I would consider myself a certified doomscroller.
Not necessarily because I doomscroll everyday (or maybe I do…), but because I know how it feels to let all the “boring”, everyday tasks get easily drowned out by your TikTok ‘For You’ page, or the millions of new recipes on Instagram Reels.
I am one of the many found guilty in the case of the mysteriously dangerous phenonmenon—doomscrolling. And while many will suggest alternative activities, I know that going for a run doesn’t sound half as appealing when you’re trying to find a quick distraction from the hours of homework you have to complete tonight.
Which is why I’m hoping I can offer a five item guide with quick, no-think ideas and activities that are as easy scrolling through social media, while making you feel a little more productive. Along with these ideas, I included the ways these ideas help you, and a brief explanation and description.
- Listen to a self-help/motivational podcast
Improve your retention/attention span
I have started to pick up podcast-listening recently, and one thing I’ve observed is my noticeable improvement in retention and attention span. Honestly, I would encourage consuming media beyond the short videos. Whether it’s finding a lecture on an interesting topic on YouTube or listening to an investigative podcast on Spotify—both are great ways to improve attention spans lost through the depths of short-lived social media content waves.
- Make a new playlist based off your feelings this week
Improve your self-awareness and build reflectivity
There’s nothing more rewarding than having a perfectly constructed playlist to fit an oddly specific mood. I have found that using playlists as a way to understand my emotions has helped me implement daily reflection and constructed a more self-aware approach to my daily tasks. It’s also a fun way to spice up your song rotation!
- Have a ‘virtual clear out’
Improve organizational skills and declutter
We all know how easy it is to lose your cleanliness when the craze of life whisks you away. From random subscriptions to even duplicates of photos, I love having virtual clear out moments. It’s a great way to establish organizational skills and who doesn’t love a quick declutter?
- Start a new show—one episode per one task
Practice efficiency and intentionality
Many know that doomscrolling makes efficiency difficult, but I believe that intentionality and efficiency go hand-in-hand. One way to cut the cost of losing time is to have a fun way of blocking out distractions while having allotted time to complete certain tasks. I’ve found that having an episode of a new show playing in the background while I complete a task has not only made completing tasks easier, but it also prevents me from mindlessly touching my phone. Some of the best shows to use for this would be ones that are extremely dialogue-driven (where you can understand the plot without actually needing to watch the characters).
Some of my favorite shows—and they set the tone for the autumn season—include “Gilmore Girls” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” The quick-paced dialogue between characters, and the over-explanatory natures of the script make following the plot easy, without feeling compelled to watch the characters.
- Make a fun drink—coffee, tea, or a smoothie
Breaking the pattern
It’s easy to get stuck in a routine. From experience, I have found that the routine I had accustomed myself to was also the biggest factor for making task completion difficult. As routines have many benefits, they also create mundanity and sometimes oversimplification of daily tasks. For example, I used to struggle with sitting down and studying for hours. This was because I would sit in my room (sometimes even on my bed), and attempt to intrigue myself with an iPad and a non-stop craving for something more interesting. This is where you have to romanticize. And no—-not to the performative level, but to the point where you can find excitement in a once-boring task. Now, instead of going to my room, I study at the dining table downstairs. I learned I prefer a dimly lit room, a cup of coffee (or tea) to my right, a seasonal snack to my left, and some classical music to push my motivation. Learning how to efficiently romanticize my life has made the biggest difference in my motivation, and it’s one of the best ways to break doomscrolling habits.
