Every day, we check our smartphones and tablets, watch the news, check social media, and listen to the radio.

Although it is good to stay informed, we often find that chronic consumption forces us to consume the same bad news repeatedly:

The latest horrifying statistic. Up-to-the-minute data on the number of people infected and dying. Too many patients. Not enough hospital beds. Now the young can die! State and national responses that make it seem like we’re living in a science fiction or dystopian novel.

Chronic stress is unhealthy, and sometimes our minds and bodies react with a “fight or flight” response to the threat.

One way to break this cycle of consumption is to tune out. Turn off the TV and radio, put down your tablet or smartphone, stop checking your social media, and give yourself a break.

Replace that time with something you enjoy! Spend quality time with family and friends (even if from a 6-foot distance). Take a walk. Meditate. Enjoy a good meal or read a book.

Nourish yourself with a simple retreat. And stay well.