I’d never heard the expression “doomscrolling” until John Paul Caponigro quoted a National Geographic story on the topic on Facebook a couple of months back.
Here’s the backstory and why it’s so relevant:
Ever had one of those days where nothing made you happy? My grandmother used to call it waking up on the wrong side of the bed. As the day went on, I became more and more miserable and angry.
Then, scrolling through Facebook, I linked to JP’s post about doomscrolling. Whether fake news or real, these days it’s almost impossible to know the difference, as everything being shared is negative. Off I went to read more about the topic. Here’s what Google AI had to say:
Doomscrolling is the compulsive, excessive consumption of negative news and distressing content online, leading to increased anxiety, depression, fatigue, and other negative mental and physical health effects, driven by our brain’s threat detection system but amplified by social media algorithms that keep us hooked on upsetting headlines, with solutions involving setting limits, taking breaks, and practicing mindfulness.
And in JP’s original post, his quote included a statement about PTSD, in that often doom-scrolling is just as traumatic as the events being written about!
I immediately stopped scrolling through Facebook notifications, which I was typically spending at least 2-3 hours a day reading and watching. Unless I unplugged from negative news on the Internet, I was going to be doomed to walking around with a cartoon character’s black cloud over my head.
I know this is a very different topic from what I usually share on Marathon’s blog, but we’re living in a world that’s upside down. Added to the craziness is all the fake news being published – no matter what side of the “fight” you’re on, there are people just waiting for you to walk into their world so they can gaslight you!
So, here are a couple of things I’ve found helpful…
- You can’t avoid the news, but you can control where it comes from. Find yourself a reliable source.
“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet!”
Abraham Lincoln
- Limit your time reading negative posts…I’m not suggesting you bury your head in the sand – just limit the time you spend catching up on what’s happening in the world.
- Stay out of the battles! Everyone’s got an opinion, but you don’t need to add your support or disagreement to every fight. Lately, some of my friends who I’ve known the longest have surprised me as they morph into trolls over any opinion different from their own!
- Stay focused on your craft! You know how to hold focus with your camera. Now it’s time to hold focus on your business.
- Surround yourself with positive people. Get rid of the negativity being sent your way.
- Read something motivational every day. Sheila and I both have books we read with daily motivational pieces. We each read one out loud every morning after breakfast. Your heart and soul need nourishment just as much as your body needs food and water!
- Get enough sleep! Everybody has a minimum you need, and when you come up short, it’s like being overdrawn on your bank account.
Here’s the bottom line: you need to stay positive about your family, your core business, and the role you play in your community. To do that, you need to be involved but limit the negativity bombarding you, especially on social media.
Remember, you can’t create images that tug at people’s heartstrings if your own heart isn’t in it.
