Doomscrolling: Balancing Staying Informed While Protecting Your Peace
Guest post by Sylvia Rodriguez
Today’s post features guest contributor Sylvia Rodriguez, a senior psychology major at Metropolitan University of Denver. Drawing from personal experience and current research, Sylvia unpacks the growing habit of doomscrolling and offers practical ways to protect your mental well-being while staying informed.
When Staying Informed Starts to Feel Heavy
Have you ever felt like you’ve wasted too much time on social media? For many of us, checking our phones has become second nature—but at what point does it start affecting our mental health?
In today’s world, staying informed feels essential. Yet constantly consuming news and updates can quietly take a toll on our peace of mind.
I used to think scrolling through the news made me responsible, aware, and informed. While having information at our fingertips is amazing (depending on the source) over time, I noticed that the more I read, the “heavier” I felt. Daily anxiety and stress began to build, and I realized that staying “informed” had quietly turned into a habit that was slowly stealing my sense of calm.
What Is Doomscrolling?
This habit is called doomscrolling: the endless cycle of consuming negative news and distressing social media posts, often giving a false sense of control during uncertain times.
Technology and social media have connected us with people worldwide, exposing us to their daily lives and perspectives. English professors Rajeshwari and Meenakshi at India’s Vellore Institute of Technology explains, “The exposure of social, ethical, environmental, and political problems would be significantly reduced if social media did not exist.”
I encourage you to read Dr. Meenakshi’s article, The Age of Doomscrolling: Social Media’s Attractive Addiction, to see how big an impact social media has on education and today’s youth.
This awareness can make us feel responsible for keeping up with the news—locally, nationally, or globally. While staying informed is important, it’s equally crucial to recognize when the constant flow of information starts to affect your mental health.
Tips to Avoid Doomscrolling
Set limits – Schedule specific times to check news or social media instead of scrolling constantly. For example, I started by avoiding social media on weekends.
Curate your feed – Follow accounts that inform without sensationalizing, and unfollow sources that increase stress.
Take breaks – Step away from screens and do grounding activities like walking, reading, meditating, or enjoying a creative hobby. Personally, I like coloring or painting.
Fact-check – Verify information before consuming it to reduce unnecessary anxiety. This is especially important before resharing content or discussing news with others.
Focus locally – Staying informed about your community is often enough, rather than tracking every global event. Remember, even small efforts can be impactful!
Finding Balance: Staying Informed Without Losing Your Peace
Balancing staying informed while protecting your peace takes intention but small steps can make a big difference in preserving your mental well-being.
Amy Schamberg’s Bedtime Bliss: 3 Ways to Stop the Smartphone Scroll & Get Your Best Night’s Sleep also offers helpful tips and tricks to manage doomscrolling and ease stress.
