Mainstream news consumption can be detrimental to our mental well-being. Excessive exposure weakens our cognitive faculties, necessitating a reassessment of our news consumption habits.
Regularly following the news may not only waste time but also act as a slow poison, gradually impacting our mental health.
News channels often lead our minds astray, portraying individuals and institutions negatively, fostering mistrust. Their minute-by-minute updates reduce our ability to reflect on our surroundings. Opinions from anchors and reporters can exacerbate cognitive biases, hindering creativity and societal cohesion. While we may believe that the media informs us, in reality, we remain ignorant and deluded as a society.
Does any news make us smarter? Does it enhance our relationships or calm our senses? The answer is often no. Much of the news we consume is irrelevant to our lives. Many issues highlighted are beyond our influence, instilling hopelessness and low self-esteem.
For a nation burdened with longstanding issues, the media fails to play a positive role. Instead, it fuels helplessness by bombarding us with problems beyond our control. Research indicates that individuals with an external locus of control experience more negative outcomes in health, relationships, personal growth, and wealth compared to those with an internal locus of control. This is a high price to pay for staying “informed.”
News outlets primarily aim to generate profit. As conglomerates, their focus is on prestige and revenue, not on objectively informing the public. Headlines are crafted to boost ratings, often sacrificing accuracy. Likes, page views, and new content drive advertising revenue but frequently lack relevance and accuracy.
Notably, some of the harshest critiques of the news industry come from within. Nick Denton, founder of Gawker, remarked:
“I learned the news business in the UK, in which newspaper political coverage is much like cable TV news in the US. Fake news, manufactured, hyped, rehashed, retracted — until at the end of the week you know no more than at the beginning.”
Studies have shown that increased news consumption correlates with heightened emotional distress. For instance, research indicates that greater engagement with news about events like the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. American Psychological Association
News consumption can increase cortisol levels, deregulating the immune system and leading to stress and fatigue. This fosters a pessimistic view of our environment, making us addicted to negativity and prone to cognitive errors. Our brains become wired to recall unpleasant events, perpetuating a cycle of distress.
Historically, the newspaper industry used sensationalism to boost sales, evoking emotions like anger, anxiety, fear, or awe to increase readership. This era, known as the “yellow press,” peaked during the early 20th century and during wartime periods.
Today, sensationalism persists, with media outlets emphasizing violence, tragedy, conflict, protests, and war to capture attention. This results in a distorted reality, lacking substantive information. Overemphasis on fear-inducing events, often through data manipulation, skews public perception.
The rise of “beta journalism” prioritizes speed over accuracy, leading to misinformation. A 2006 study by Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler demonstrated the “backfire effect,” where corrections to false claims often reinforce misconceptions.
To enhance happiness, consider reducing news intake. Reading books on topics of interest often provides more knowledge than mainstream news. Unsubscribe from daily news alerts and opt for weekly or monthly magazines like The Economist, Forbes, or Business Week. Eliminate news apps from your smartphone. Regarding television, cutting out news channels can help detox from media clutter. Important news will reach you through digital media or conversations.
This isn’t about ignoring global issues but recognizing that constant exposure to negative news is unhelpful. Change begins within, and the first step is realizing we have a choice: to live happily with real knowledge or be consumed by fear.
“The world isn’t such a bad place at all as long as one didn’t read the daily newspapers.” — Bill Aitken
When it comes to choosing a hosting provider for your website, the decision can often feel overwhelming. With numerous options available, each boasting unique features and benefits, how do you know which one is right for you?
In this article, we will delve into a comparison between Cloudways and Hostinger, two significant players in the web hosting arena.
This detailed examination aims to help you understand their strengths and weaknesses, performance levels, and overall value, allowing you to make an informed decision for your online ventures.
Both Cloudways and Hostinger provide hosting solutions, but they cater to different types of users, making the choice dependent on your specific needs. Understanding the fundamental differences between them can help ensure you select the right hosting provider that aligns with your goals.
Cloudways specializes in managed cloud hosting. This means they absorb the complexities of server management, allowing users to focus entirely on their websites.
Their strategy revolves around partnering with top cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. Here are some key features of Cloudways:
In summary, Cloudways is an excellent choice for users who require high performance, especially for e-commerce or resource-intensive websites that experience fluctuating traffic.
On the other hand, Hostinger is designed with beginners and small businesses in mind. This hosting provider offers easy-to-use, affordable solutions that can help any user get started online. Here’s what makes Hostinger stand out:
For those who are just beginning to explore the digital landscape or operating small websites, Hostinger provides an unbeatable combination of value and performance without the complexity of advanced configurations.
When it comes to performance, Cloudways excels through its partnerships with top-tier cloud providers. Here are some insights into how both providers perform:
In conclusion, Cloudways is the clear winner for high traffic or resource-intensive projects. However, Hostinger offers satisfactory performance for most small websites—especially those just entering the market.
The safety of your website is paramount, and both Cloudways and Hostinger have invested in robust security measures.
While Cloudways boasts more advanced security options, Hostinger meets the needs of the average user with its strong security measures.
Ease of use is critical, especially for beginners. When placing Hostinger against Cloudways in this category, the results are clear.
Hostinger’s hPanel is intuitive and designed for newcomers. Regardless of whether it’s setting up a blog or launching a small business site, the processes are simplified and user-friendly.
Contrastingly, Cloudways presents a steeper learning curve, making it more suitable for those with some technical expertise or prior experience in hosting environments.
If you’re a tech-savvy individual or a developer, Cloudways will provide the control and flexibility you desire. However, if you prefer a straightforward interface, Hostinger is your best bet.
Both hosting providers offer 24/7 customer support, but their approaches differ. You might not like what you see or hear when contacting support. Additionally, this is extremely subjective. Your experience may not be the gold standard to measure the overall service provided. Some customers have reported that Cloudways’s support is top-notch while others simply loathe the support for their lack of … well…support. Same is the case for Hostinger. I personally use them both, and till date, haven’t had much issues with both services.
In situations where quick assistance is necessary, especially for more complex environments, Hostinger takes an edge in customer support. You will see them everywhere. Cloudways is not far behind and you will see people from Marketing and Brand and Support coming to assist you when you “escalate” an issue.
Ultimately, your choice between Cloudways and Hostinger should hinge on your unique goals and experience level.
While both options have their advantages, Cloudways provides unmatched performance, while Hostinger balances affordability with an easy onboarding experience.
With this guide, you should have a clearer understanding of which hosting provider suits your needs best.
Ready to launch your website? Check out Hostinger and Cloudways to find the perfect fit for your online presence!
In a world filled with constant noise and endless distractions, finding moments of true silence has become a rare treasure. The quiet spaces between thoughts, the pauses in conversations, and the stillness of dawn offer us a chance to reconnect with ourselves. It is in these serene intervals that we discover the whispers of our own hearts, often drowned out by the clamor of daily life.
Silence is not merely the absence of sound; it is a canvas for introspection and growth. When we allow ourselves to dwell in quietude, we begin to understand our deepest desires and fears. This inner dialogue fosters self-awareness, guiding us toward a more authentic existence. Embracing silence empowers us to listen—not just to the world around us, but to the voice within.
Let us seek out these moments of tranquility, cherishing the peace they bring. In embracing the silence within, we find clarity amidst chaos and harmony amidst discord. It is here that we reconnect with the essence of who we are, awakening to the profound beauty that lies within each silent moment.
As a dad and mental health practitioner, I've seen firsthand how building a community helps families thrive.
We live in a world packed with screens, yet loneliness keeps growing. Social media gives quick connections, but real relationships need more than likes and shares. As dads, moms, and caregivers, we crave conversations that matter, laughter shared over a meal, and the comfort of simply being together.
Here’s how we can change things:
Make in-person time sacred. Put phones away at dinner, plan meet-ups with friends or family, and join local events where conversations flow naturally.
Build rituals that bring your family together. Maybe it's a weekend hike, weekly game nights, or simply chatting at bedtime. Small rituals grow strong connections.
Start or join groups that share your values. Parenting groups, hobby clubs, or neighborhood gatherings give you that feeling of being part of something real.
Remember, community starts with knowing ourselves, too.
Make room for self-care. Do things you love—read, exercise, or enjoy some quiet time. When you're good with yourself, you're better with others.
Encourage openness at home. Talk about feelings, struggles, and victories openly. This creates trust and strengthens bonds within families and friendships.
How can we expect a connected community without being truly present in our own lives first?
Let’s choose authenticity over isolation, real talks over endless scrolling, and genuine community over digital noise.