How to avoid bankrupting your ‘hope budget’

Turn on the news. Another war. Another environmental disaster. Another political scandal. The digital age delivers an unrelenting cycle of crisis, driven by the fact that many publishers know that negativity does drive online consumption.

The result is that many feel like they’re drowning in bad news and hope feels in short supply.

But here’s the thing: hope isn’t just a feeling. It’s a resource. And like any resource, it needs budgeting.

If you overspend on despair, you risk emotional bankruptcy. Research shows that our 24-hour news cycle and social media can amplify negative content and impact on your mental health through stress and anxiety.

But if you cut out all bad news, put your head in the sand, how do you stay in touch with reality and engage with the world?

Getting the balance...