Does the news make you feel stressed, anxious, or pessimistic? You’re not alone. Serious issues are worthy of our attention and care. But, it’s important to seek out good news, too, so you can maintain a balanced outlook.
Here are six places to find good news online. These good news websites focus on stories that celebrate our kindness and generosity. Check these websites often to remind yourself of what’s going right in the world.
Founded in 1997, the Good News Network (GNN) is home to 21,000 good news stories and counting. There’s also a GNN app, book, podcast, and newsletter.
Good Good Good is “a media company that helps you feel more hopeful and do more good”. The company also publishes a print newspaper called the Goodnewspaper (as pictured above).
The Optimist Daily publishes solutions, not stories. You’ll find everything from in-depth climate change coverage to tips for eating more vegetables.
Positive News is “the magazine for good journalism about good things”. Check the website for daily good news stories.
A subsection of the HuffPost, HuffPost Good News curates all articles tagged ‘Good News’ into one positive, uplifting place. Articles vary widely – expect everything from serious journalism to pictures of fluffy animals.
Founded by artist and musician David Byrne, Reasons to be Cheerful strives to be “a tonic for tumultuous times”. It aims to “inspire us all to be curious about how the world can be better, and to ask ourselves how we can be part of that change.”
Here are some ways to protect your stress levels when you do read negative news stories.
Avoid using social media as a newsfeed. Social media platforms tend to push divisive, clickbaity content because it generates more views, comments, and interactions. The point of clickbait is to inflame rather than inform, so approach news shared on social media with caution.
Aim for quality over quantity. Too much exposure to negative news can put us in fight-or-flight mode, causing us to feel stressed or unsafe. Try to limit your exposure. When you do engage, set aside some quiet time to mindfully watch the news or read a few in-depth articles about topics of interest, instead of skim-reading negative headlines multiple times a day.
Don’t read the news first thing in the morning or late at night. Be mindful of when you choose to read the news. Reading a negative news story first thing in the morning could tinge your whole day with sadness. And, reading negative news right before bed might disrupt your sleep. Try to read news as far away from sleep as possible.