For salespeople and business owners to perform at their best, they need to be in peak health mentally, physically, and emotionally. The highs and lows of sales can wear down even the toughest of us. As a result, it is critical that we take good care of ourselves to keep going. One of the small but significant changes you can make today is to change your consumption of mainstream news. I’m talking about newspapers, internet news websites, and the evening news. Yes, I’m saying that keeping up with everything that’s going on in the world is not good for you! Here are three reasons I avoid the news, and why I recommend you should too!
Why you should avoid the news reason #1: It exacerbates personal worries and anxieties
It’s no secret that our media continuously feeds us stories of murder, wars, and disasters. We humans have a morbid preoccupation with sensationalised bad news. Unfortunately, the more we consume these stories, the more depressed we feel. When we are exposed to these situations over which we have no personal control over. As a result, it can increase our sense of powerlessness. Salespeople are people of initiative and responsibility. Therefore, they can’t afford not to feel in control of their lives!
Why you should avoid the news reason #2: It makes you more negative
Amidst all the bad things that are happening in our world there are numerous stories of courage, honour, and compassion. These are the ones to which people often comment “my faith in humanity is restored!” Unfortunately, these tales go untold because they don’t sell papers. The disproportionate emphasis on negative events colours our perceptions, and as a result we begin to look for the negativity in our own lives. This is known in psychology as the “Tetris Effect,” which describes our tendency to see our world based on what we are most exposed to. Turning the news off is one way to limit this effect.
Why you should avoid the news reason #3: It contributes to information overload
Our minds are only capable of taking in a limited amount of information every day. Do you really want tragedies to occupy your mental space? Personally, I prefer to focus my psychological efforts on information on which I can actually act upon. Reading and listening to books, podcasts, and educational videos is a far superior way to spend your time. Firstly, it will increase your sense of control. Secondly, it will increase your self-esteem. Finally, it can actually be used to further your career!
The Retort
“But wait a minute Ben, you can’t go around being ignorant!” you might say. Honestly, I have yet to come across a situation where not being aware of the world’s problems has caused me any inconvenience. Every time a major disaster happens, people will tell me about it anyway. They may look shocked that I haven’t heard about it yet. However, it makes good conversation because they can then fill me in. So no, I’m not completely ignorant! If anything really important comes up, people who do watch the news will let me know!
Conclusion
Our mindless consumption of news contributes to greater anxiety, negativity, and information overload. I and many others have actively chosen to forego this source of misery. As a result, we are experiencing the benefits of doing so! Similarly, may I encourage you to do the same for your own health?
If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to click ‘like,’ leave a comment, or share it with others!
Related Articles
3 Mental Shifts to Make Your Sales Soar
The Emotionally Intelligent Salesperson
How to Increase Your Confidence Authentically
Complimentary Sales Consultation
Click here to request a complimentary sales consultation!
Sales Ethos is the only provider of sales training for introverts. We also provide sales coaching, sales process consulting, and sales training in Melbourne & Adelaide.