Rev. Colleen Irwin

Are you finding that protecting your energy increasingly difficult?  Let’s be honest—it’s hard to stay informed without feeling like you’re drowning in it all. I’ve wrestled with this more times than I can count. There’s a fine line between awareness and overwhelm, and finding that balance isn’t always easy.

For me, it starts with simple boundaries. I never check the news first thing in the morning or after 6 p.m. I refuse to let negativity set the tone for my day or linger as I try to wind down. Those early and late hours are sacred to me. They’re the spaces where I focus on centering myself, not twisting myself into knots over headlines.

And it’s not about ignorance—it’s about discernment. I stick to independent sources I trust—like NPR, the BBC, or the Toronto news we get here. These choices feel calmer, less sensationalized, and I feel like I’m getting facts rather than fear.

Still, some days, I feel it deep in my core: today is just too much. On those days, I listen to that voice inside me that says, “Not today.” I skip the news entirely and step away from social media. I’ve learned the hard way that pushing through when I’m already depleted does no good for anyone, least of all myself.

There’s also this quiet pressure many of us feel—the guilt that if we don’t stay constantly informed, we’re somehow failing in our responsibility. I feel it too. But I’ve come to see this differently: protecting my energy is not selfish. It’s essential. When I care for myself, I am better able to care for my community and stay present in the long run.

I think about this often: there’s a strategy in rest. There’s wisdom in knowing when to turn away from the noise and back toward what truly matters. Small acts of kindness, a moment of reflection, a phone call to a friend—these are not small things at all. They’re how we quietly resist a world that thrives on keeping us anxious and afraid.

We can’t carry the weight of the world every single day. And truthfully, we’re not meant to. What matters is showing up in the ways we can, when we can, and trusting that it does make a difference.

So, let me ask you:
How are you protecting your energy these days?