‘Stop doomscrolling’: Anti-Aging millionaire Bryan Johnson on how it’s wreaking havoc on health – The Times of India

In the age of information overload, many fall prey to the troubling habit of doom scrolling – compulsive reading or watching negative news or content about a tragedy, crime, disease outbreak or a disaster. The trend emerged during Coronavirus pandemic when people overconsumed negative news from internet and beyond, which added to their stress and anxiety levels.
Doomscrolling has far-reaching consequences and can impact your sleep, appetite, overall motivation to do things you usually enjoy. Its impact on mental health has been studied in a research review published in Applied Research in Quality of Life.
Recently, anti-aging millionaire Bryan Johnson took to social media platform Instagram to remind people about the devastating impact of doomscrolling on health. Johnson who’s on a mission to biologically reverse his age, often posts about importance of a quality sleep and encourages his followers to adopt good sleep habits.”Stop doom scrolling, friend,” he wrote.
He further wrote about perks of digital detox saying it could help one accomplish a lot. He also sends a reminder about turning off the phone 30 minutes before going to bed.
“Your phone and social media has you addicted. They do not have your best interest in mind. It puppets your thoughts, emotions and desires. Be a high agency person and fight back. Turn your phone off 30 minutes before bed. Do not let it interfere with restful sleep,” he wrote.

The devastating impact of doomscrolling

How doomscrolling could impact your thoughts and productivity doomscrolling can lead to existential anxiety – a feeling of panic that arises when we confront the limitations of our existence.
A study published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports says doomscrolling evokes greater levels of existential anxiety , a feeling of dread or panic that arises when we confront the limitations of our existence.
Another study by the same journal in April 2024 said that employees who doomscroll during work become less involved with their professional tasks, a practice which may reduce their productivity significantly.
Doomscrolling also promotes sedentary lifestyle and screen addiction which could lead to headaches, muscle tension, neck and shoulder pain, low appetite, difficulty sleeping, and even elevated blood pressure, according to Harvard experts.

How to avoid doomscrolling

Set time limits: If you are not able to stop consuming all sorts of negative news, take technology’s assistance and make use of app timers or alarms to control how long you spend scrolling through news or social media.
Curate your feed: Plan your feed intelligently and mindfully and unfollow or mute accounts that contribute to anxiety and look for sources that provide balanced, factual information.

Designate no-scroll zones: Do not carry your phone everywhere. Keep your phone away during meals, before bed, or in certain rooms to break the habit.
Engage in alternative activities: Make sure your entire life doesn’t revolve around your phone. Replace scrolling with reading, journaling, exercising, or spending time outdoors.
Practice mindful consumption: Before clicking, ask yourself if reading the news will inform or simply stress you out.