As things cool down for fall, I’ve found myself longing for slower, easier routines and for endeavors that feel worthwhile in their efforts. One of my intentions for the year has been to refine my spending and audit how I spend my time.
As I analyzed my time, I found an inverse relationship between time on social media and my mood / emotional state. *shocker* In addition to the negative impact on my mental health, doomscrolling didn’t contribute to any of my goals and was most likely being utilized as an escape tactic. Thus, the “what to do instead of doomscrolling” list on notes app was born.
Hopefully this list can serve as an inspiration for you to also stop scrolling, and if you’re anything like me, to also stop comparing and second guessing. Join me as I take a deep breath, look up from my phone, and begin to curate a non-digital life that I love living.
What to do instead of doomscrolling this autumn:
- Read a book
I’ve been on a journey to read 25 books this year. As someone who started from 2 books a year, this is wildly ambitious. Whether your format is kindle, audiobook, or good old fashioned paperback, books are a great form of entertainment that immerses you into worlds beyond your own. This fall, I’ve already completed “Project Hail Mary”, “The 6 Types of Working Genius”, and “Fourth Wing”. I’m currently working on “Iron Flame”, “The Great Alone”, and “The Martian” (big fantasy and sci-fi gal over here). If you need some book suggestions, here’s my full reading list of the year thus far. If I can’t find my book on Libby, I will buy my books from local thrift stores or used book stores. Another great resource for new books are the little shared libraries that I have dotted along my neighborhood walking route.
2. Visit a museum
I have to start by telling you I genuinely enjoy museums. I’m the girl will rent the audio tour and walk around for a few hours clicking in the little numbers at the edges of the paintings and hearing all about the artist’s inspiration. When I solo-traveled in Amsterdam this autumn, and loved eating at the cafés and sipping my coffee while being surrounded by the art. I always feel inspired by the mastery of skill of these artists. If you don’t love museums, feel free to pass on this one.
3. Take a new class
At age 10, I begged my mother to let me quit piano lessons. Well, congrats mom, almost 20 years later I’m paying for my own piano lessons. (If only I’d stuck with it). I’m a huge bossa nova and jazz fan, and while I will probably never reach ultimate mastery in an instrument, I’d love to be able to pick one up and jam whenever and wherever I want. So yeah, I’m back in a kids piano class. Life is circular.
5. Revitalize an old hobby
I used to blog and create YouTube videos routinely. About 8 years ago, after going through some major life events, it felt like a part of my creativity had died away. I guess at some point I realized that it wouldn’t magically reappear with time, but that I would need to begin to explore and cultivate that side of me and those skills once again. So here I am, honoring my inner child and dormant creative writer, by blogging. I’m picking up my proverbial pen, and editing my little videos, in hopes to heal her. If there’s been a hobby that you’ve put off for far too long, I gently encourage you to honor your inner child, too. If you need some inspiration, I wrote on how to start a new hobby in your 20’s.
6. Take a solo day
For this one, I fully acknowledge that it requires some level of pre-planning, plus some financial privilege and some street smarts. Maybe you are an expert at solo traveling, and you can head out the door and be good to go. On the flip side, maybe you just start by pushing yourself to go to a coffee shop alone for a few hours. Bring a book, and a journal, order a latte, and people watch or read. Or maybe you’re ready to take yourself to a solo dinner. Finally, maybe this post is the last little push you needed to jump straight into the deep end and take a solo trip. Do your research and planning ahead of time, and be safe. But while it may seem scary, each time I step outside my comfort zone I uncover how adaptable and capable I am, and I gain a deeper understanding of my mind and my self-limitations. Is it awkward at first? 100%. Is it worth it? Always.
7. Get outside
This one is simple, but this one is honest. I hate working out, and it’s a painful experience for me. I have a few autoimmune diseases that make exercise particularly challenging, but I need to do something for my cardiovascular health. Even though it’s hard and painful, it’s good for me. So, I am attempting to walk at least once a day for approximately 30 minutes. It isn’t glamorous, but here I am doing my best by getting outside and moving my body.
8. Create art
Art doesn’t need to be a masterful painting, or perfect poetic prose. Art can be anything from a little doodle to cooking a a meal or singing a little song. For me, working on my art means making intentional time to practice my writing and video editing. For you, it could mean a painting, or a sketch, or putting together an outfit that you really love. I’ve found that creativity is a muscle that needs to be worked and honed, and while some of us have more natural creative inclinations, there is growth to be had in every area of life and skillsets. Just like learning a new language, working on art of any form unlocks a part of your brain that is expansive and willing to take chances. It allows you to practice your iteration skills, and as long as perfectionism isn’t the goal, (since that’s a whole different topic) I urge you to simply create.
9. Intentionally rest
Sometimes we scroll because we’re tired. Or burnt out, or bored, or our brain is needing some stimulation. Or we’re overstimulated or over-tired and we want to mentally check out. Or maybe it’s all of the above and we simply need rest. So what does intentional rest look like? It could be any of the activities I suggested above, or it could be a nap. It could be feeding yourself a nutritious meal, or brewing a cup of tea. Intentional rest is just an activity or sleep, that fills your soul and leads you feeling more renewed after it than when you started. This should be a pressure-free and just-for-you type of endeavor, with nothing to prove, and everything to enjoy.
10. Try a new recipe
Girl, make soup! For autumn specifically, may I suggest my current hyper-fixation meal, Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese. And here’s the vegan recipe, for the lactose intolerant girlies. Nothing beats a warm bowl of soup in a cozy sweater when it’s chilly and grey outside. It’s such a mood. Pop on some Netflix, and you have yourself a lovely little evening. I’m currently watching: “A Discovery of Witches”. It’s full of castles and romance and vampires and Europe in the fall… need I say more?
11. Join a book club
In honor of my 25 books in 2025 goal, I recently joined a neighborhood bookclub and it has been so fun. This book club has given me another reason to hit this goal, helped me find new things to read, and introduced me to more girls in my area. I love the girlie time that we get to have, with snacks and drinks and chats about the things we have read, are reading, or want to read in the future. We’re huge booktok girlies.
12. Journal
Last, but not least. Journaling is the one thing that I always think of last. I used to journal quite often, but I got out of the daily habit of taking time for introspection. However, this is one of the best ways to grow. Sometimes I just need a prompt to get it going. Or, I write myself letters that my future self can look back on, so it feels more friendly and causal and less documentarian. Journaling doesn’t have to be inspired prose, nor does it even have to make literary sense. It could be a doodle of your day, or a couple printed photos on a page. It’s ultimate goal is an unraveling of the mind, onto paper or a voice memo, that allows us to ground in our thoughts and untangle the mess of our inner selves. I encourage you to grow comfortable with the silence. Write down all the thoughts that flood you, and begin to unpack them with kindness and understanding. Maybe the reason you are doomscrolling is that you are looking for answers to unspoken questions and longings in your heart. What if the answers are all within you?
This is just a simple list of the things that I am making an effort to do instead of doomscrolling. I hope that it is encouraging to you. Let’s all take a deep breath together, look up from our screens, and begin to curate a real life that we love living.
You’re doing great.
xoxo,
B
B in Bloom 