Information Overdrive

COVID-19 has completely consumed the media and made it almost impossible to escape. Everywhere you turn, you hear about individuals succumbing to their illness, people who are not adhering to local laws and talks about being in quarantine for several weeks. It almost seems like a complete information overload. At some point, you may find yourself asking why you even bother turning on anything but the same Netflix show that you have binge-watched three times since this pandemic started.

But alas, you decide to watch the news or scroll Instagram and Facebook. You see article after article about the coronavirus and how you should be feeling or acting. It can feel overwhelming, and before you know it, you’ve spiraled. Trust us, we have all been there over the past several weeks.

We know that this time is challenging and can cause people anxiety and stress. We have put together a few tips and resources that can help you during this chaotic and overwhelming time. If you feel like there is too much information out there and don’t know where to turn, consider the following:

Know when to turn off the news and put down your phone. These days, it seems like information about the novel coronavirus is everywhere we look—the news, social media and in the newspapers. Unplugging can be difficult, but it is necessary in times like these. If you are feeling overwhelmed, we suggest that you take some time to clear your head by turning your TV or phone off and focusing on something besides COVID-19. If you are able to do so, consider leaving your phone at home and going for a walk. Not only will that give you a chance to take a break from consuming mass media about the coronavirus, but it will give you a chance to get some fresh air. We encourage you to find something that will give you a sense of release, whether that’s yoga, an at-home workout, doing a puzzle with the family or meditating.
If you feel as though you want to be informed about the current situation and what is going on in the world, seek out reliable news sources that will give you information you can depend on. There are too many outlets out there that are either opinion-based or claim their unsubstantiated facts to be true. We recommend checking out the following resources for more information regarding the novel coronavirus:
- The World Health Organization (also known as WHO) is a widely trusted and verified source of information. They have been studying the way COVID-19 has been spreading across the globe and have been at the forefront of putting out information for the general public to digest. Their coronavirus-focused web page allows individuals to go on and gather accurate information regarding the number of cases and best protection methods. They also debunk myths that are in the media.
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has always been one of the most trusted sources of information when it comes to public health and wellness. They have set up a COVID-19 specific landing page on their website where the general public can seek out resources such as symptoms of the virus, how to prepare your family and general resources for the community. They have also set up the website coronavirus.gov, which is a website that solely focuses on the novel virus and how you and your family or community are impacted. They also have useful information regarding social distancing, updates on testing and the general guidelines that the government would like you to know. We urge you to pay attention to this information rather than looking at articles that are shared on social media, as the former is credible and based on factual research.
- The Associated Press has also dedicated a landing page to disseminating relevant information to those who are eager to learn about COVID-19. What is interesting about the Associated Press is that they provide articles that range from simple and straightforward facts about the virus to debunking several myths about the virus. Their information is straightforward and easily digestible for people who would like to learn more.

During such uncertain times, it can be challenging to turn off the news or unplug from your phone when feeling overwhelmed. So often, we feel overcome by the influx of information but simply cannot separate ourselves from digesting such content. Take a break when you need it. Trust us, you don’t need to take in the media at all hours of the day. If you and your family would like to stay informed and in the know regarding the novel coronavirus, we encourage you to seek out unbiased news sources such as the ones we listed above in order to obtain the most credible and up-to-date information.

It is a delicate time and we hope that you and your family take the time you need to heal from the hysteria that we see all around us.