"Battling Political Fatigue"

In today's hyper-connected world, political news is unavoidable. Whether scrolling through social media or checking the latest news apps, political updates seem to flood our phones every minute. While staying informed is important, this constant barrage of information can lead to something called political fatigue—a sense of mental exhaustion, frustration, and emotional burnout caused by overwhelming political content.

I’ve personally experienced this fatigue. There were times when my phone notifications would keep buzzing non-stop with political alerts, breaking news, heated debates, and opinions from all sides. Instead of feeling empowered, I felt drained and anxious. It became clear that I needed to find a way to manage this overload without disconnecting completely. After some trial and error, I discovered two phone strategies that truly helped me battle political fatigue—and I want to share them with you.

What is Political Fatigue?

Political fatigue is that tiredness you feel when the endless stream of political news and opinions weighs heavily on your mind. It’s like mental overload. The news cycle never stops, and the tension of politics seeps into daily conversations, social media, and even casual chats with friends or family.

This fatigue affects not only how we think but also how we feel. It can increase anxiety, reduce focus, and even disturb sleep. I realized that trying to stay “on top” of everything was exhausting me mentally and emotionally. I wasn’t the only one—I found many people around me experiencing the same drain.

Strategy 1: Curate Your Notifications

The first game-changer for me was learning to curate notifications. Our phones are designed to grab our attention with constant alerts, but not all notifications are equally important. I started by turning off notifications from political pages, groups, and apps that didn’t add real value to my understanding or peace of mind.

I kept notifications only from trusted, high-quality news sources for major breaking news. For everything else—heated political debates, opinionated posts, or sensational headlines—I switched off alerts. This simple step reduced the “noise” in my phone and gave me much-needed breathing space.

Try this: On your phone, go to your notification settings and customize which apps can alert you and how often. You might be surprised at how much calmer you feel when your phone isn’t buzzing every few minutes with political drama.

Strategy 2: Set Specific Times to Check Political News

The second strategy that helped me a lot was setting dedicated times to check political news. Instead of constantly scrolling or refreshing news feeds throughout the day, I limited myself to two short sessions—one in the morning and one in the evening.

During these sessions, I would catch up on the most important news, read thoughtful analyses, and then close the apps. The rest of the day, I stayed away from political news, focusing on work, hobbies, or spending quality time with friends and family.

This routine helped me avoid getting trapped in endless news cycles or heated online arguments. By controlling when and how I consumed political content, I maintained my mental balance and avoided unnecessary stress.

Why These Strategies Work

Both strategies focus on control—taking back control over how much political content we allow into our minds. Phones can easily become sources of stress, especially with political content that is often charged with emotion and conflict.

By curating notifications, you reduce distractions and interruptions that can spike anxiety. By scheduling specific news-checking times, you create boundaries that protect your mental health and keep you productive.

Together, these strategies transform political news from an overwhelming flood into manageable information.

Additional Tips to Combat Political Fatigue

While these two phone strategies are powerful, there are some extra steps you can take to protect your peace:

Limit Social Media Time: Use built-in screen time or app limits to reduce social media usage, especially on political content-heavy platforms.

Follow Balanced Sources: Choose news outlets known for balanced reporting rather than sensationalist or biased content.

Practice Digital Detox: Take occasional breaks from all news and social media to refresh your mind.

Engage in Offline Activities: Spend time on hobbies, exercise, or socializing to reduce mental load.


Final Thoughts

Political fatigue is a growing challenge in our modern, connected world. It’s easy to get caught in the endless storm of updates, opinions, and conflicts. But we don’t have to let politics drain our energy or affect our mental health.

The two phone strategies I shared—curating notifications and scheduling news time—helped me regain balance and stay informed without feeling overwhelmed. I encourage you to try them out and see how they work for you.

Remember, staying informed is valuable, but so is protecting your mental peace. Your phone should be a tool that serves you, not a source of constant stress. Take control, set boundaries, and fight political fatigue one step at a time.