Show of hands: who has felt completely drained after doomscrolling the latest headlines before diving into work? Yeah, us too. The world can feel really heavy right now and you're not alone in that. And to be clear, this is not just a distraction piece (although far be it from us to judge if that’s what you need right now!) We’re highlighting actionable steps you can do to repurpose your anxiety and turn a horrible workday around. So the next time you’re stressed, overwhelmed by a push notification, or simply overworked and over it all, tap into the easiest ways to get back in touch with yourself, protect your well-being, stay productive, and keep a sense of balance in your workdays.
But first, we need to commiserate and acknowledge what you’re going through.
The Workday Struggles That Get Worse During Tough News Cycles
The usual challenges of a workday—tight deadlines, endless revisions, and difficult clients—don’t disappear just because the outside world feels chaotic. In fact, they often feel even harder to handle when your emotional bandwidth is already stretched thin.
Some ways this might manifest in your day:
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Lack of Focus – It’s understandably hard to concentrate when your mind keeps wandering to the latest headlines.
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Increased Anxiety – Anxiety can show up in all kinds of ways, from weird stomach responses to headaches, sweating, fatigue, etc.
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Emotional Exhaustion – Burnout happens faster when work stress combines with external worries.
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Doomscrolling Distraction – One quick news check turns into a 30-minute spiral.
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Decreased Creativity – When your mind is preoccupied, inspiration can feel out of reach.
So, how do you navigate work without letting the outside world consume all your mental energy?
How to Protect Your Energy and Focus at Work
Step Away From the Stress
If you’re dealing with a creative block or stress over a project, take a strategic pause. Put down the project and take a breather for a moment. There are a ton of options for these moments. Try freewriting, sketching random things that interest you a bit more, doing a short meditation or using AI creative prompts to spark your inspiration. Stay away from attention-grabbing social media and opt for mood board sites like Pinterest and Behance. Make lists of ideas that excite you on a personal level. If none of these work, take a walk! Return to your project once you feel you have bits of inspiration to restart your work.
Build Better Boundaries with Work and the News
You're working through a tough project and a push notification pops up. All of a sudden, even seeing a news notification is enough to shake you. It could be that you need to implement better boundaries with both your job and the news. Tackling limits around both allows you to work through both kinds of stress. Thankfully, even if you’re an introvert, there are apps and helpful professionals who have done all the work for you on the Internet. Maybe it's time to try using the Do-Not-Disturb feature or a screen time-controlling app like ScreenZen. On the work side, start outlining revision policies in your freelance contracts to avoid countless revision requests from clients. Implement invoice tracking software like Wave or HoneyBook, while also setting up late fees in your contracts. If you’re full-time, put time on your manager’s calendar to discuss how you can streamline and avoid countless revisions. Write down what you’ll say “no” to going forward and come up with confident ways that you’ll express it. Once you’re clearer on your boundaries, your work days should get progressively better—and you’ll feel more empowered.
Block Out Your Time
Some of us work for hours on end with no breaks. This is how we experience creative burnout, people! Try time-blocking methods like the Pomodoro Technique or scheduling deep-focus work periods where you silence notifications and give yourself permission to ignore external noise. You can also do this for your entire workday! Print out an empty weekly calendar and map out your days, being sure to include things like exercise, commute, and breaks. A structured day creates a sense of control when the world feels chaotic. Think about planning a vacation while you’re at it.
Create a News-Free Escape Playlist
Listening to an energizing music playlist can quickly shift your mood, especially if you’re battling other strong emotions. Get lost in the music instead! Change up this playlist as often as you need, or create different ones for different vibes. Whether it’s instrumental jazz, ‘90s throwbacks, or nature sounds, let it be a mental reset when you need it.
Vent (But do it productively)
Instead of letting yourself spiral in your own head, find a constructive outlet. Often the first thing we do is vent to our coworkers, which, if they have the time and are willing, could be an okay thing. But more often than not, venting to coworkers at the moment might be disrupting their focus time. And in times like these, it's important not to let your news anxiety grow bigger. Not to mention, do damage to company culture if the conversation goes south. Instead join a creative support group or ask for time on a trusted friend’s calendar for a vent session. Talking to others is extremely helpful! Just make sure to not gossip and make a goal for yourself to come out of the vent session with an actionable plan—even if the plan is to go to a spa on Saturday.
End the Day With A Win
If your day was rough, finish it with a passion project, a fun sketch, or even by researching better freelance opportunities. You’ll be returning your mindset to all the things that really matter, not to mention leaving the day on a better note than where it started.
TLDR; Your Sanity Comes First.
You can't control the news, but you can control how you engage with it. The key to saving your workday lies in your own resilience. By setting boundaries, taking breaks, and building habits that support your mental health, you can stay grounded—even when the world feels anything but.
If your current issue is that you need more help on your team or are looking for your next gig, we might be able to help! At Artisan we pride ourselves in placing top-tier talent with the right clients. Reach out today to see how we can help make your workdays better with the right jobs and people.
