4 Things To Do Instead Of Doomscrolling
Okay. So. A lot of us haven’t been having the best time the past few weeks…or months…or years. We’ve had to come to terms with the fact that our own government doesn’t care about us, various constitutional and human rights are being stripped away, we have seen the human toll of horrible global conflicts, the Earth is continuously warming with no one to take accountability, everything is expensive, there’s a housing crisis, artificial intelligence is infiltrating the creative world, we seem to be thinking less critically than ever before, and worst of all…there’s going to be a Shrek 5!
(Sorry, Shrek 5. Maybe you’ll exceed my nonexistent expectations. But I doubt it.)
In the midst of this madness, many of us have turned to our phones for comfort––there’s a decent chance you’re reading this very article on your phone. In turn, many of these people have fallen into the world of doomscrolling, which is the opposite of comfort––perhaps it is more of an illusion of one. If you’re not familiar with the term (you’re probably a mentally healthy individual! Never change!), it is essentially the act of consuming news and content from the internet that increases one’s overall anxiety and stress, rather than reduces it. And it is entirely a choice––no one is forcing anyone to doomscroll. Yet, somehow, it has become a part of many daily routines, despite our awareness that it is, indeed, not good for us.
How can one escape this vicious cycle? Have we become so programmed to stare and scroll that taking a break, even momentarily, is unrealistic and will send us into withdrawal that will lead us crawling back to the habit we’re seeking to break? Are we that masochistic?
If you’re seeking to cut back on your phone usage, especially your doomscrolling, I wanted to provide a few alternatives. None of these solve the underlying problems we face in today’s world, but perhaps they can give you the chance to breathe, and to just be. We all need that sometimes.
Drawing/Coloring
We aren’t all great artists, or even decent artists (raises hand), but we are all artists. Creating art has been proven to reduce stress and improve your overall mental well-being. Maybe you sit at a table for a few minutes with a pencil and paper and see what comes to you, or maybe you find some prompts and go from there. The very act of using your hands to create can be soothing, a chance to reconnect with yourself and your creativity.
If you just don’t feel comfortable with a pencil in your hand (raises hand again), there’s always coloring. This has also been proven as a great way to improve your mental health.
2. Writing/Journaling
According to science and personal experience, writing can be so therapeutic. Nonfiction or fiction, it doesn’t matter. Maybe you’re the kind of person who likes journaling to get things off your chest, or maybe you derive more pleasure from creating stories and characters, or maybe you prefer poetry. No matter how you approach it, writing is writing. Sometimes we all need a chance to let everything out and channel our emotions and thoughts. For some, physical art is the solution, while for people like me, words are a sort of medicine. A friend to turn to in the most turbulent of times.
3. Listening to Music
Music has been proven to be extremely effective at reducing stress and improving your mood––depending on the kind of music, of course. But overall, listening to music can be a way to relax and keep your mind from racing. The best part about participating in this activity is that it can be done anywhere. Home, work, school, in the car, on the bus, in the shower, walking down the street (please be aware of your surroundings, though)––the point is, no matter where you are, you can engage in listening.
Sleeping
I’m serious. Over one-third of Americans don’t get an adequate amount of sleep, which can lead to a myriad of problems affecting both mental and physical health. Many people tend to doomscroll in the evening, affecting the ability to get a restful night of sleep. It is a genuine problem that could perhaps even be considered one of the reasons we seem to be so stressed out all the time. It’s a cause-and-effect––we doomscroll because we can’t sleep, and/or we can’t sleep because we’re too busy doomscrolling. Either way, sleeping is certainly a good alternative to using your phone. (But don’t ask me what time I’m writing this…do as I say, not as I do.)
The world is scary. Overwhelming. Exhausting. I could think of at least fifty other words to describe our current situation, but I digress. Instead of turning to our phones for temporary and unsatisfying solace, let’s instead focus on ourselves and on each other. It’s the only way we can collectively stay sane, if it’s not too late, which it’s not. It’s never too late.
