URMC / Employee Assistance Program / News & Events / UR Medicine EAP Blog / December 2022 / Consume News with Awareness Consume News with Awareness The COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine have offered plenty of fear and uncertainty. Has the anxiety interfered with your ability to sleep or be productive? Have you been too focused on the latest frightening news? It’s hard to avoid the news, but you can lessen its impact. Tips: 1) Be aware that news is sold and used to sell products, services, and clicks; 2) News is designed to agitate the reader to click or flip pages; 3) It is natural to focus on bad or frightening news because it directly affects the human “fight-or-flight” trigger response. With this awareness and lessened intensity, experiment by consuming news in moderation and use more time for other things you want to accomplish in your life. 12/29/2022 You may also like Hidden Opportunities for Managing Stress Develop a Stress Management Plan Functioning Well Under Pressure Psychological Effects of War