, especially if I go there early in the morning.

Finding a Calm Spot in the ongoing Storm

Everyone will probably agree that the world has changed a lot since the inauguration of a certain orange faced criminal as so called President of the United States. I think we can also agree that there’s not much unison in those states either. We are living in times when changes come so rapidly and an opinion seems to count heavier than a fact. The entire geopolitical playfield is lifted and I fear that it won’t be long before the United States collapses. If only they hadn’t so much influence on our lives here, then it would not have been a problem. I find it hard not to check the news way more often than I usually do. But consuming news, especially if there’s so little influence we have, is quite useless and that’s why I endeavour only to read the basic updates, so I have a fair idea of what’s going on.

What I want to focus on instead is the good that I can bring to the world and those dear to me. I try to meditate more, so I can keep a level head in the ongoing Chaos. I work out more regularly, because I want to work on myself not just mentally and spiritually, but also physically. All of this I do so I can become a better version of myself, so I can contribute to a better world in the long run. Because if there’s something that’s lacking, it’s a long term vision. Working on projects that we will not live to see come to fruition, like creating a grove and planting trees.

The question is not so much if it will ever not be a tumultous time, if you watch closely at our recent history. That means waiting for all this to blow over is probably not a good idea, and that’s something we see all around us. There’s so much protests going on, people and companies who defy those who are now threatening democracy and everything it stands for. But to do this, it’s best to keep a level head and I hope that I can contribute to that for some people. With my blogs and advice, and telling you what works for me, to not let all the bad news get the better of me. It’s definitely not easy not to get caught in the trap of the world news, but there are definitely ways. I’ll share some with you here.

Five Practices to keep your News Consumption in Check

1. Set timers for apps/news consumption

If you use apps to check the news, you can set timers on how long you can use them. At least, you can do this if you have an Android phone and use the Digital Wellbeing app. For example, I have time limits on my use for Reddit and Instagram. No more than 30 minutes a day. I will probably lower this even further soon. If you don’t have an app, try to make a conscious choice and use a normal timer! The most important thing is, be aware!

2. Don’t read the comments

Some news outlets allow comments online. Whatever you do, don’t scroll down after reading the article and start reading the comments. Everyone and their mothers have an opinion on everything these days and these comment sections are usually a cestpool of extreme opinions and trolls. You really can spend your time a lot better!

3. Remember the Dichotomy of Control

Stoicism teaches us that those things that are out of our control are things we should not concern ourselves with. Although I prefer the Trichotomy of control, which is an updated version in which we also take into account things we have a large degree of control over, I agree with the sentiment that we should attempt not to worry about the things outside of our sphere of influence. That doesn’t mean you just have to sit idly by and become a pacifist, but it does put things in perspective. It’s a simple way of telling yourself: “I can’t do anything about this particular issue, but I can focus on other things, to make the world a better place.” And focus on that instead.

4. Mindful meditation

Practicing meditation on a daily basis will allow you to notice when your mind is being distracted and letting go of them. One of the best visualisations of this is the Blue Sky metaphor. Imagine yourself sitting somewhere outside with a clear view of the sky. See any clouds there? Those are your thoughts. You can pay attention to the clouds and study them extensively, or you can choose to just let them pass by. Before too long, you will start to notice that the sky becomes a bit clearer.

It takes quite some time to get into the mindful meditation practice and make it part of your every day life, but you can start by trying it for 5 minutes a day and slowly build up. I prefer to meditate twice a day at the moment. During my daily morning routine and somewhere in the afternoon, or evening, to wind down.

5. Make it harder to access the news

Smartphones are a double-edged sword. They have brought us great convenience, but far too many times we will notice that we have become extremely dependent on them, or addicted even. One way of denying yourself the opportunity to doom scroll through the news is by making it harder to open apps, or as I said earlier, set timers. Or even more rigorously, removing these apps from your phone altogether, so you can’t access them at all. Sometimes you need to be strict with yourself, if you value your peace of mind. I have removed a lot of apps from my phone and have turned off most, if not all notifications from apps, too. Our phones can be really demanding and I really didn’t like how much time I spent with my phone a couple of years back, so I decided to cut back drastically. It also helps if you use apps like Digital Wellbeing to check how much you’re using your phone. I try to keep my usage under 2 hours a day and every day from 22:00-6:00 my phone goes into Sleep mode, making the screen turn black/white and turning off all notifications and sounds.

Tranquility returns

I hope these tips are of use to you, dear reader. I know I struggled with phone usage and news consumption and even now I have to keep myself in check sometimes. The most important thing is to keep doing the important things. Be there for the people you love and try to make the world a happier place for all.

May the Earth Mother bless you,

Jeffrey