Creative Things I Do Instead of Scrolling

 

Like most people, I sometimes find myself picking up my phone “for a minute” and somehow losing half an hour to scrolling.

It’s easy to fall into that habit. Social media is designed to keep us there.

But lately I’ve been trying to replace some of that scrolling time with things that actually leave me feeling a bit more inspired, creative, or calm.

I’m not perfect at it, but when I do swap scrolling for something creative, it almost always feels better.

Here are a few creative things I like to do instead of scrolling.

Writing

Writing is one of the easiest ways for me to step away from my phone.

Sometimes that means working on blog posts.
Sometimes it’s planning new book ideas.
Other times it’s just writing thoughts down in a notebook.

It doesn’t have to be anything big or polished.

Just getting ideas out of my head and onto paper feels surprisingly refreshing.

Drawing or Illustrating

Since I love illustrating children’s books, opening Procreate or sketching ideas is always a good alternative to scrolling.

Even if I’m just playing around with colours, characters, or textures, it’s still creating something instead of passively consuming content.

And sometimes those little sketches turn into ideas for future projects.

Reading

Reading is something I always wish I did more of.

But it’s amazing how often I’ll pick up my phone instead of a book.

Even reading just a few pages can quickly pull me into a story or idea in a way scrolling never really does.

Planning Future Ideas

My brain is usually full of ideas.

Blog posts.
Books.
Family adventures.
Creative projects.

Instead of scrolling, I sometimes sit down and start writing lists of things I’d love to create or try.

It’s amazing how energising that can be.

Photography

Sometimes I pick up my camera or phone and look for small things to photograph.

It might be:

• the cats doing something ridiculous

• the kids playing

• sunlight coming through the window

• something interesting outside

It reminds me to look at the world around me instead of staring at a screen.

Baking Something Simple

Baking isn’t always planned.

Sometimes it’s just deciding to make something simple with the kids like cookies or pancakes.

It’s messy.
It’s chaotic.
But it’s also fun.

And it turns into a little family moment instead of everyone being in separate digital worlds.

Going Outside

This sounds obvious, but stepping outside can instantly reset your brain.

A short walk.
A bit of fresh air.
Watching the kids run around the garden.

Sometimes that’s all it takes to break the scrolling habit.

Letting My Mind Wander

One of the strange things about constant scrolling is that it doesn’t leave much room for boredom.

But boredom is often where creativity starts.

When your mind has space, ideas begin to appear.

Stories.
Projects.
Plans.

Sometimes the best thing to do is simply put the phone down and let your brain breathe for a while.

A Small Change That Makes a Difference

I’m not trying to eliminate scrolling completely.

Social media can be fun, inspiring, and sometimes even helpful.

But replacing just a little of that time with creative moments has made a noticeable difference.

Instead of finishing the day wondering where the time went, I end up with something small that I created, experienced, or enjoyed.

And that always feels like time better spent.