You’re scrolling too much…
Scrolling on your phone never seemed like an issue until you become a parent. Can’t be on your phone around your kids because they either need you or you teaching them a bad habit, so you take time alone when you get the little moments you can and go doom scroll for 5 minutes or 1 hour. And it’s nice. It’s a break. You don’t have to worry about keeping the kids alive, you don’t have to have your brain working and thinking about your next task or thing you need to clean, you don’t have to move your body or cook dinner. You just can sit down and turn your brain off. The only bad thing about doing this as a mother is that that little time you get to doom scroll you could be doing something productive for yourself. Not for your husband or for your kids, but for you. YES! I would rather lay down and scroll social media on what color my future wedding that I don’t even have a date set for yet will be. Or are the bumps on my babies arm normal? I spend all my free time on my phone in my room in the dark. It’s not a lot of free time, but it’s enough to make an impact on me and my body if I gave it a chance.
So, I started running. I have never in my life ran, but one day I said I want to run a 5k and I started practicing. It’s not easy and I have some good weeks and some bad weeks but I’m trying. I’m doing something for my body so that my kids see their mommy doing things for herself and In hopes they will replicate what they see. I also learned a new hobby. I took on baking cookies and started a business from it. I started crocheting and it’s a love/hate relationship, but my goal is to create a blanket for the girls. I got nail stuff to start doing my own nails and not spend money at the salon. It’s not easy and is taking so much time to learn, but THATS THE POINT! I’m learning a skill and new hobby that I can do for myself. My screen time isn’t 7+ hours anymore. My head doesn’t hurt from staring at my phone anymore. I don’t feel ashamed for having a bad habit anymore. I don’t want habits I want hobbies and this year is the year to create a person I like being around. So yes I doom scroll too much. And yes I’m trying to do other things to get my brain and body moving, but also yes I will still be scrolling tiktok or marketplace at night when the kids go to sleep. Because I do still need time to turn my brain off and no I don’t feel ashamed anymore.
As a parent myself, I completely relate to the struggle of trying to balance screen time and self-care amidst the demands of family life. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of doomscrolling, especially during those rare quiet moments when the kids are asleep or occupied. I used to justify hours on my phone as my only form of mental break, but over time I noticed it made me feel drained and disconnected from myself. Inspired by stories like this, I decided to swap some of that scrolling for more intentional hobbies that nurture both body and mind. Starting small was key — I began with short walks and gradually worked up to running, which helped boost my energy and mood. Like the author, I found that setting goals such as completing a 5k gave me purpose beyond daily routines. Besides physical activity, exploring creative hobbies like baking and crafts brought a new sense of fulfillment. I started simple by baking cookies and then challenged myself to learn new skills like crocheting. It’s true that new hobbies demand patience and persistence, but they also offer a rewarding distraction from endless screen time. One surprising benefit has been the shift in my mindset about self-care. Instead of feeling guilty about taking time for myself, I now see it as essential to being the kind of parent my children can look up to. Reducing screen time not only eased my headaches and mental fog but also helped me reclaim hours that had slipping away unnoticed. Of course, it’s okay to still unwind with social media occasionally — this balance is about mindful use rather than complete abstinence. The key is to make room for habits that contribute positively to mental and physical wellbeing. If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed by the doomscroll cycle, I encourage you to experiment with small changes. Whether it’s taking a short walk, trying a new recipe, or picking up a craft project, these simple shifts can create lasting impact. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but progress towards living a life you enjoy being part of.
