I spent almost six hours starting at my phone every day last week, according to my screen time app. That’s about 30 hours a week of wasted time I can’t get back, just endlessly scrolling through social media, only to end up feeling overstimulated, anxious, and depressed.
This bad habit is called doomscrolling, and it’s not doing us any favors.
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, said doomscrolling can give us what she calls “popcorn brain.” When our brains are overstimulated online for too long, they feel like they’re “popping.” The result? The real world feels slow and boring in comparison, which makes it hard for us to connect with others.
I’m no scientist, but I can definitely say the less time I spend on my phone, the better I feel. My goal is to cut my screen time down to 1 hour per day. It know getting there will take baby steps. This week? I’m aiming for 3 hours a day.
If you want to break the doomscrolling habit while still enjoying your time online, try following these New Hampshire-based accounts that focus on uplifting, interesting, or fun content. In internet speak, we call this joyscrolling, or scrolling for the purpose of seeking out happy content.
📸 Nature & Scenic Beauty
@nhstateparks – Beautiful spots to explore around NH
@onlyinnewhampshire – Gorgeous photography of NH scenery
@meg_unwell — Amazing pics!
@whitemountains – Travel inspo for the White Mountains
@kilhambearcenter – These rescued cubs figuring out life are just too cute
@annbrown.photography – These owl pics, though
🐶 Animals & Feel-Good Content
@nhspca – You’ll find cute adoptable pets and happy rescue stories
@nh.dogs — These dogs are the cutest.
🍔 Food & Drinks (Because Happy Scrolling = Happy Stomach)
@kyskravings – Follow for mouthwatering food pics
@eatnewhampshire – The title says it all
@nhyums – One word — yum!
@whatsnewinnh – NH food and lifestyle
