Remaining Relevant in this Information Age

In the era of breaking news and new cycles changing faster than we can process information, remaining current feels like an almost impossible task to the average citizen. You end up having to select what to hold on to and what to erase because there’s only so much space in your memory.

Humans do this automatically, picking what we deem essential and forgetting all else. If you live in Chicago and you hear news about an ICBC lawyer Vancouver is making a fuss about, it’s like that this information will enter your mind and head right out. Unless there’s something about the story that you can relate to that is. However, how do you remain current in matters that affect you and the broader social construct?

Change your diet

There’s a reason why we change up our foods and clothes. If we were to eat the same thing daily, three times a day, our bodies wouldn’t grow as it ought to. It is the same thing with our minds. Those relying on one news outlet for their news are bound to have a singular narrative about an event, making it impossible to be subjective.

Therefore, the best approach to remain current is to use anywhere between three to six (depending on how much time you have) new sources with various affiliation; Democrats, Republicans, and Liberals. That way you have a clear image of what the story is, leaving you to make an independent decision, not merely taking up what your favorite politician deems as accurate.

Keep it balanced

Overall, the news is primarily based on what is going wrong in the world, with technological advancements coming up frequently. When you only focus on these two, it quickly begins to feel like an apocalypse where the human race blows itself up, and where being alive in this century is dangerous. Balance is, however, introducing wholesome content into your life.

That means, after catching up on what’s on the news, look for uplifting stories that remind you that even with the bad, there is a lot of good in this world. You will indeed get a fuller picture of what the world is like, and give you more hope even things look bleak. It will also remove the helplessness that we tend to feel when things are rough, and show us that there’s what we can do likewise to impart change. Wrap up

To become well rounded in this information change you need a willingness to look before how you view the world and take other opinions. It might not be easy to have your views and opinions challenged, but if you remain open, you’ll learn something new and become better at defending your stance.