Barack Obama explains – Ever wondered how Barack Obama maintains his cool despite living under public scrutiny, peppered with hectic campaigns and election rallies? The secret to his regulated nervous system lies in ditching cable news. In a recent interview at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, the former US President revealed that he hasn’t watched cable news in over a decade.
When asked what his news diet is like, Obama shared: “I don’t have a news feed. In fact, the entire time people used to ask, ‘You seem so calm, Mr President. Why is that?’ No drama Obama.
I said, ‘That’s because I don’t watch the news. ’ It is genuinely true.
I have not watched cable news in 15 years. I don’t scroll.
” So, where does he get his information from? “I am old school, and I read a pretty wide mix of publications. I’ll read the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Atlantic, or science magazines.
That’s where I get my information,” he further shared. Watching vs reading news: what’s the difference for mental health? Clinical psychologist and founder of Sentier Wellness, Dr Rimpa Sarkar, explained that from a psychological point of view, watching the news is usually more emotionally intense than reading it.
“Visuals, sound, dramatic music, red ‘breaking news’ tickers and urgent tone of voice all stimulate the nervous system more strongly than text,” she said, adding that studies show even brief exposure (around 14–15 minutes) to negative TV news can increase anxiety and worsen mood. Quoting research on media exposure, Dr Sarkar mentioned that visual coverage (especially TV and social media) is more strongly linked to emotional distress than print or text-based news.
Negative visual images, in particular, are known to trigger stronger emotional responses than neutral or positive ones. So people often feel more anger, fear, helplessness, and urgency after watching the news, and the same feelings in a milder form when they read it. Over time, constant exposure to distressing news in any format can increase stress, anxiety, low mood and even symptoms like sleep disturbance and fatigue, because it repeatedly activates the body’s stress response.
“Visual news, especially rolling TV coverage or short video clips, tends to trigger faster emotional reactions, while reading usually offers a bit more distance and control because it is self-paced and allows more cognitive processing and reflection,” she told indianexpress. com. Obama loves reading newspapers and publications.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons) Obama loves reading newspapers and publications. (Source: Wikimedia Commons) That said, reading can turn into doomscrolling, where endless negative headlines and feeds keep the brain in a constant state of alert, which research has linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression and reduced well-being over time.
So, according to Dr Sarkar, it is less about one format being “good” and the other “bad,” and more about how frequently, how intensely, and from whom we consume the news. Story continues below this ad Signs that news consumption is harming your mental health According to Dr Sarkar, here are some vital signs you need to look out for: If your mood drops noticeably after watching/reading the news, you feel anxious, on edge, irritable or angry for hours afterwards, you need to put a cap on your news consumption.
Dr Sarkar added that sometimes people find it hard to switch off, sleep, or stop thinking about what they saw, or keep refreshing apps or channels even when they feel worse. “Loved ones point out that you seem more withdrawn, tense or preoccupied with news, or if you feel more hopeless, cynical or fearful about the future, it’s time to take necessary action,” she pointed out. How can you set healthier news habits? Follow these expert-approved strategies for a healthier news consumption pattern: Set time limits: For example, 10–20 minutes once or twice a day, not constant checking.
Story continues below this ad Choose your sources: Prefer calmer, factual outlets over sensational, dramatic ones. Favour reading over watching: Especially when you’re already stressed or close to bedtime. Avoid late-night news binges : To protect sleep and anxiety levels.
Notice your triggers: Certain topics, channels or formats that spike your stress. Story continues below this ad Balance your feed: include positive, solution-focused or neutral content alongside hard news. Take complete news breaks: On particularly overwhelming days or after significant events.
Use grounding tools (breathing, a short walk, stretching): Right after consuming heavy news. Talk, don’t just scroll: process complex stories with someone you trust instead of holding them in.
Story continues below this ad DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.