Picture this: You’re steadily pushing your way through midterms, worked to the bone and in desperate need of a break. So, as soon as you have a free moment, you get home, kick off your shoes and — open Instagram reels to scroll for hours on end. You opened the app for a brain break, but almost everything on your feed is related to terrible things happening in the world, people your age getting married and strangers’ health journeys (you’re literally devouring a bag of Trader Joe’s chili lime rolled tortilla chips as you’re scrolling). Sound familiar?
It’s called doomscrolling for a reason. If you need a break from studying, here are 3 things to do that will *actually* improve your mental health and happiness.
Arts and crafts
Unleash your inner child with a good old-fashioned craft night. Whip out markers, paints, gluesticks, scissors, all the construction paper you have, and get your friends together to create anything your heart desires. If you’re someone who needs structure, consult Pinterest for specific craft ideas! Craft night can be as simple as painting your nails, or making a sign of your name to hang on your bedroom door. (My friends and I once made self-portraits of our dream selves in 5 years — highly recommended).
Bake something new
Is there anything more comforting than baking? Spending some time trying a new cookie recipe will keep your mind and body occupied without being overwhelming (unless you’re a perfectionist like me — then it might be more like a scene from “The Bear”). Before you reach for Tiktok, put on a calming playlist or your favorite sitcom and get baking!
Get outside and walk
One of the best ways to avoid doomscrolling and clear your head is a simple walk outside, but the vibe is always dependent on what’s playing in your AirPods. If you don’t plan ahead, you could end up listening to Phoebe Bridgers on loop, which, let’s be honest, isn’t much better than a doomscroll. Spend some time curating a specific playlist for your excursion and hit the road; might I suggest Picnic Point? If the temperature decides to dip again and you don’t want to bundle up, head to the Nick or the Bakke.
Clean your entire living space
When life gets overwhelming, it’s easy to let your bedroom fall into the pits of despair with you. This is the time to finally organize your closet, clean the bathroom and vacuum your entire apartment. Once you start, you’ll be surprised at how hard it is to stop — suddenly you’ll look up and realize your whole place is spick and span.
