Panama Expat Life: No News is Good News
Breaking free of the soul-sucking circus that has enveloped American news culture
I am a news hound. I watch financial news in the morning, cruise into international news by mid-morning, then Brazil news in Portuguese by early afternoon, then back to headline news by late afternoon, ending with a financial wrap-up on global markets. That does not include all my phone alerts and computer alerts. Maybe it's an age thing, but I value being informed all the damn time. Has this contributed to my personal anxiety? You think? No, it can't, right?
A Different News Culture
Within the first week of our move to Panama, I asked a dear Panamanian-American friend, "Hey, what Panamanian news stations do you listen to, and what time do you settle in for the evening news?" I got a weird smirk and a "Well, we really don't watch news. We have Instagram and I get major alerts on my phone and via WhatsApp." What? No news? No culture of news over breakfast, news updates at lunch, and settling down at dinner for the latest update on the most recent outrage?
Old Habits Die Hard
Well, upon settling down in our new home in Panama, I ensured I had VPN installed and access to all my news channels and maintained my news intake. News over coffee, my phone news alerts, afternoon updates, and finally my evening recap.
However, over time I had to ask myself: Did I move down here to keep ingesting primarily negative news? Am I directly impacted by what is going on in the news? Wasn't one of the benefits of moving not having to worry so much about politics, wars, and shootings in other countries?
Installing the TV for my constant news cycle! Photographer
Breaking the News Cycle
I also started to consider how much time I could regain by logging off and focusing on other things. So, I am proud to say that I have greatly reduced my news intake and started to follow some local Panama traffic Instagram and Facebook pages just to keep up with traffic. I also find that my local friends ping me on WhatsApp about any major developments in the country anyway, so I don't feel like I am missing out.
It is not easy. I still feel myself reaching out for the TV remote, but I am consciously trying to fill that news time with time to relax and enjoy the view over the city and the ocean - and not feel guilty for it. Of course, there are local channels in Spanish with news, but I don't feel compelled to have to watch it constantly (aside from not being fully fluent in Spanish yet).
So, in Panama, no news is good news. Moving to Panama and releasing yourself from the constant ingestion of news could be what you need. What are you doing to safeguard your mental health?
¡Ven si puedes! (Come if you can!)
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