Doomscroll Much? Replace It With These Fun Things

It’s 2 a.m., your newborn is finally asleep, and there you are, phone in hand, scrolling through a sea of disasters. Maybe it started with checking the weather, but now you’re knee-deep in a thread about economic collapse, celebrity drama, and every terrible thing happening around the world. Classic doomscrolling.

Here’s the kicker: it’s not helping. Especially if you’re a new mom. Stress and anxiety are already through the roof, and endless bad news only piles on. The good news? You can swap that late-night spiral for something way more fun.

Let’s talk about some better ways to use your phone that won’t wreck your mental health.

Connect With Other Moms (But Watch Out For Quacks)

Talking with other moms who get it can be a lifeline. Seriously, sometimes just hearing someone else say, “Yeah, my kid projectile vomited on the cat, too,” can save your sanity.

But – and this is a big but – be careful where you hang out online. Some parenting groups are goldmines of support. Others are basically wild west zones full of medical misinformation, “miracle cures,” and anti-vaccine nonsense. Yikes. Stick to groups that are evidence-based and vibe-check everything before you trust it. A little skepticism can save you a lot of stress (and bad advice).

Dive Into a Mystery Box Online

If you miss the excitement of surprises but don’t feel like organizing a whole baby shower to get gifts, opening a mystery box online is weirdly satisfying. Sites like Hypedrop let you snag a box full of mystery items – anything from streetwear to electronics. It’s kind of like loot boxes in gaming, where you open a digital package and hope for the good stuff.

Word of caution, though: it’s easy to get sucked in. Mystery boxes are fun, but they’re meant for entertainment, not a budgeting strategy. Set yourself a cap before you start opening them, and treat it like a fun one-off, not a hobby.

Curate Your Social Media Feed

You wouldn’t invite a drama queen to your living room every night, so why let one live rent-free on your feed? Take a few minutes to clean the house. Unfollow news accounts that pump constant fear. Follow parenting accounts, humor pages, travel inspiration, or even those oddly soothing videos of someone making tiny cakes.

The goal is simple: make your scroll something that lifts you up, not something that drains you.

Listen to Uplifting Podcasts or Audiobooks

Multitasking is basically the mom superpower, so why not make it more enjoyable? Stick in some earbuds during late-night feeds and listen to something good. Parenting podcasts, fiction audiobooks, self-help talks that don’t sound like a lecture – there’s something for every mood.

Bonus: it tricks your brain into feeling like you’re doing something just for you, which is a rare win in those early months.

Engage in Mindful Breathing (Even If It Sounds Silly)

I know. Breathing exercises sound like something you’d roll your eyes at. But taking just five minutes to focus on your breath can genuinely lower your stress. Apps like Calm or Headspace make it easy – even if you’re holding a baby and half-asleep yourself.

And look, you’re already breathing anyway. Might as well make it count.

Find A Better Way To Scroll

Motherhood is already a rollercoaster without turning your downtime into a stress marathon. Your phone can still be a lifeline – it just needs a tune-up. Instead of getting dragged through every awful headline, you can use those stolen moments to lift yourself up, recharge, and maybe even have a little fun.

No judgment if you fall into the doomscroll once in a while. We all do. But the next time you catch yourself deep in another endless scroll, maybe swap it for a quick podcast, open a mystery box online (responsibly), or shoot a message to a fellow mom who’s been there, too.

You’re doing a hard job. Give yourself a break – and maybe a surprise or two along the way.