Is Your Week Starting with Doomscrolling? You're Not Alone.

Let’s be real,  how did your Morning begin? 

Did you wake up and grab your phone right away? Before you know it, you’ve been scrolling for an hour. Bad news, more bad news, maybe a funny cat video… and just like that, your morning is gone.

This habit is called doomscrolling, and millions of us are stuck in it. So do I. So, let's talk about this modern habit that controls our hands and robs us of our ability to think.

Do you have any idea about how much time we are spending on doomscrolling?

A 2024 global study shows that people now spend over 5 hours a day on their phones, that’s more than 49 hours a week. 

Even just 30 minutes a day adds up to 15 hours a month. Most of this time goes to watching videos, reading news, and checking social media, often without even thinking about it.

What I felt is I don't even realise how my 30 minutes convert into 1 hour every time I scroll my social.

But too much screen time isn’t harmless? My friend asked me.

I said sarcastically, No, it just gives us brain fog, and leaves us blank in a situation, it just creates a different illusion of thinking and processing our daily stuff, and yes, it can change your perspective also. yes, brainwash also.

The Hidden Impact on Your Mind and Body

Have you ever felt anxious for no reason in the morning? 

You’re not imagining it. 

Between 2022 and 2023, Google searches for “morning anxiety” shot up by 247%.

When we keep seeing sad, violent, or stressful news, even from far away, our brains react like it’s happening to us. This is called secondhand trauma. 

It’s what happened after 9/11 when billions watched the tragedy unfold on TV and many still feel the effects decades later.

Today, thanks to smartphones, we carry that nonstop stress in our pockets.

As mental health expert Dr. Lisa Damour puts it:

“Our brains were not designed to take in this much negative information all the time. It can leave us feeling helpless, even hopeless.”

How to Break the Cycle

So, how do we break this?

You don’t have to throw away your phone, but a few small changes can help:

• Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning

• Turn off unnecessary notifications

• Set a screen time limit (even 15 minutes less helps!)

• Keep your phone away from your bed at night

And most importantly, be kind to yourself. Everyone struggles with this.

Looking at the World Differently

At our news platform, we share stories from around the world, not just the headlines you see every day. From South Africa to South America, we focus on real people, real solutions, and real change.

Whether it’s elections, climate action, or breakthrough ideas, we’re here to bring you news that informs, not overwhelms.