While I can’t say she coined the phrase, it was through my friend Daisy Luther that I first heard about “doom fatigue.” It refers to feeling overwhelmed by the rampant negativity you see and hear in the news, online, and seemingly everywhere else. People who are new to prepping can often be particularly susceptible to doom fatigue. As they start paying closer attention to what’s happening in the world, they can feel like it’s all hopeless. Even those of us who have been around the proverbial block a time or two can fall victim to doom fatigue.
A sense of hopelessness and feeling like you should just let whatever happens happen runs counter to the entire premise of preparedness. So, what can you do about it?
Self-Care
If you feel yourself starting to spiral, sit down and take a couple of deep breaths. Then, devote some time and energy to doing things that you find fun and that also perhaps enrich your mind and body. Getting some fresh air often helps. Maybe take a hike for the afternoon or spend some time at a local beach.
Another approach is to throw yourself into learning a new skill or hobby. If it has some crossover benefit to prepping, so much the better. Geocaching is a fun one that not only gets you outside but can help you learn some basics about navigation.
Self-care is something you should pursue regularly, even if you’re not feeling particularly stressed about doom fatigue.
Be Realistic
One of the best ways to reduce doom fatigue is to concentrate on what you can control. There isn’t much you can do about the policies of world governments, but you can certainly work on getting a good handle on your food storage. What works well for many is to create a short To-do list for the day, focused on things you can realistically actually complete.
Maybe organize one cupboard in the kitchen or two shelves in the pantry. The idea is to give yourself a couple of gimmes for the day. Be productive and move forward without overwhelming yourself.
Reduce Media Consumption
It can be incredibly easy to get caught up in our current 24/7 news cycle and feel like you need to pay attention to all of it. That’s a great way to end up with doom fatigue.
Set a timer and allow yourself no more than 20-30 minutes in the morning and another 20-30 minutes in the evening to check the news. Look for anything new that might be concerning, then move on. Be selective about the sources you consult, too. Concentrate on a couple that have proven to be reliable in the past. No matter what, avoid the comments section on any news story you read or watch. Seriously, nothing good ever happens there.
Take a Day Off
It’s perfectly okay to take an entire day and just crash out on the couch, bingeing your favorite show and snacking on comfort food. Every single one of us deserves some downtime once in a while. Remember that prepping is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to pace yourself, or you’re just going to burn out. Doom fatigue is a symptom of that.
That said, the next morning, you do need to get your butt up and moving again. Take a break, absolutely, but don’t fall into the “I’ll do it tomorrow” procrastination trap. Remember that nobody owes you another chance to do tomorrow what you could have done today.
