Scrolling through social media for endless hours is not a new thing, but it seems like it’s got really out of our hands during this pandemic. It’s one thing to stay informed and another to not be able to get out of an endless cycle of COVID-19 updates and other everyday bad news. This habit is also known as “doomscrolling” and here’s how you can break it.
Doomscrolling is the tendency to continuously scroll through bad news, despite that news being depressing, saddening, or disheartening. It’s hard to break the habit of doomscrolling, but here are some tips that can help you.
Limit Social Media Time
It’s a good idea to set a timer for social media scrolling. Limiting yourself to 10 or 15 minutes and get off the apps once the time is up. It’s also a good idea to skip social media completely at least one day every week.
Read Positive Things
Change the way you use your phone by finding the positive news to read instead of all the anxiety-inducing stories. Don’t hesitate to block certain accounts that always make you feel bad for any reason.
Do Something Else
The easiest way to break a habit is to replace it with another activity, preferably something you genuinely enjoy doing. It should be easy to do at any moment when you feel drawn to your phone.
