How do I stop Doomscrolling

Dear Uncle Gary,

How do I stop doomscrolling without feeling like I’m missing the end of the world?

Signed, Worried Scroller

Dear Worried Scroller,

First, let me assure you, if the world ends, someone will text you. Probably your cousin. Possibly in all caps.

Now, about that doomscrolling. You’re not alone. The internet is a buffet of anxiety, and your brain keeps going back for seconds because it thinks it’s being helpful. “If I just read one more article, I’ll be prepared.” Prepared for what? A meteor strike? A congressional hearing? A raccoon uprising?

Here’s the trick: swap “staying informed” with “staying sane.” You don’t need to know everything the moment it happens. You need to know enough to be a decent citizen and a kind human. That’s it. The rest is noise dressed as urgency.

Try this: set a timer. Give yourself 15 minutes a day to check the news. Not 15 minutes per app, per rabbit hole, per existential spiral. Just 15. Then close the tab and open your life. Call a friend. Water a plant. Read something that doesn’t involve the phrase “unprecedented times.”

And if you’re still worried, you’ll miss the end of the world? Don’t. It’ll trend.

With love and a well-curated feed, Uncle Gary