How do you cope with the turmoil in the world?

The world is awash with fractious news these days. There is war in Syria, and the resultant tide of refugees is causing great upheaval in many different areas of the globe.

Elections have resulted in a rise of nationalism and xenophobia in some cases.

The climate is changing, and even the natural world is in flux.

When I spend time online, I’m startled by the amount of uneasiness all over the planet.

I use some coping techniques to help me manage my personal equilibrium and sense of calm. One technique is to limit the amount of news I expose myself to. I simply don’t read most news. I have a couple of subjects I’m passionate about, and I stay up to date about those.

I joined a large, national organization that I respect to fight the battles that I, a single citizen, cannot affect on my own. I give them a small monthly donation, and I trust them to fight on my behalf.

I regularly call my elected representatives and voice my concerns about issues. I prefer to call the local offices of the national representatives. The staff there are always glad to talk to me.

I limit my engagement. I do this for the simple reason that it helps me stay sane and calm.

Another strategy I use is to read lighthearted things. I’m reading Anthony Trollope on my commute these days. He’s very amusing and light. I listen to light music and not heavy metal as a way to stay buoyant.

These are a few of my techniques. What do you use?

What techniques do you find that help you cope with the turmoil in our world?

Topics as I wrote them: news, coping mechanisms, event, staying sane, calmness.