{"id":191966,"date":"2026-01-30T16:41:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/?p=191966"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:41:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:41:56","slug":"stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Doomscrolling has quietly become one of the most common modern habits, and it\u2019s fair to say that it is a bad habit and one of the most draining things many of us do each day. Yet, we find it really hard to stop doing it, right? Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You open your phone to check one thing, and suddenly 40 minutes have disappeared into an endless feed of bad news, outrage, and anxiety-inducing headlines. You close the app feeling tense, unfocused, and oddly exhausted, yet somehow compelled to do it all over again later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saying informed is, of course, a good thing, but when it&#8217;s endless, your brain gets into a state of stress that can make you feel terrible, so what can you do instead? Here are 10 alternatives to dsoomscrolling that we think will make you feel better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Play a Simple Strategy Game<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your brain wants stimulation, give it something structured on the <a href=\"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/28\/reducing-screen-time-without-losing-the-fun-4-top-tips\/\">screen<\/a>. Simple games with clear rules can pull you out of reactive scrolling and into intentional thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing a game like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.247checkers.com\/\">checkers<\/a> is a perfect example. It\u2019s low-pressure, familiar, and just challenging enough to redirect your attention. You\u2019re no longer passively consuming information, but rather you\u2019re actively making decisions, planning ahead, and engaging your mind in a way that feels satisfying instead of draining. Even a short game can reset your mental state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Read One Long-Form Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mind-and-mood\/doomscrolling-dangers\">Doomscrolling fragments attention<\/a>. Long-form reading rebuilds it. It\u2019s that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of skimming dozens of headlines, choose one well-written article and read it all the way through. The topic doesn\u2019t matter as much as the depth. This trains your brain to focus, follow an argument, and process information more thoughtfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll often finish feeling informed rather than overwhelmed, and that\u2019s a huge difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Move Your Body for Five Minutes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need a full workout to interrupt a doomscrolling spiral. A short burst of movement can do wonders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stand up. Stretch. Walk around the room. Do a few squats or shoulder rolls. Physical movement shifts your nervous system out of \u201calert mode\u201d and signals safety to your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially effective if you notice yourself scrolling late at night or first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Write Down What\u2019s Actually Bothering You<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doomscrolling often masks a more specific feeling &#8211; worry, frustration, boredom, or uncertainty. Writing helps clarify that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a minute and write down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What am I feeling right now?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What am I avoiding?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What\u2019s one small thing I can control today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting these thoughts out of your head and onto paper reduces mental noise and restores a sense of agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. Learn Something Small but Concrete<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/3793027580993898\/\">Your brain loves progress<\/a>. Doomscrolling promises it but never delivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, learn something contained and achievable: a new word, a cooking technique, a historical fact, or a shortcut on your computer. Small wins add up, and they create a feedback loop of curiosity instead of anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This kind of learning energizes rather than depletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6. Clean One Tiny Area<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the world feels chaotic, order is grounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it is a really good idea to take some time to choose one small, clearly defined task to take on. Clear your desk, organize a drawer, wipe down a surface &#8211; something simple like that. The key is to keep it small enough that you can finish quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Completion matters. It gives your brain closure, something doomscrolling never provides, and this is an easy way to achieve that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7. Listen to Music Intentionally<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scrolling often turns music into background noise. Flip that script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Put on a song and actually listen. Notice the lyrics,&nbsp; the rhythm, the way it makes your body feel. Music has a direct line to emotion and can shift your mood faster than most other activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re feeling wired, choose something calming. If you\u2019re a bit sluggish, choose something energizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8. Have a Short, Real Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rowancenterla.com\/psychology-of-doom-scrolling-explained\/\">Doomscrolling creates the illusion of connection without the benefits<\/a>. A real conversation, even just a brief one, can meet that social need far more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Send a thoughtful message to a friend. Ask someone how they\u2019re really doing. Share something small but genuine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Human connection grounds you in the present moment and reminds you that the world is bigger than your feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9. Go Outside Without Your Phone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nature is a powerful antidote to digital overload. Even a few minutes outside can lower stress and improve mood.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-holding-a-smartphone.jpg?resize=640%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"woman holding a smartphone\" class=\"wp-image-191968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-holding-a-smartphone.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-holding-a-smartphone.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-holding-a-smartphone.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Going outside with your smartphone can change up the dynamic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>So, step outside and leave your phone behind, or keep it in your pocket. Pay attention to what you can see, hear, and feel. This sensory input gives your brain a break from constant abstraction and threat scanning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s simple, but surprisingly effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10. Do Nothing on Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This one feels pretty uncomfortable for a lot of people, and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doomscrolling often fills space we don\u2019t know how to sit with. doing nothing for two minutes. No phone, no music, no task. Just sit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your brain will protest at first. Then it will settle. From that calmer place, it becomes easier to choose what you actually want to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Replace, Don\u2019t Just Remove<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal here is not to shame yourself out of doomscrolling all the time like you usually do. The aim is actually to replace it with options that meet the same needs &#8211; stimulation, distraction, connection &#8211; but in ways that are much healthier for you overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can still be informed. You can still use your phone. The difference is choosing activities that give something back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next time your thumb automatically opens a feed, pause and pick one of these instead. Even one small change can break the cycle, and over time, those small changes add up to a calmer, clearer mind. It might feel hard at first, but eventually you will be relieved to be free of the habit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18661,"featured_media":191967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15],"tags":[4243,353],"class_list":["post-191966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","tag-doom-scrolling","tag-smartphone"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Armchair Arcade\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Armchair-Arcade\/141237783007\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1279\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"853\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jonathan Adams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@armchairarcade\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@armchairarcade\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jonathan Adams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jonathan Adams\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d07bd594a4c92ec802e13c5cc90d46a2\"},\"headline\":\"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1039,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"doom scrolling\",\"smartphone\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Editorial\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00\",\"description\":\"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1\",\"width\":1279,\"height\":853,\"caption\":\"Don't doomscroll!\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/30\\\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/\",\"name\":\"Armchair Arcade\",\"description\":\"Chronicling the complete history of videogames, computers, technology, and pop culture since 2003\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"AA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Armchair Arcade\",\"alternateName\":\"AA\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Google-250.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/Google-250.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"width\":250,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"Armchair Arcade\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/pages\\\/Armchair-Arcade\\\/141237783007\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/armchairarcade\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/bill_loguidice\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/billloguidice\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/billloguidice\\\/armchair-arcade\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/BillLoguidice\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d07bd594a4c92ec802e13c5cc90d46a2\",\"name\":\"Jonathan Adams\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1\",\"caption\":\"Jonathan Adams\"},\"description\":\"Correspondent for Armchair Arcade.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/armchairarcade.com\\\/perspectives\\\/author\\\/jonathan-adams\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade","description":"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade","og_description":"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0","og_url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/","og_site_name":"Armchair Arcade","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Armchair-Arcade\/141237783007","article_published_time":"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1279,"height":853,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jonathan Adams","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@armchairarcade","twitter_site":"@armchairarcade","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jonathan Adams","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/"},"author":{"name":"Jonathan Adams","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#\/schema\/person\/d07bd594a4c92ec802e13c5cc90d46a2"},"headline":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead","datePublished":"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/"},"wordCount":1039,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1","keywords":["doom scrolling","smartphone"],"articleSection":["Editorial"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/","url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/","name":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead - Armchair Arcade","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-01-30T21:41:48+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-30T21:41:56+00:00","description":"Having our phones in our hands scrolling and scrolling and scrolling just feels like the thing to do when we are not working or studying or hanging out with friends (and some of us scroll even then).\u00a0","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1","width":1279,"height":853,"caption":"Don't doomscroll!"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/30\/stop-doomscrolling-and-do-these-10-things-instead\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stop Doomscrolling and Do These 10 Things Instead"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#website","url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/","name":"Armchair Arcade","description":"Chronicling the complete history of videogames, computers, technology, and pop culture since 2003","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#organization"},"alternateName":"AA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#organization","name":"Armchair Arcade","alternateName":"AA","url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Google-250.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Google-250.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","width":250,"height":250,"caption":"Armchair Arcade"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Armchair-Arcade\/141237783007","https:\/\/x.com\/armchairarcade","https:\/\/instagram.com\/bill_loguidice\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/billloguidice","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/billloguidice\/armchair-arcade\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/BillLoguidice\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/#\/schema\/person\/d07bd594a4c92ec802e13c5cc90d46a2","name":"Jonathan Adams","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Facebook-188.png?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1","caption":"Jonathan Adams"},"description":"Correspondent for Armchair Arcade.","url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/author\/jonathan-adams\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/woman-using-a-smartphone.jpg?fit=1279%2C853&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":191939,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2026\/01\/28\/reducing-screen-time-without-losing-the-fun-4-top-tips\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":0},"title":"Reducing Screen Time Without Losing The Fun: 4 Top Tips","author":"A.K. Patel","date":"January 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Average daily hours, the specific amount of time you\u2019ve spent on apps throughout the week, and even whether or not your screen time hours have changed compared to the week before.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Editorial&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Editorial","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"desktop computer setup with close-up on keyboard","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/desktop-computer-setup-with-close-up-on-keyboard.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/desktop-computer-setup-with-close-up-on-keyboard.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/desktop-computer-setup-with-close-up-on-keyboard.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/desktop-computer-setup-with-close-up-on-keyboard.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/desktop-computer-setup-with-close-up-on-keyboard.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":185746,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2024\/02\/07\/36-years-of-mega-man-in-this-bundle\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":1},"title":"36 years of Mega Man in this bundle! Get up to 25 games, including Mega Man 11!","author":"Bill Loguidice","date":"February 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From pixel perfect jumps to epic boss battles, this Mega Man game bundle will test your 2D prowess. Get 25 games covering major Mega Man milestones and help support the JDRF at the same time!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sale&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sale","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/sale\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"different mega man characters over the years fighting bad guys - Generated with AI","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mega-man-collection.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mega-man-collection.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mega-man-collection.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mega-man-collection.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":188328,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2025\/02\/03\/are-ai-chatbots-the-future-of-online-dating\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":2},"title":"Are AI Chatbots the Future of Online Dating?","author":"Jane Smith","date":"February 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The world of online dating can sometimes seem like a series of shallow and monotonous conversations that unfortunately lead nowhere, but what happens when the future of dating looks a little different? Enter, the AI chatbot.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Editorial&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Editorial","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Love You text on smartphone","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Love-You-text-on-smartphone-1.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Love-You-text-on-smartphone-1.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Love-You-text-on-smartphone-1.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Love-You-text-on-smartphone-1.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9235,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2019\/03\/02\/mashup-of-jrpg-and-bomberman-tnt-cowboy-coming-in-april-for-mattel-intellivision\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":3},"title":"Mashup of JRPG and Bomberman, TNT Cowboy, coming in April for Mattel Intellivision!","author":"Bill Loguidice","date":"March 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oscar Kenneth, from Kai Magazine Software, posted about the next great Intellivision release, TNT Cowboy. Oscar and the team were previously responsible for the excellent Ninja Odyssey, an impressive Adventure Island-like scrolling platformer game, also for the Intellivision. TNT Cowboy, which takes inspiration from JRPGs and Bomberman, is due out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mashup of JRPG and Bomberman, TNT Cowboy, coming in April for Mattel Intellivision!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/TNT-Cowboy.png?fit=1197%2C696&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/TNT-Cowboy.png?fit=1197%2C696&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/TNT-Cowboy.png?fit=1197%2C696&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/TNT-Cowboy.png?fit=1197%2C696&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/TNT-Cowboy.png?fit=1197%2C696&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":104775,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2021\/05\/11\/follow-the-treasure-trail-with-these-prize-packed-slots\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":4},"title":"Follow the treasure trail with these prize-packed Slots","author":"A.K. Patel","date":"May 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A hunt for treasure is guaranteed to be filled with fun and frolics, and it\u2019s even better when you\u2019re always spinning a row of potentially winning reels along the way. So, why not make an account, take the latest casino welcome bonus from Betfair, and go on to play the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Editorial&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Editorial","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Follow the treasure trail with these prize-packed Slots","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-stanislav-kondratiev-3014826.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-stanislav-kondratiev-3014826.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-stanislav-kondratiev-3014826.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-stanislav-kondratiev-3014826.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-stanislav-kondratiev-3014826.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":189674,"url":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/2025\/06\/26\/from-scroll-to-action-the-hidden-triggers-that-drive-user-engagement-in-entertainment-apps\/","url_meta":{"origin":191966,"position":5},"title":"From Scroll to Action: The Hidden Triggers That Drive User Engagement in Entertainment Apps","author":"Jonathan Adams","date":"June 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Whether it\u2019s a tap, swipe, vote, or share, the moment between scrolling and doing so is where user value is won or lost.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Editorial&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Editorial","link":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"couple enjoying watching something on a tablet - Generated with AI","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/couple-enjoying-watching-something-on-a-tablet-01-e1750949645389.png?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/couple-enjoying-watching-something-on-a-tablet-01-e1750949645389.png?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/couple-enjoying-watching-something-on-a-tablet-01-e1750949645389.png?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/couple-enjoying-watching-something-on-a-tablet-01-e1750949645389.png?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5dH5R-NWe","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/armchairarcade.com\/perspectives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}