Doomscrolling and What It Does to Your Creative Mind
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
There is actually a difference between intentionally searching for an idea and mindlessly scrolling, or doomscrolling. But more often than not, you’re doing it out of boredom instead of curiosity.
While it may sound harmless at first, doomscrolling can affect your mental health in ways you don’t even know.
In this article, we’ll talk about the impact of doomscrolling on your mind and how to reclaim your time and energy, channelling them into healthier, more productive activities.
Table of Contents
TL;DR
The act of doomscrolling can greatly affect your mental health and creativity.
Doomscrolling can negatively impact your mind as a creative.
It hinders your ability to focus and does not contribute to your mental well-being.
Excessive scrolling can also affect your brain’s dopamine levels, which could lead to addiction.
Healthy and mindful activities can help you heal from the effects of doomscrolling.
What is Doomscrolling?
In the Cambridge Dictionary, doomscrolling is ‘the activity of spending a lot of time looking at your phone or computer and reading bad or negative news stories.’ While this is the official meaning of the term, most equate it with endless scrolling that traps you on social media.
So, if you’re a creative and you have a bad habit of constantly scrolling, using the excuse of trying to find inspiration or break your art block, you’re more likely to be feeding that block rather than recovering from it. And, if you don’t stop that habit early, it might lead to creative burnout.
What Does It Do to Our Creative Mind?
Many studies show that the act of limitless scrolling affects how our dopamine works, turning it into a sort of addiction. Think of your brain as if it were a creative studio. Certain parts of your brain (the essential departments) keep your work original and emotionally alive. The constant stimulation from excessive screen time can dull these systems over time.
If your brain depends on fast content, it will gradually shrink your attention span, memory depth, and emotional access. Your mind needs stillness because that is where imagination consolidates and deepens. It is also where creativity flourishes.
But your brain is highly adaptable, so don’t worry. With the right stimulation through enrichment activities, it can rebuild and strengthen itself.
5 Enrichment Activities to Replace Doomscrolling
Read!
This may seem like a typical replacement for doomscrolling, but if you think about it, that is essentially what scrolling is: going through an endless number of texts or visuals that keep you hooked! Just six minutes of reading can decrease your levels of stress by up to 68%.
That’s not all; it helps you calm your mind, improves focus, and even brings comfort when you’re anxious. You don’t have to read a 700-page novel. It can be any comic, manhua or even children's book.
Play a Board Game
Games like UNO and Monopoly, for example, are classic games that have bonded people over the years. If you want something different, Cluedo is an opportunity to try out your detective skills with your friends. Or, if you want more story and depth, check out role-playing board games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Not only is this mode of ‘gaming’ fun, but it also helps you socialise with the people involved. Everyone is there in shared enjoyment. The game that is being played acts as a social glue, sticking everyone’s attention towards the game.
If you’re alone, don’t worry, there are many local board game shops you can visit to play with random people and build connections, too.
Phone a Friend
When was the last time you checked in on the people around you? Well, if it has been some time, then maybe you should give them a quick ring.
Doing this, instead of doomscrolling, can boost your mood and well-being. There’s just something healing about seeking connections and building relationships that online chatting can’t quite do.
Do a Creative Activity
What better way to restore and retain your creative mind than picking up a creative activity? Maybe go back to an old hobby that you used to have, or try something new, like some creative exercises to spark new ideas. Or even woodworking and pottery to get even more hands-on!
Do Nothing
If you don’t know what to do besides doomscrolling, then do nothing. Embrace the space and let your mind recover from the constant stimulation of scrolling through your phone. Taking a deep breath just to take a moment for yourself is surprisingly healing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is doomscrolling the same as brainrotting?
Not exactly. Doomscrolling is an action, while brainrotting is the effect of it. 'Brainrotting' is when the mind is mentally drained and has trouble focusing. When you doomscroll too much, your brain starts to rot, which is what 'brainrotting' means.
What are the other effects of doomscrolling?
Effects from doomscrolling can include increased headaches and muscle tension. Then, difficulty sleeping and low appetite, to name a few. This can be caused by continuous exposure to negative news stories, which can affect a person’s peace of mind.
What are the strategies to reduce compulsive checking of news updates?
The 2 best strategies to reduce the need to constantly check the news are to structure your time and attention by setting times of the day to stay informed and finding alternatives, such as going for a walk or reading a book.
Author Bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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