At the end of a long, stressful day, most of us look for a way to de-stress before we fall asleep. Some IWU students might go out to parties, take long showers or turn on a show. For most of us, though, our escape is doomscrolling on our phone.
It makes sense. Winter can be a time of heightened stress with less access to sunlight and hobbies to keep us off our devices. Spring itself brings up new challenges as midterms and finals start becoming a reality all too fast, taking up free time and mental energy.
Last semester, I found myself scrolling through social media after my homework, finding little relief. It did not make me feel comforted or less stressed but would instead make me feel as though I was wasting my time, which I could be using to be more productive. I started walking when I finished doing my work for the day. No distractions, just me walking around town with my music.
Going on walks has a lot of subtle benefits to both our physical and mental health, which doomscrolling can not provide. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular walking can strengthen your bones and muscles; improve muscle endurance; increase energy levels; improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep; improve your balance and coordination; strengthen your immune system; and reduce stress and tension. These are all things that college students struggle with, especially as finals season rapidly approaches. This is why I recommend that any able-bodied student put down their phone and take a walk when things feel overwhelming instead of turning to doomscrolling through social media.
Although reaching for social media is tempting, a Harvard article suggests that it could actually increase stress and anxiety, as it is constantly overstimulating our brains. When you’re stressed and doom-scrolling, it may provide a temporary distraction, but it ultimately just causes more stress. As classes may be starting to become more demanding and the current political climate becomes more uncertain, it is important to focus on the things we can control and take care of our health so we can put our best foot forward.
These walks do not have to be long or completely technology-free. A single lap around the quad every day with some music in the background is a wonderful way to start taking care of your mental and physical health.
