this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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askchapo

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I have work I need to do but I find myself scrolling here and on reddit-logo for hours at a time. It feels paralyzing but also its hard to stop. Not like reading about Lolitics* makes me feel good so why am I addicted to it 🙃

  • I was gonna correct that but it works. LOLitics, because everything is fucked so hard you just gotta laugh...
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[–] LeninsWorldTour@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago

Been slowly trying cut down on my doomscrolling too so I wanted to share some of the things that worked for me. These are more geared towards doomscrolling on your phone, but can be applied generally as well.

Something that has been really helpful for me is actually "scheduling" when you doom scroll, having certain set times when you'll free to doomscroll gulit free (make sure to set up a timer tho). Kinda helps you be aware of when you shouldn't scroll and should be doing something else. Somewhat related is also having "screen intermittent fasting", where you try not to doomscroll right before you go to bed and after you wake up.

Have physical and digital barriers to doomscrolling is more of a last defense vs. scrolling but can be very helpful. Putting your devices out of reach, in a different room, or even getting those lock boxes for you phone give you a physical reminder to not scroll. Make it habit to stand up whether you doom scroll too, since you're probably less likely to scroll for hours on end when standing vs. laying/sitting down (plus the physical effort to just make yourself stand up may make you too lazy to start doom scrolling in the first place). Install blocking apps like Leechblock. Straight up delete apps or log out of accounts (though this is less effective against scrolling on reddit-logo and Hexbear in my experience).

Replacing that habit of doomscrolling is pretty essential on top of that. Like what other commenters said, replace it with things like reading, listening to music/podcast, etc. I've been playing Sudoku and Wordle type games when I get bored lately. Beyond that, fulfilling hobbies, real™ social interaction, touching grass do wonders as well. Though not for everyone you might want to try mediation.

I've also been reading the book Indistractable by Nir Eyal; it's a bit lib at times, but the information in there is pretty helpful imo. It touches on stuff similar to your situation, the psychological reasons why we might want to distract ourselves instead of doing what we want/need. It's also where I got tips like scheduling when you doom scroll from.

Remember this is a uphill battle, especially with websites like Reddit, which are literally built to keep you on the website as long as possible by capitalists. Practice a positive mindset when you find yourself doom scrolling too much, people rarely get better by being talked down upon. Can feel a bit awkward at first tbh, but I like to imagine it as maybe like talking to a friend.