By - Jui Deshpande
“Just 5 more minutes” can turn into an hour or more. Endless doomscrolling has quietly become a habit of many people. It has become uncontrollable. Trouble no one expected when digital technology dominated the world. It can be seen that people are slowly returning to analog habits. Analog habits means all those activities that do not include screens and technology. The simple examples could be journaling, painting, meeting people face to face instead of chatting. The mass is opting for a change which is like a fresh breath of air during the rise of digital content.
Many have admitted that they have tried uninstalling Instagram only to end up on YouTube shorts. The platform changes but the habit stays. One person described it as an “addictive pull” that makes them tired for no apparent reason and miss out on real life moments. One described it as “cheap dopamine relief” where they are investing so much time but getting nothing productive in return.
The concern goes deeper than wasted time and fatigue. Several responses reflected a fear that social media is quietly reshaping identity, influencing the clothes people wear, the trends they follow, even how they think. One person expressed that doomscrolling doesn’t show immediate damage, but has a long-term impact: it reduces time for reflection, weakens attention spans, and slowly erodes the ability to think deeply about life goals. One in particular mentioned that it is like being a zombie, just going on in life. Without thinking or doing anything about what they really want to do in life.
Attempts to reduce screen time are common but not always successful. App locks work temporarily. Phones are placed in another room. Some try replacing scrolling with reading, sketching, exercising, cleaning, journaling, or simply having conversations at home. One person journals every night. Another consciously keeps their phone away while spending time with family. Yet many admitted that completely detaching from screens feels nearly impossible in an increasingly digital world.
Despite the difficulty, there is a noticeable difference when analogue habits are practiced. Respondents described feeling subtle mood improvements, a sense of contentment, and better connection when engaging in physical activities. Writing by hand, reading printed books, sketching, walking, or using separate devices for specific functions were described as small ways to escape the “death grip” of the smartphone.
Interestingly, people don’t see analog living as nostalgia. They see it as survival. The return to physical habits appears less about rejecting technology and more about reclaiming balance and peace. Being mindful with social media.
In a world where everything is designed to keep attention captive, analog activities offer something rare: space to think, reflect, and simply exist again. While social media may not disappear, the growing awareness of its long-term impact is pushing people to rediscover something slower, quieter, and more grounded.
And perhaps that shift isn’t backward, it’s necessary.