50+ Things to Do Instead of Scrolling Social Media
Inside: Sharing some simple ideas to make good use of your time over mindlessly scrolling social media on your phone.
We have all been there, finding ourselves mindlessly scrolling social media or the news or email or whatever on our phones. It’s not fun, productive, or helpful at all! I wanted to share some ideas with you about what to do instead of scrolling.
So before you’re fingers start moving, take a look at the list below and maybe pick out a few go-to tasks you can choose over scrolling. If you have a few options under your belt, it can help you to avoid wasting time on social media and use that time a bit more productively or even just enjoy those few extra minutes doing something you love.
Strategically place the apps on your phone so social media is hard to get to (or maybe not on your phone at all). Put apps on your home page that are helpful and edifying.
Related Resources:
EP 33: Is Your Smartphone Changing You?
EP 163: Wisely Navigating Our Technology
On my home page are apps like:
- Calendar app
- Things 3
- Weather Channel
- PrayerMate
- ESV Bible
- Grace to You
- Truth for Life
- Podcasts
- Audible
- Bible Memory
- Google Maps
When I open my phone, these are the first apps I see, and it helps me to make a good decision in that moment of boredom or avoid what I should be doing. This post came about because I was scrolling! So even though I have these “barrier” apps on my phone, I still need to be disciplined in making good use of my time.
“True freedom from the bondage of technology comes not mainly from throwing away the smartphone, but from filling the void with the glories of Jesus that you are trying to fill with the pleasures of the device.”
~ Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You
If you’re going to spend time on social media, plan it into your day, so you keep a limit on how much time you’re spending on it.
Please share your ideas with us in the comments when that urge to scroll hits, what do you do to ward it off and use the time more wisely?
Instead of Scrolling, I Could:
- Read a Psalm
- Wash the Dishes
- Make the Bed
- Call a Friend
- Text a Friend
- Work on a Memory Verse
- Do a Mini-Workout
- Stretch
- Pray for Someone
- Write in Your Gratitude Journal
- Tidy a Drawer or Shelf in the Kitchen
- Read a Book to Your Children
- Read a Book
- Read an Edifying Blog Post
- Clean Your Bathroom in 5 Minutes
- Purge 5 Items from Your Closet
- Meal Plan for the Day or Week
- Start a Load of Laundry
- Fold a Load of Laundry
- Organize Your Desk or Work Area
- Reply to an Email
- Play a game with your family
- Take a Walk
- Sit and Ponder
- Sit with a Magazine
- Send Your Husband a Sweet Text
- Schedule a coffee date with a friend
- Sweep the Front Porch
- Tidy your Nightstand
- Clean Your Make-Up Drawer
- Get the Mail & Sort It
- Pay a Bill
- Tidy a Room
- Return a Phone Call
- Write a Thank-You Note
- Feather Dust a Room
- Clean Out Your Car
- Tidy the Front Entryway
- Clean Your Purse
- Empty Garbage Cans
- Hug a Family Member
- Call an Elderly Friend
- Clean One Shelf in the Fridge
- Delete Photos on Your Phone’s Camera Roll
- Read Truth for Life Daily Devotional
- Plan a Dinner with Friends
- Make a Cup of Tea
- Listen to a Podcast
- Plan a Date Night with Your Spouse
- Purge Your Cookbooks
- Make a Fun Music Playlist
- Listen to a Fun Music Playlist
- Light a Candle
- Plan Your Week
- Make a To-Do List for the Day
- Watch an Ask Ligonier Video
- Write in a One-Line-A-Day Journal