Staying Informed & Avoiding Overload
Recommendations for Staying Up-to-Date
The pressure to stay informed is as high as ever. Keeping up with the news could be a full time job, if we let it be. But the mental health toll associated with media overload is very, very real.
When I was a political candidate, I felt the pressure to stay up-to-date on every issue that might come up on the campaign trail. When I started Carolina Democracy, originally as a weekly podcast, I felt the pressure to stay up-to-date on issues across North Carolina year round.
It came at a cost. I could tell, overtime, that I was burning out. As it turns out, some really ancient folks had some decent ideas I was conveniently ignoring: the Golden Mean.
I can only speak for myself, but life has taught me again and again that moderation is key. Politics is no different. I want to be an informed citizen. I want to help others understand current events. But I am not a policy decision maker who needs constant updates. I am also not a professional politico — commentator, consultant, party official, campaign staffer, etc.
So, I want to stay informed, but not overwhelmed. I used to feel guilty if someone asked, “Did you hear what President Trump said today?” or “Did you hear Secretary Hegseth’s latest gaff?” and I did not know. But the answer was usually some form of the same: something idiotic, probably offensive, or at the very least, ignorant.
The details rarely mattered. Wait a few hours and we could go through the same exercise again. For what? Nothing had actually changed other than my stress level.
I decided to set some boundaries for myself. First, I got back on my bicycle after a near decade hiatus from competitive racing and riding. I replaced hours of news consumption with hours of exercise, outside when possible.
I also started retraining my social media algorithms — engage in fun content, ignore or remove stressful content. It took a while, and it is not perfect, but over time my social media feeds have shifted to cycling, puppies, and babies. Cycling is my thing, I am no Kristi Noem, and my wife and I are expecting twins in August. Personalized content still creeps me out, but at least it’s pleasant now, and mostly apolitical.
Finally, I made deliberate choices about my news consumption. I signed up for the daily headline emails from several national sources — The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. I scroll through all three every morning to see what catches my attention, and for a bit of fun, I compare the contrasting headlines for the same stories.
I do something similar for state and local news — News & Observer, Greensboro News & Record, and Winston-Salem Journal. The N&O is good for state news and politics, like keeping up with the Canes or the latest on being “close” on a state budget. And I live and work in the Triad. I do not need to know every vote the city council is taking. But knowing when downtown will be closed or a tax increase is being debated is helpful.
Let me be clear. I DO NOT read everything, or even try. If there are a lot of interesting articles, all of the above may take me a cup of coffee. Again, moderation. It turns out headlines and the first paragraph or two are often enough to stay informed without being overwhelmed.
And I still indulge in political commentary here and there. I like Thomas Mill’s PoliticsNC, Andrew Dunn’s Longleaf Politics, and Alex Jones’s New Branchhead. They offer a range of views. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes not so much, but I always appreciate their thoughts. And even when we disagree, they force me to think more deeply about my own positions. I value that.
I can only share what has worked for me. I challenge all of you to find what works for you. Whatever you do, take care of yourself. The fight for democracy needs you, but it needs you at your best. It’s all about balance.
Speaking of which, if you need me in July, I will probably be watching the Tour de France. If you need me after that, I will probably be changing diapers. I am still here, but I will also be striving for some balance before things get crazy in September and October.
There is also one more REALLY, REALLY important deadline before all of that. Tomorrow, June 30th, is the last major fundraising deadline for 2026 North Carolina candidates before early voting starts. Please support the 2026 NC Judicial Slate if you haven’t already (or again, that’s great too)!
