Are You A Doomscroller?
It's always a little (or a lot lol) humbling to have a name to go with something that's been subconsciously troubling you. Bob and I are absolutely doing our best to keep up with technology and our changing world ....because that keeps us young and our brains active, right???!!! But with the sadness of so many current events that dominate this summer, I have to say a new word fits me entirely too well. The word is "doomscrolling ...." and no. It's not a term for fine penmanship or studies of ancient scripts.
Plain and simple: Doomscrolling is consuming large amounts of negative news, often through social media, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and overall distress. It's characterized by spending excessive time online, particularly on social media feeds, that includes news and current events that are negative or upsetting.
Wow. Yes, we want to be up to speed with current events. Yes, we want to foster informed and intelligent opinions. Yes, we cannot live with our heads in the sand. But at the cost of 1) a good nights rest, (and the health challenges that go with that??!!!) and 2) spending equal or more time on uplifting and enriching reading or activities that build physical and emotional health, confidence, happiness and peace? That is in then turn passed onto family and friends? Hmmmmm. Now, that's very important food for thought and worthy of a good look at the time and feeds we're following!
What's the opposite of doomscrolling? Anything that makes you feel good, hopeful, and inspired. Yes, please! It is SO important to find ways to balance our news consumption.
My reading to write this took me to this article: Doomscrolling Keeping You Awake? 7 ways to detour doomscrollling. I've included my five favorites below:
1. Do a Body Scan: Pay attention to which body part is feeling it the most and do some stretching ( see below) or massaging where it's tight and stiff. Enjoy a warm bath or shower, deep breathing, soft lights, quiet music or a soothing cup of "Goodnight Moon Tea" to the hour before you go to bed.
2. Stretch It Out: Lay flat on your back in bed with toes pointed and arms extended. Now really wriggle and stretch as tall as you can. Or on your front, kneeling -- then stretch your arms out as far as you can on the bed or floor ... like a cat. And add a yawn! Neck rolls, shoulder rolls, it's all helpful!
3. Write In A Journal: "Doomscrolling primes your brain to expect stressfeul events and scenarios," says Charlynn Ruan, PhD. She says, "Journaling -- especially of happy things you're grateful for throughout the day's activities -- is a great way to unwind and provides a happy emotional release, allowing the brain to increase self-awareness and to process little daily setbacks/disappointments in a more conclusive way.
4. Read an Uplifting Book: I don't know about you, but somehow the delightful habit of reading a real book, especially in bed before the lights go out, has been replaced by reading short articles on my phone. With those, there's no end to the chapter and a good way to wrap it up. There's always more.... more ... more. I know it's not a habit I want to keep!
It's always a little (or a lot lol) humbling to have a name to go with something that's been subconsciously troubling you. Bob and I are absolutely doing our best to keep up with technology and our changing world ....because that keeps us young and our brains active, right???!!! But with the sadness of so many current events that dominate this summer, I have to say a new word fits me entirely too well. The word is "doomscrolling ...." and no. It's not a term for fine penmanship or studies of ancient scripts.
Plain and simple: Doomscrolling is consuming large amounts of negative news, often through social media, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and overall distress. It's characterized by spending excessive time online, particularly on social media feeds, that includes news and current events that are negative or upsetting.
Wow. Yes, we want to be up to speed with current events. Yes, we want to foster informed and intelligent opinions. Yes, we cannot live with our heads in the sand. But at the cost of 1) a good nights rest, (and the health challenges that go with that??!!!) and 2) spending equal or more time on uplifting and enriching reading or activities that build physical and emotional health, confidence, happiness and peace? That is in then turn passed onto family and friends? Hmmmmm. Now, that's very important food for thought and worthy of a good look at the time and feeds we're following!
What's the opposite of doomscrolling? Anything that makes you feel good, hopeful, and inspired. Yes, please! It is SO important to find ways to balance our news consumption.
My reading to write this took me to this article: Doomscrolling Keeping You Awake? 7 ways to detour doomscrollling. I've included my five favorites below:
1. Do a Body Scan: Pay attention to which body part is feeling it the most and do some stretching ( see below) or massaging where it's tight and stiff. Enjoy a warm bath or shower, deep breathing, soft lights, quiet music or a soothing cup of "Goodnight Moon Tea" to the hour before you go to bed.
2. Stretch It Out: Lay flat on your back in bed with toes pointed and arms extended. Now really wriggle and stretch as tall as you can. Or on your front, kneeling -- then stretch your arms out as far as you can on the bed or floor ... like a cat. And add a yawn! Neck rolls, shoulder rolls, it's all helpful!
3. Write In A Journal: "Doomscrolling primes your brain to expect stressfeul events and scenarios," says Charlynn Ruan, PhD. She says, "Journaling -- especially of happy things you're grateful for throughout the day's activities -- is a great way to unwind and provides a happy emotional release, allowing the brain to increase self-awareness and to process little daily setbacks/disappointments in a more conclusive way.
4. Read an Uplifting Book: I don't know about you, but somehow the delightful habit of reading a real book, especially in bed before the lights go out, has been replaced by reading short articles on my phone. With those, there's no end to the chapter and a good way to wrap it up. There's always more.... more ... more. I know it's not a habit I want to keep!
Ruan continues: "Electronic devices expose you to blue light, which suppresses the melatonin in your brain and confuses [it] into thinking it’s time to wake up,” Ruan says. Her advice is to read a book that’s positive or inspiring. “Reading a paper book is the most relaxing, but you can also read on a device if it’s one without blue light,” she adds. It’s also a good idea to move your phone away from your bed so you’re not tempted to doomscroll.
One of the reasons doomscrolling is so habit-forming is because there’s no natural conclusion, like getting to the end of a book chapter. “So, we can easily lose track of time and realize that we’ve stayed up much longer than we intended.”
5. Schedule or Dedicate a Block of Time for Quality Scrolling
If you’re having trouble cutting down on your news consumption, Ruan recommends that you stop scrolling at least an hour before bed. Additionally, it might help to pick a couple reputable outlets as your sources for news.
We have found historian (not a newscaster or journalist) Heather Cox Richardson to be our favorite go-to and netural/independent informer. Although she is on Youtube, she summarizes the day's national events in a much bigger, long-term historical perspective. She's in her 60s and well-respected by scholars. She writes and records from her home in Maine. She does not focus on entertainment or sensationalism in any form, yet is pleasant, engaging and factual -- often presenting important contextual information outside of what the flashier journalists are talking about. She's a wonderful educator as well, knowing that many of us need some background to understand what's happening these days.
You can google her name to learn more.
FACT: There's NO END to the current news, but there has to be and IS a way to be a way for us to intelligently live our lives in a happy, positive way that blesses our homes, families and communities. We just have to be brave and make some conscious choices.
Two last little thoughts:
1) For many of our friends here, our Settle Down All-Natural Stress aid has been just the ticket to calming their busy minds at the end of the day. We have been sharing this product since 2018 ... a true favorite that many are so grateful for.
2) On my bucket list for TRUE READING: "How To Break Up With Your Phone" by Catherine Price (See it on Amazon) I picked this up at a Barnes and Nobles to browse, laughed, smiled and nodded my head. I promised myself I'd order and read it. It's time.
5. Schedule or Dedicate a Block of Time for Quality Scrolling
If you’re having trouble cutting down on your news consumption, Ruan recommends that you stop scrolling at least an hour before bed. Additionally, it might help to pick a couple reputable outlets as your sources for news.
We have found historian (not a newscaster or journalist) Heather Cox Richardson to be our favorite go-to and netural/independent informer. Although she is on Youtube, she summarizes the day's national events in a much bigger, long-term historical perspective. She's in her 60s and well-respected by scholars. She writes and records from her home in Maine. She does not focus on entertainment or sensationalism in any form, yet is pleasant, engaging and factual -- often presenting important contextual information outside of what the flashier journalists are talking about. She's a wonderful educator as well, knowing that many of us need some background to understand what's happening these days.
You can google her name to learn more.
FACT: There's NO END to the current news, but there has to be and IS a way to be a way for us to intelligently live our lives in a happy, positive way that blesses our homes, families and communities. We just have to be brave and make some conscious choices.
Two last little thoughts:
1) For many of our friends here, our Settle Down All-Natural Stress aid has been just the ticket to calming their busy minds at the end of the day. We have been sharing this product since 2018 ... a true favorite that many are so grateful for.
2) On my bucket list for TRUE READING: "How To Break Up With Your Phone" by Catherine Price (See it on Amazon) I picked this up at a Barnes and Nobles to browse, laughed, smiled and nodded my head. I promised myself I'd order and read it. It's time.