While I agree that news often doesn’t make you feel particularly good about the world, I do wonder how you balance the need to keep people accountable. For example, wouldn’t the complete lack of attention enable politicians and other influential people to act more irresponsibly, without much backlash? While it may help each individual with their “inner zen”, there’s a sense of social responsibility to staying informed.
I've really enjoyed weekly writer's meetups. They come in different flavors, but essentially, writers get together in a coffee shop, chat for 5 minutes, and then write for an hour or two in silence. Helps make writing a little more fun than sitting in a cave by yourself, and it's nice to connect with fellow writers.