The escalating tensions in the Middle East have us wondering how it will all come down—and more so, at what cost. It’s a heavy, ambient noise that follows you from the breakfast table, through your commute, and eventually into your bedroom. You find yourself caught in the headlines, scared of what you might miss the moment you look away. 

When the world feels like it’s teetering on the edge, the most revolutionary thing you can do is protect your peace, even with the simplest steps.

1. Limit your screentime

Admit it. Your phone has become like an extension of your hands—so much so that you often fall into the trap of doomscrolling without realizing it. The truth is, constant exposure to distressing images, videos, and real-time updates keeps your nervous system in a perpetual state of “fight or flight.” It won’t hurt to turn off ‘breaking news’ push notifications and reclaim your mental bandwidth.

2. Establish a ‘no-war’ zone

Whether it’s your bedroom, the living area, or your favorite spot on the couch, having a dedicated space where you don’t owe anyone anything gives your brain a much-needed reset. Even better if you’re the only one with access to that little bubble.

3. Curate your feed

Consciously protecting your mental well-being by engaging with lighthearted content doesn’t make you ‘insensitive’ or an ‘elitist.’ People have different stress thresholds, and if watching a few funny videos for an hour or two could help alleviate the heaviness around you, who’s to say you lack empathy? Your feed, your rules.

4. Connect with your local community

Have you ever noticed that the more you say your thoughts out loud, the lighter they become? It’s even better if you have a solid inner circle to share them with. Your ‘local community’ can be as proximal as your family and friends. Verbalization helps you clear the wildfires in your head before they turn everything to ash. Suddenly, those spiraling scenarios can be examined, dismantled, and eventually let go.

5. Foster compassion over stigma

The unprecedented rise of AI-generated content blurs the lines between what’s real and what isn’t—never mind the people who share malicious information, as if fact-checking were a lost art. You can fend off the heaviness by ditching the ‘us vs. them’ mentality in favor of a little more nuance and compassion. Before posting, ask yourself: “Is this helpful, or is this just adding to the noise?”

6. Engage in analog hobbies

Hobbies are what keep your sanity intact, especially when life is throwing curveballs left, right, and center. Your hobby doesn’t have to be conquering a 500-page novel or tending a vegetable garden. It can be as simple as a walk around the block. Leave your phone at the door and let your surroundings do the heavy lifting for a while.

7. Direct your energy toward good causes

If you really have that unshakable feeling to ‘do something,’ channel that energy into reputable organizations providing relief to civilians caught in the crossfire—or even those in your own city. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t drop a huge sum because every bit of help can go a long way. Which brings us to our next point…

8. Focus on what you can control

Geopolitics is far more complex than any of us realize. Life’s already hard as it is, so don’t take on the thankless job of solving everything. Spoiler alert: you can’t. Instead, focus on what you can control—starting with your own emotions. Your physical and emotional well-being is just as important as anyone else’s.