There’s a modern monster lurking in our pockets and on our screens: doomscrolling. This eerie habit can haunt your health in ways you might not expect. Let’s dive into what doomscrolling is, how it impacts your well-being and how you can break free from its chilling grip.
What is Doomscrolling?
Doomscrolling, also known as doomsurfing, is the act of tirelessly consuming negative news stories or endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, often late into the night. The term itself conjures images of a never-ending scroll of doom, much like a horror movie franchise that never ends.
The frightening impact on your health
Here’s the scariest part about doomscrolling; it isn’t just a harmless pastime. In fact, it can have serious repercussions on your mental and physical health. Over exposure to bad news or overconsumption of content can lead to feelings of depression. According to Harvard Medical School, it can even cause a phenomenon called “popcorn brain,” where you physically feel your brain popping from online overstimulation. Talk about a great scene from a scary movie waiting to happen!
Like being trapped in a haunted house with no escape, doomscrolling can also leave you feeling lost, hopeless or anxious – all of which impacts your mental health. Doomscrolling, the horrid ritual that it is, can even impact your physical health; one study suggests it can strain your eyes, cause headaches and affect your sleep.
How to break the curse
Just like in any good horror story, there’s always a way to defeat the monster. Here are some tips to help you stop doomscrolling and reclaim your peace of mind:
Set Time Limits: Use apps to set limits on how long you engage with social media each day. Check your daily screen time on your phone to get a sense of how much time you’re spending, and then find a number to cut it down to each day.
Curate Your Feed: Follow positive and uplifting accounts. Think of it as inviting friendly ghosts instead of malevolent spirits into your digital space – you can actually control who haunts your feed, so be smart about who you follow.
Mindfulness Practices: Engage in activities that promote mindfulness, such as meditation or yoga. These practices can help you stay grounded and resist the pull of the doomscroll. You might even try an app, which will keep you on your screen, but in a much more beneficial way.
Screen-Free Time: Designate certain times of the day as screen-free. Use this time offline to connect with family, read a book, enjoy a hobby – or watch a scary movie!)
Some habits are hard to break, and doomscrolling is no exception. If you find your scrolling habit to be more than you can overcome, try talking to your primary care physician. But with both your physical and mental health in mind, we hope you’re able to make scroll-free strides this fall toward a healthier you.
