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Our lives have been filled with so much uncertainty in recent years: a global pandemic, natural disasters, international humanitarian crises, and much more. With each new obstacle comes the desire to seek out information and learn everything we can about each situation. While this can be important, and even lifesaving in some situations, it can also be detrimental to our health, especially if we resort to ‘doom-scrolling’.  

 

What is doom-scrolling?

Doom-scrolling is a relatively new term that describes what many of us have fallen victim to: feeling the need to constantly check the news or social media, spending an excessive amount of time scrolling, reading, or watching news reports, or reading multiple different articles on the same topic.

 

How can social media be bad for me?

Humans have never had as much access to information as we do today (newspapers, television, social media, computers, etc). Being constantly bombarded with information, negative news, and crises can negatively impact our health especially if we are not taking adequate time to care for and nurture ourselves. It is no doubt that the troubling information we find online often brings up emotions for many of us, and if we are neglecting to care for ourselves then these emotions may be suppressed or misplaced. 

 

So, what are some ways to take care of myself during these times?

  • Get outside in nature when possible to connect with the earth. Placing your bare feet in grass, dirt, or sand for a few minutes each day has a powerful effect on overall wellness and can help keep us grounded!
  • Journaling, drawing, and coloring are excellent ways to take care of ourselves because they provide a creative outlet to express many of the emotions that we are experiencing.
  • Write down one thing that you are grateful for each day! 
  • Schedule a follow up with your naturopathic doctor! Keeping track of your health is essential and can easily be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

 

How can I stop doom-scrolling?

  • Set a timer for a certain amount of time during which you can research and catch up on current events. Once the timer is up, you can stop what you are doing and switch over to your next task for the day. Setting an effective boundary like this is a great way to reduce your exposure to negative news and provides you with more time to care for yourself
  • When you are online, consider seeking out positive or uplifting news to help motivate and inspire you and use your screen time to spark joy or creativity in your life! You could watch a video tutorial on a new hobby/craft/recipe or watch a documentary about your favorite plant or animal! 

 

Help Yourself!

While there are many uncertainties in the world, one thing is certain: we must work together and care for one another to get us through these times. Check on your friends and family, check on your neighbor, but most importantly you must remember to check on and take care of yourself. Like they say on an airplane, you can’t help someone else if you haven’t helped yourself first! 

 

Resources

Protecting the Brain Against Bad News  

Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine Strategies Should Include Earthing 

Illnesses in Technologically Advanced Societies Due to Lack of Grounding 



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