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A stop scrolling kit could be the antidote to mindless doom scrolling. By pulling together a few supplies and getting into the habit of having options nearby, you can break the habit of grabbing your phone at every opportunity. Let’s look at some things to do instead of scrolling!
What is a Stop Scrolling Kit?
A stop scrolling kit or anti-scrolling bag or whatever you want to call it is a way to give yourself other activities to do instead of scrolling. What you’ll have in yours depends on what you like to do but I have some general ideas that I think will work for most people.
I actually like to have multiple stashes of things to help prevent scrolling, such as one in the car that you can grab when you’re going out, as well as options around the house in places you might otherwise be tempted to grab your phone.
Keep them in baskets, bags or boxes, whatever you have handy that will fit the things you need and be easy to keep with you when you need them.
Ideas for an Anti-Scrolling Kit
For me, I really want a couple of options to avoid using my phone. Generally that’s going to be a craft project and a book, as well as a notebook of some kind that could be for doodling, writing down observations or lists or things I’m reading. If you have a planner or a commonplace book this is a great thing to add.
So what do you need if you’re including a craft? I have some general ideas for travel kits for various crafts that can get you started thinking about it:
- Travel knitting kit
- Crochet travel kit
- Travel kit for stitchers (cross stitch, embroidery, mending, hand sewing)
- Art travel kit (drawing, painting, art journaling, collage, etc.)
In general here you’ll want a project and the supplies you need for that project. Or if you’re more of an art journal/doodler/paper artist, just supplies that will help you make or at least start simple projects on the go. You can keep your project inside a project bag or just keep it loose in the bigger bag.
Don’t have a portable hobby? Check out my ideas on how to start a hobby, plus 100+ ideas to be more creative no matter how much time you have. It’s also worth considering this list of things to do other than spend time on Facebook, which are of course valid for stopping doom scrolling or time spent on other apps as well (and less tied to being crafty if that’s not your thing).
As for books, I’m usually reading several things at once (and have a book in most rooms I can grab instead of my phone). I don’t love keeping a book in a bag that’s only for reading when I’m out because I don’t go out that much. But I can always grab a nearby book or my Kindle to take with me when I need it.
If you’re not a big reader, allow me to offer some (outdated resources but still valid for ideas) advice on developing a reading challenge. And don’t forget some homemade reading accessories like corner bookmarks and book weights if you take a physical book out, or a Kindle cozy if that’s your preference.
And when it comes to notebooks, if you have a planner, commonplace book or place you like to keep notes, that’s the one to bring along. Otherwise a simple notebook for jotting down ideas, thoughts, quotes from your reading, etc. will be handy to have. Which notebook I bring depends on how long I expect to be waiting (and what I’m reading).
Using Your Stop Scrolling Kit
Of course the challenge of an anti scrolling kit is not putting it together, but actually using it. That’s why I like having these things at home, too, so you can practice using it before you need it out in the world.
Keep books and projects nearby wherever you normally sit and scroll (OK, maybe not a crochet project in the bathroom, but you know what I mean). You need to have the other options as easy to grab as your phone, so that becomes your mindless choice instead.
If you happen to do a craft like knitting, crochet or stitching that you can do without paying total attention to it, that’s a great thing to start using as an anti-scrolling idea. That way you can still carry on conversations and you’ll pay better attention than you would if you were also scrolling your phone.
I like to keep a book at the table so I can pick it up to read during meals instead of scrolling when I’m alone or other family members are on their phones.
If you will follow your own rules, make some rules around when you’ll scroll and for how long. Maybe you won’t look at Instagram before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m., and you can only do five minutes at a time. Set a timer if you need to or just keep an eye on the clock if you can be honest with yourself.
You can also get apps that block other apps if it comes to that, but having something good to replace doom scrolling with is generally enough to get me to stop.
And then when I’m getting ready to leave the house and expect to have some downtime, I’ll grab my backpack, add a knitting or crochet project, book and notebook. Because all these things are already nearby it adds about a minute to getting ready, and I know I’ll have what I need to stop scrolling wherever I am.
