Why I Swapped Mindless Scrolling for Hobby Time And You Can Too | Guest Post

I’ll admit it, I used to scroll. A lot. Wake up? Scroll. Eat lunch? Scroll. Trying to fall asleep? You guessed it, scroll. But instead of feeling better, I often felt worse.

So I made a choice. I slowly swapped screen-staring for hobby-doing, and it’s been the best thing I’ve done for my brain in ages.

Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash

Here’s what changed.

1. My Mood Improved

I’m disabled, without kids and have barely done anything that I always thought I would in life. So, scrolling through social media, which is filled with a rose-tinted view of everyone’s life, I started thinking about how much I haven’t done. Walking away from doom scrolling stopped me from spending so much time lamenting on what hasn’t been and focusing more on what can be. 

2. I Reclaimed My Evenings

Just 30 minutes of screen-free hobby time helps me sleep better and feel more in control. Sometimes I sit in the garden with the neighbour’s cat, sometimes I colour, and once in a while I finally open that board game I bought 6 months ago (whoops). But there’s plenty of other screen-free activities too like getting trading cards from a Yu Gi Oh shop and playing that, learning a new skill, reading, finishing home projects that never got finished. The point is: it’s intentional time, not time lost.

3. I Found New Joy in Old Interests

Remember when you used to love things without needing to be “good” at them? Me too. Hobbies have helped me reconnect with joy without pressure. Word Soup has allowed me to go back to the basics of blogging and learn the joy that I used to find in it again.

4. I’m Less Anxious (Seriously)

Mindless scrolling = constant input. Hobbies = output. They give my busy brain somewhere to put its energy. It’s calming in a way scrolling never was. Plus, I’m taking in less of the awful news that seems to be coming at us from all angles these days, sometimes it really doesn’t help to know it all. 

TL;DR: Hobbies Are Underrated and Glorious

They’re not a waste of time. They’re a way to come back to yourself. You don’t need to be an expert, you don’t even have to be good! You just have to enjoy yourself. You might not find what works for you straight away, but it’s well worth giving a few things a go and seeing what you enjoy these days. If you want some good starting points, colouring is good, as is learning an instrument. You can also try and take up fishing, as all you need is a good spot, and the right carp fishing tackle.

Author Bio:

Sarah is a UK-based blogger passionate about mental wellness, cosy living, and all things geeky. She writes at Life in a Break Down, where she shares budget-friendly lifestyle tips and gentle self-care inspiration, and at Word Soup, which she writes in collaboration with her partner.