Thanks to the power of the internet and the ability to see news, opinions, and articles from around the world, the average person has never been more connected. And while this can generally be a good thing, it also comes with some drawbacks. One of these is the amount of negativity that we have to deal with on a daily basis.
This can be in the form of bad news from other countries, increasing costs of living, or even just having to listen too many people complaining on social media. Fortunately, there are some effective ways a person can limit the amount of negativity that they are exposed to.
Limit the News
Most modern news outlets make use of a psychological phenomenon known as the negativity bias. While this is actually an evolutionary adaption that once served out ancestors who were facing constant danger, it has become a lot more redundant in recent years, but it can also be a source of great stress and depression, especially when we’re constantly reading bad news.
The world of news will always inherently be negative, and it can quickly become overwhelming. This is why it’s important to try and only read the news around once a week, and to always stick to reliable news sources as much as possible to avoid click-bait and fear mongering.
Cut out Pessimistic People
Some people can’t help but have a pessimistic view on the world, and they will often share their beliefs with those around them. It can be difficult to maintain any kind of personal positivity when we are surrounded by people that are negative most of the time.
This is why it might be worth taking a look at the people that you surround yourself with and decide whether they are worth keeping around. If all they do is bring negativity into the space without ever introducing any kind of constructive input, then they might just be a source of negativity that is making life more difficult than it needs to be.
Engage in Positive Activities
Another way to keep negativity at bay is by finding ways to bring more positivity into your space. One great way of doing this is through meditation, which has been proven to help a person find peace and bring in more positivity into their life.
But any constructive hobby will do the job, whether it’s gardening, playing sport, volunteering at a charity, or playing iPhone pokies, among many others. It’s vital to have a source of positivity that can be used to keep life fresh, interesting, and worth getting up for every day.
Take Frequent Holidays
A holiday doesn’t always need to be an expensive venture out to Hawaii; it can be as simple as taking a weekend off and going to see something new.
Everyone has a limited emotional capacity, and taking frequent but small holidays can help to keep the batteries topped up for the rest of the time.