I know a girl (yep, still me) who loves a good scroll. It starts innocently enough…I’ll just check one notification, maybe glance at the news, and then boom. Suddenly, it’s two hours later, I know way too much about a stranger’s divorce on TikTok, and I’m questioning all my life choices.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we sit in bed at night, mindlessly thumbing through social media, soaking in drama, bad news, and cat videos until our eyeballs dry out? And the real question, when we finally put our phones down, do we feel better? Or just… kind of stupid?
Doomscrolling: The Digital Black Hole
You know that feeling at the end of a long, exhausting day when your brain is officially done? You’ve made all the decisions, answered all the emails, juggled life, and now you just want nothing. No one asking you for anything. No responsibilities. Just you, your couch, and your trusty phone.
It’s comforting. Predictable. All you have to do is move your finger up the screen. But the problem? That mindless scroll doesn’t actually relax us – it just steals our time.
Breaking up with your phone is tough. It’s our security blanket. Our escape hatch. Our go-to when life feels overwhelming. But if we don’t want to wake up at 80, realising we’ve spent a solid chunk of our existence watching people organize their fridges on Instagram, we need a game plan.
Ask Yourself the Golden Question:
“Is this making me happy, fulfilled, or rejuvenated?” Nine times out of ten, the answer is “Nope.” Recognising that is half the battle.
Set a Freaking Timer
Want to scroll guilt-free? Fine. But set a limit. Give yourself 15 minutes, then get out before the algorithm traps you in another rabbit hole of unnecessary drama.
Make Your Phone Unsexy
Turn off notifications. Set your screen to grayscale (everything looks less appealing in black and white). Move your social apps off your home screen. Trick your brain into forgetting they exist.
Replace It With Something (Anything!)
We don’t just need to stop scrolling. We need something better to do. Read an actual book (remember those?), go for a walk, pick up a hobby, call a friend, stare at the ceiling and contemplate life. Literally anything beats doomscrolling.
Charge Your Phone Over There
The “put your phone across the room” trick is an oldie but a goodie. If you have to physically get up to check it, you’ll be way less tempted.
Time to Reclaim Our Lives
Imagine if we took back just half the time we waste scrolling and used it to pursue something that actually brings us joy. A hobby, a side hustle, a relationship. Heck, even just getting more sleep.
Your phone is a tool. It is not a life substitute. And yes, TikTok will still be there tomorrow.
But you? You’ve got better things to do.
–
Disclaimer: Sarah writes these blogs in her personal capacity as a brand specialist, KZN resident, mother of one, average runner, enthusiastic eater, sister, friend, and wife (in no particular order). These posts are a mix of lived experience, learned lessons, and a little bit of sarcasm. They’re not official advice…just honest thoughts from a girl figuring it out as she goes.
Doomscrolling: The Hobby No One Asked For
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we sit in bed at night, mindlessly thumbing through social media, soaking in drama, bad news, and cat videos until our eyeballs dry out? And the real question, when we finally put our phones down, do we feel better? Or just… kind of stupid?
Doomscrolling: The Digital Black Hole
You know that feeling at the end of a long, exhausting day when your brain is officially done? You’ve made all the decisions, answered all the emails, juggled life, and now you just want nothing. No one asking you for anything. No responsibilities. Just you, your couch, and your trusty phone.
It’s comforting. Predictable. All you have to do is move your finger up the screen. But the problem? That mindless scroll doesn’t actually relax us – it just steals our time.
According to some terrifying statistic I once read (probably on my phone, ironically), the average person will spend 9 years [hyperlink: https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/the-average-person-will-spend-9-years-of-their-life-on-their-phone-e3a098602a4e ] of their life on their phone. NINE YEARS!!! That’s a whole childhood. That’s a doctor’s degree. That’s enough time to learn five languages, hike the entire Great Wall of China, or finally finish a skincare routine without quitting after three days.
But How Do We Stop?
Breaking up with your phone is tough. It’s our security blanket. Our escape hatch. Our go-to when life feels overwhelming. But if we don’t want to wake up at 80, realising we’ve spent a solid chunk of our existence watching people organize their fridges on Instagram, we need a game plan.
“Is this making me happy, fulfilled, or rejuvenated?”
Nine times out of ten, the answer is “Nope.” Recognising that is half the battle.
Want to scroll guilt-free? Fine. But set a limit. Give yourself 15 minutes, then get out before the algorithm traps you in another rabbit hole of unnecessary drama.
Turn off notifications. Set your screen to grayscale (everything looks less appealing in black and white). Move your social apps off your home screen. Trick your brain into forgetting they exist.
We don’t just need to stop scrolling. We need something better to do. Read an actual book (remember those?), go for a walk, pick up a hobby, call a friend, stare at the ceiling and contemplate life. Literally anything beats doomscrolling.
The “put your phone across the room” trick is an oldie but a goodie. If you have to physically get up to check it, you’ll be way less tempted.
Time to Reclaim Our Lives
Imagine if we took back just half the time we waste scrolling and used it to pursue something that actually brings us joy. A hobby, a side hustle, a relationship. Heck, even just getting more sleep.
Your phone is a tool. It is not a life substitute. And yes, TikTok will still be there tomorrow.
But you? You’ve got better things to do.
–
Disclaimer: Sarah writes these blogs in her personal capacity as a brand specialist, KZN resident, mother of one, average runner, enthusiastic eater, sister, friend, and wife (in no particular order). These posts are a mix of lived experience, learned lessons, and a little bit of sarcasm. They’re not official advice…just honest thoughts from a girl figuring it out as she goes.
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