Doomscrolling consumed us in 2020. What’s the way out?

If there’s one thing 2020 has shown us, it’s that we really can’t live without social networks. When we can’t be together physically, at least we can be together virtually.

While connecting online can be great, it has its limits. Social media can cause us to second guess ourselves, get into spats we wouldn’t normally, and spend a little too much time with people we don’t even know talking about stressful things like politics, public health, and the climate.

All of this has a word, and it’s one you’ve probably heard a lot in 2020: doomscrolling.

What is doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling was chosen as New Zealand’s “Word of the Year” and is defined by Merriam Webster as: “the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing.”

Doomscrolling most often occurs on Facebook and news apps, both of which feed us a 24/7 cycle of current events, no matter how scary or disconcerting they may be.

And in 2020, when it’s seemed so hard to get definitive answers about, well, anything, it’s been easier than ever before to cave into the anxiety and panic stirred up on our newsfeeds.

The effects of doomscrolling

Doomscrolling isn’t just an ominous word. It’s an action that can take real physical and mental tolls on our bodies and minds.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Maria Manly, “Many people think that they’ll feel safer by staying abreast of the latest news. Yet, they don’t realize that consumption of the negative news only leads to greater fear, anxiety, and stress.”

Manly goes on to explain that doomscrolling can create a feedback loop that leads to thinking a quick scroll through social media will provide “safety and security” when in fact, it will only offer constant change and upheaval.

It is not uncommon, Manly described, for doomscrolling to even cause elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol, two naturally occurring bodily chemicals that are associated with increased energy and stress. While the increase in energy might be nice, it’s not when combined with anxiety and stress.

All in all, doomscrolling offers little-to-no benefit from a psychological or physical standpoint.

What to do instead of doomscrolling

Let’s face it. We’re on our phones for so much of the day that it wouldn’t be reasonable to simply say “don’t look at your phone.”

Logging online doesn’t have to automatically mean a stressful scroll through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or a news outlet, though.

How about unlock your device and get some personal connection with people you actually care about? Count us in.

Social media and newsfeeds rarely contain the kind of in-depth conversations and interactions our emotional psyche really craves.

With apps like Kovii, you can chat with someone in your circle during low-stress times that work for you, without having to schedule. This way at any time you’re in the mood for connection, you can talk about the news – or not – and keep it at a level that’s comfortable for you. No doomscrolling, no catastrophizing.

The U.K.-based Mental Health Foundation notes that people who are more socially connected with loved ones are “happier, physically healthier and live longer, with fewer mental health problems than people who are less well connected.”

Stay connected in a healthy way – Your future self will thank you

Doomscrolling may be 2020’s word of the year in some places, but we can move forward this year.

Let’s make real, genuine connections what you look back on as the defining trait of this winter.

By making it easy to foster real-time video calls with family, friends, and colleagues, you’re doing yourself a favor mentally and physically.