Are you on a news diet, too?

If you are, this one's for you.

Hello, friend.

Thank you for being here.

I hope 2025 is off to a good start for you. (As I mentioned in my last article, it started horribly for me. More on that soon. I’m still not ready.)

As the new year begins to unfold, it can be a struggle getting back into your pre-holiday groove. Once your rhythm gets broken, it’s hard to find it again; well, it is for me anyway. Plus, there’s all that pressure every January, self-imposed or otherwise, to do and be better.

Yawn…

News flash. You’re fine as you are.

If you’ve been struggling a bit to get back into your normal routine (do you even have one?), you’re certainly not alone.

And, what is normal anyway these days?

It’s gone right out the window, has it not?

Let’s discuss…

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Are you on a news diet, too?

If you are, this one’s for you.

For most of us, having some sort of routine makes a difference in how we feel and how productive we are on any given day, so getting back into one post holidays matters.

Actually doing it, though, can be hard—overwhelming even—especially if you’re a procrastinator like me. Perhaps even more so in times like these.

Are you nodding your head in agreement right now?

I ditched making resolutions and picking guide word(s) a few years back. Kudos to folks who do those things, but I don’t find doing either helpful or motivating.

Goal setting works better for me. Making affirmations seems more fitting and doable, too. But I don’t do either of those anymore either. I rarely make lists either. (Is it just me, or what?)

And to all my cancer friends, please remember you don’t need to be one of those—I’m just gonna say it—annoying—over-achieving cancer patients/survivors either.

This doesn’t mean you and I should forget about making changes, trying to start/maintain healthier habits, or give up on attempting to improve our productivity or whatever.

No, it just means you and I are fine the way we are. Our value is not based on what we do or do not do, how we look, or whatever. We are of value just for being who we are as is. No need to reinvent ourselves unless, of course, we want to. And I do not.

I don’t plan to make a bucket list filled with things I’ll likely never do, try something scary, or step out of my comfort zone either. Why would I? I’m happy in my comfort zone. I like my comfortable little life. If I want to try or do something, I will. If I don’t, I won’t.

Is that so bad?

If you want to make a change, be it big or small, do it any time, any day, every day. Scrap a plan. Make a new one. Start over. And over again. Do your best, but forgive yourself when you don’t.

Like I always say, be real. Be You. It’s enough at the start of the year, at mid-year, and still will be at year’s end because YOU are enough.

Say it out loud right now: I am enough. (Feels good, right?)

One thing I am planning to do in 2025 is to stay on my recently self-imposed news diet.

(Thank you, Beth Gainer, for the news diet suggestion. It’s already made a difference.)

This, of course, does not mean I intend to refrain from watching the news entirely. Staying informed is more important than ever. I’ve just drastically reduced my viewing time and plan to continue doing so. Admittedly, I used to be somewhat of a news-watching junkie. No more.

For example, I stopped watching Morning Joe. Cold turkey. After Joe’s and Mika’s visit to Mar-a-Lago shortly after the election, I decided uh-uh. No more. Done. In fact, the only show I watch on MSNBC with any regularity at all anymore is Nicole Wallace’s.

Instead, I’m tuning in to local twin cities stations for my news these days. The change is dramatic but working out fine. Besides, along with the local news, they do a good job of summarizing global and national news, too.

Local news is where we should be spending more of our viewing time anyway. Maybe that’s been part of the problem over the last 10 or so years. Too much cable TV. Too many pundits with too much influence. Too much main stream media power. Too much misinformation and disinformation. Too much news via social media. Too much dividing people into silos. Too much emphasis on national issues and not enough on local ones.

It’s another one of those striking dualities—too much and not enough.

As Jess Piper wrote in a recent excellent piece titled, “News Deserts”:

The only news many folks are consuming is at the national level and I’m positive that’s how red-state Republicans have been able to win supermajorities. I am sure that is how they have been able to control the narrative for decades. Fox News and OAN and Newsmax focus on national politics for a reason.

When you bring politics to the local level, you are forced to look at policies and how the policies your local lawmakers voted for impact you.

Another problem with reaching voters on local issues? Local news is dying.

All excellent points, right? Perhaps especially the last one.

Anyway, a news diet is my new normal in 2025. Post cancer, new normal was a phrase I always hated. Still do. But here, it seems to fit, and I rather like it.

Interestingly, a news diet has been way easier for me to stick with than any food diet ever has been.

My news diet, of course, means I did not watch live coverage of Inauguration Day stuff. I boycotted. I did not watch one single minute. I had/have zero interest in watching the normalization of a presidency that is anything but normal. I got the highlights and that was enough. Yikes.

As my favorite historian, Son #One, has reminded me before, this country has survived less than stellar presidencies, in fact, some very less than stellar ones. But there’s never been one like the one we’re about to experience, that’s for sure.

We’ll survive this time, too. I hope.

But is surviving good enough?

Survival is important, of course. But lots of damage can still be done even when one survives.

Think cancer and cancer treatment. Plenty of collateral damage happens as a direct result of harsh treatments.

Another interesting parallel, right?

Plenty of damage to democracy can and likely will be done during the next four years.

But here we are. At the start of a second Trump presidency.

Strap in. Things will be plenty bumpy for the next four years.

To stay grounded, for starters, I intend to write more, read more, walk more, and learn more. (Hopefully, not eat more!)

I’ve got lots to share with you in the weeks ahead. I can’t wait to learn what you have to share as well as we move through the coming weeks and months. I’m so grateful you’re part of this community. Thank you for being here with me in this safe place. Community is more important than even these days.

Onward, right?

Thank you for reading.

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If you liked this article, thank you for clicking the heart, commenting, restacking, and sharing it wherever you see fit. Doing any or all of these things is a generous way to support my writing.

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Are you struggling to get back into your normal routine?

Are you on a news diet, too, and where do you get your news these days?

Did you watch any Inauguration Day coverage?

What do you plan to do to help you stay grounded during the next four years?

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Visit my author website to learn about my three books! 📘📗📕

Thank you for being here with me. I appreciate you.

As always, I see you. I hear you, and I care about what you have to say.

Until next time…

Take care of yourself, be kind to someone, and be a light.

With much gratitude,

Nancy