We live immersed in a constant stream of digital stimuli where the urgent replaces the important and negativity dominates the algorithm. In this context, doomscrolling—that habit of compulsively consuming depressing news—has ceased to be an unconscious gesture and has become a daily dynamic with real consequences. More than just a buzzword, it’s a symptom of a dysfunctional relationship with information.
In the United States alone, searches for “how to stop doomscrolling” have increased by 250%, reflecting a society trapped in a loop of digital negativity. But this is not an isolated phenomenon. Recent research by OnePlus confirms that the United Kingdom is not immune: the average British citizen spends more than 96 minutes a day scrolling aimlessly, absorbed by toxic headlines, reality TV, and conspiracy theories. An exhausting cycle that inevitably leaves its mark.
The logic is simple: the more alarming content we consume, the more we train our algorithms—and our brains—to seek it out. According to Jacob Fisher, PhD in communication and professor at the University of Illinois, those trapped in this habit “continue to interact with information even after absorbing more than necessary.” The result is a hypersensitive nervous system, a tired mind, and a connection to reality mediated by fear.
Recalling an analogy from the show Hot Ones, in which celebrities mitigate the intensity of spicy wings with sips of milk, we can apply this same principle to the news environment: after constant exposure to overwhelming content, it becomes essential to incorporate conscious pauses that serve as an emotional counterpoint and restore balance between the mind and the digital environment.
How to detox from doomscrolling?
- Curate your own “feel-good” content
The first step is to recognize that not everything we consume has to be weighty. Cultivating a personal archive of content that makes you feel good—whether it’s a lighthearted series, music clips, inspiring interviews, or silly memes—isn’t trivial, it’s about balance. Actively choosing to consume joy retrains your attention and changes the energy of your digital environment.
- Train Your Algorithms
Sherry Benton, PhD, sums it up this way: “Change what you consume, and your algorithm will change with you.” If you constantly click on alarmist content, the system interprets it as your priority. Start following accounts that talk about art, ecology, design, science, wellness, spirituality, or any topic that inspires you. Do this consciously for several days. Your algorithms will adjust, and the information environment will begin to reflect this new direction.
- Return to the Present with a Gratitude List
It’s not about denying what’s wrong, but rather broadening your perspective. Making a list—mentally or in writing—of things you’re grateful for helps ground you in the present. It can be something as basic as having hot water, a meaningful conversation, or a song that moved you. This simple gesture trains you to detect what works, even in the midst of confusion.
- Get out into nature
Getting outside—even if it’s just for a few minutes a day—can tangibly recalibrate your nervous system. Walking aimlessly, observing the sky, touching a tree, sitting quietly in a park—these micro-acts allow your body and mind to slow down, breaking away from the artificial rhythm of screens. Nature isn’t a luxury; it’s medicine.
- Connect with others
Doomscrolling often thrives in solitude. Reconnecting with people with whom you have authentic connections reminds you that the real world is full of nuance, humor, affection, and stories that don’t make the headlines. You don’t need to be surrounded by others all the time, but prioritizing genuine encounters—physical or digital—recharges emotionally.
- Participate in your community
Getting information without action can become paralyzing. Pouring your energy into something concrete—helping a local cause, attending a neighborhood meeting, collaborating with an NGO, or cleaning up your neighborhood—turns anxiety into agency. It also connects you with other conscious people, demonstrating that there are networks of care and change beyond the cynicism of social media.
- Create
Artistic expression—from writing, painting, cooking, or making collages to learning an instrument or designing your own clothes—is an effective way to metabolize stress and transform it into something with shape, color, or texture. Creativity doesn’t just distract: it gives you back a sense of ownership over your life at a time when everything seems imposed.
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