Open for a great start to the new year!

view in browser Wednesday 01.01.20 Wow, look at that fresh new date! We hope you get some time to relax and recharge today. We'll be back to the normal 5 Things tomorrow. If one of your resolutions is to stay more informed this year while staying relatively sane, then read on. We may have some wisdom to help you... By AJ Willingham A 2020 news survival guide   We get it. The news can be ...a lot. Elections! Climate change! International turmoil! Culture wars! It's completely understandable if every once in a while you just want to check out. But 2020 is going to be a huge news year, no matter which way you think about it. Here are some resources and pieces of advice to keep your news habits healthy and ensure you survive whatever headlines come our way this year.    If you want to be more engaged    Have you ever just felt hopeless after a hard news day? Then is as good a time as ever to remind yourself that you can make a difference, and you have the power to be a force of change in the world around you. How?  Find new ways to become politically active  Yes, voting is important. But so is paying attention to your local elections, supporting national parks and other federal services, volunteering to be a part of our justice system, and educating yourself about issues and empowering others to use their voice. Here are 25 ways to increase your political power.  Don't shy away from difficult conversations  Yes, there are few things less appetizing than politics at the dinner table, but sometimes talking through your views -- and speaking up for what you believe in -- can lead to some rewarding breakthroughs. Here are some tips: How to politely discuss political differences: Find common ground on the issue at hand. Disagree about gun control? Try to bring up a mutually supported part of it, like increased mental health background checks or school safety measures.  How to call out racism: This one's tough, and there's no right way. Some experts suggest focusing on a specific offense that could be defined as racist, rather than applying the term broadly, or using terms like racial bias or racial anxiety, which make people less likely to become defensive. However, it is what it is, and if changing such language defeats the purpose for you, then don't.  Talk to your kids  Listen, only you know what's best for your children and what they should be discussing. But every parent needs help sometime. Bookmark these for the next time difficult or complex topics get brought up in the news: How to talk to kids about tragic events How to talk to kids about hate speech How to talk to your kids about racism How to talk to kids about violent online content How to talk to kids about online hate speech How to talk to kids about sexual abuse How to talk to kids about gender issues    If you need to recharge   We're going to be real with you: No matter how much of a news junkie you are, you NEED a break. Even if you think it is your civic duty to be informed on all things, you NEED. A. BREAK.  Respect your feelings and needs  Recognize that you can be traumatized by terrible news, especially if it hits close to home Pursue some positive form of relief, whether it be video games or volunteering Allow yourself to feel bad, and grow from it.  When the news gets to be too much: Read more advice here. Be the bearer of good news -- literally  You know, there's plenty of great news in the world, and you shouldn't think of it as some sort of current events comfort food. Good stories are a part of  balanced, and they can give people the motivation or inspiration to keep engaging with all of the hard stuff. For starters, here's a positive look back at 2019 to remind you of all of the good things that happened this year. Then, subscribe to our good news letter, The Good Stuff. It comes out every Saturday, is written by your friends at 5 Things,and will give you plenty of good news to share with others.    If you want to help others    There are plenty of ideas on how to spread positive change over at CNN's Impact Your World site, but here are some top tips geared toward some of the biggest issues we'll be facing in the new year:  9 simple ways to honor veterans  Resources for helping refugees  How to take a mental health first aid class  Want to know what you can do to fight climate change? Take this quiz.  Share your own advice!    You're a smart bunch (we would know). What do you to do engage with the news? To disengage with it? Do you wish news outlets did more to help readers and viewers digest it all? Sound off here! Together, we'll make 2020 the best year it can be.  Advertisement And, as always, thank YOU.  We often call you guys our 5 Things family, and it's so true. Thank you for waking up every morning with us, for sending us emails, for telling us what you think, and for making reporting -- and reading -- the news so fulfilling. Here's to another year of 5 Things! (Click here to view)  Advertisement Share Tweet ALL CNN NEWSLETTERS update preferences or unsubscribe CNN Five Things shows up in your inbox every weekday at 6AM ET and Sundays at 9AM ET. Like what you see? Don't like what you see? Let us know. We're all about self improvement. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign yourself up! Sign up to get updates on your favorite CNN Original Series, special CNN news coverage and other newsletters. Copyright © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc. A WarnerMedia Company, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to CNN's 5 Things newsletter.