10 things you can do today instead of doomscrolling:
social media detox, heal your brain.
Hello, Friends!
I recently came across the post below on Twitter. I've often wanted to discuss how social media could harm our brains—impacting our attention span, focus, and much more, which is usually a result of doomscrolling.
I felt motivated to offer suggestions on alternatives to doomscrolling, a habit that appears to be the bane of existence for many of us.
What is doomscrolling? While definitions of doomscrolling may differ, I believe it refers to the tendency on social media to spend excessive time viewing short-form videos. My friends have shared that when they grab their phones to search for something on TikTok, they often lose track of time, finding themselves an hour later still endlessly scrolling through their apps.
The tips we are about to get into aren’t as exhaustive enough, but I believe they are a great start to reducing doomscrolling:
Switch to consuming long-form content. For example, YouTube: It seems like a strange piece of advice because it is still screen time. However, consuming long-form content is much better for our brains. One of my intentions for 2025 is to consume more long-form content than short-form content.
currently watching Instead of skimming through short sensational videos that make you feel like you are in a loop, switch to a more slow-paced content consumption. YouTube is slowly becoming one of my favourite apps. I have so many favourites; if you need recommendations,
Organise your ChatGpt chats into folders (projects): One of the best features OpenAI released for ChatGpt was “Projects”. I commented to my friend before this release that I needed folders on ChatGpt, and a month later, “Projects” was released. If you have as many chats opened as I do, with varying or similar questions, take time to organise them into projects.
some of my projects (folders) on ChatGpt This makes revisiting ideas, tracking progress, and consolidating your knowledge for specific projects easier.
Organise your 1 million opened tabs into bookmark folders: If your browser is overloaded with tabs, take time to categorise them by theme, such as "Work," "Learning," "Recipes," or "Inspiration," into bookmark folders instead of leaving them open.
It took me a couple of hours but I felt delighted afterwards.
Write: Do I need to say more? One of my intentions for 2024 was to write. I put it off because I decided that I was really bad at it. Come 2025, am I still fantastically bad at it? Definitely. Am I doing it anyway? Yeah. If you need a place to consolidate your ideas, emotions, thoughts, feelings, business/start-up ideas, advice for your future children, etc., you should pick up writing.
some of my 2024 journal entries Writing helps me process my thoughts and oftentimes sparks creativity. Examples:
- Journal about your goals, ideas, or reflections on recent events.
- Draft a blog post about your experiences as a professional.
- Write a fictional story poem, or even start a short creative project for fun.
Read a book, article, manga, or comic.
Read! Read!! Read!!! Just read. If you need recommendations, let me know. I give really good recommendations.
i should probably get a bookshelf Reading offers an escape and stimulates your imagination.
Pick a novel, a motivational book, or a technical guide (like something on marketing analytics).
Explore manga or comics for a light, visual storytelling experience.
Read articles about your industry trends or personal growth or interests in fashion, beauty, etc.
Watch a movie: There are too many f great movies and not enough time.
Movies, for me, can both be entertaining and therapeutic, especially after a really long workday.
watching modern family I enjoy anime, animations, Blaxploitation movies, movies based on true-life events, book adaptations, and comedy. I can watch anything with a good script, cinematography, and great acting. If you need recommendations,
Take a walk or go to the park: Physical activity and nature help reduce stress and clear your mind. Use this time to listen to music, audiobooks, or your thoughts. Walking is also great for brainstorming or problem-solving. I enjoy taking walks to see the sunset.
some sunsets on my walks Explore new music: My new favourite pastime is exploring new music.
my 2024 Spotify wrapped I am currently listening to a playlist shared by my friend Bolatito. You can also do this instead of doomscrolling—explore new music.
Cook - try a new recipe: I have taken up cooking again. I recently made rice and beans—a dish I have been craving for months. I have also decided never to buy fried plantains again (with my money, anyway)—I will forever be making them myself going forward. I will most likely be visiting friends who cook better than me and setting up a cooking date for the evening. Challenge yourself to recreate a dish you’ve always wanted to try, try a new recipe, and/or bake.
Learn a new skill: Explore skills that excite or benefit you:
Take an online course in marketing analytics or Python programming.
Learn photography tips for your Sony ZV-E10.
Pick up a hobby like mixology, sketching, playing a musical instrument, or gardening.
Learning something new not only keeps you engaged but also boosts your self-confidence.
Extra: Call your grandparents. Life is too short; call your grandparents. Ask them for stories from their childhood and lessons they have learnt in careers, finance, relationships, etc. They are also a wealth of knowledge. They are great listeners, even if you want to rant to them. It is their second chance to be parents, so trust me when I say they love the disturbance.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed reading through it as much as I enjoyed writing this. Let me know if there are other habits I should pick up to replace doomscrolling. I'd also love to know if you will be trying out any of the above tips:
I need recommendations on YouTube
I've also enjoyed consuming long form content in form of articles on substack. I should explore YouTube.