This Thanksgiving break, I have come to a conclusion; doomscrolling is ruining my life. That might seem dramatic, but, please, hear me out. Over the past week, I found myself in need of an activity to take part in, and after countless hours of scrolling, clicking and swiping, I finally decided to pick up a book. I used to be an avid reader. In previous years, fulfilling my Goodreads reading challenge was truly my driving force. I would read ten, twenty, even thirty books every year. Pages upon pages of fiction flowing through my mind constantly, allowing my imagination to run wild. 

Since downloading Tiktok and Instagram, I have noticed that the imaginative part of my brain starts to fizzle out. I am no longer eager to craft or participate in creative activities like I once was, and I can’t help but assume that this has some correlation to the uptick in my screentime. 

This break, I read a murder mystery book that was a new release from one of my favorite authors. I had trouble getting myself through the first couple of pages, my mind roaming anywhere but to the text in front of me, but after a while, I became utterly enthralled. It seems to me that I had completely forgotten the joy of reading. I had forgotten the ability books tend to have to transport you to a whole new world. We hear that often, that reading transports you, but I feel like we don’t take advantage of it. How incredible is it to have the ability to experience different realities without leaving your couch or bed? I think that this is a privilege that we all need to take more advantage of. 

Additionally, nothing quite compares to the sensation that comes with finishing a book. There is a sense of fulfillment and pride as a goal is accomplished. All the time that you have spent sifting through pages and scanning text becomes worth it when a story is tied together with a nice, neat ending. When I compare reading to scrolling on social media, I realize that social media presents no true goal. It does not allow a true feeling of contentment as you will never accomplish anything. When I scroll on Tiktok, there is no meaning to an end. I just keep scrolling. It is truly just an endless cycle.

I am no expert, but I do believe that this feeling of accomplishment is vital for growth and emotional maturity. I think that having goals and reaching them makes us stronger and more suited for other challenges we may face in our lives. While setting goals and accomplishing things may seem overwhelming, there is one easy way to get started: read a book. 

If you claim to not enjoy reading, you simply haven’t found the right book. The next time you pick up your phone, I urge you to reconsider and pick up a book instead. Between the two options, one will cause you to feel accomplished and fulfilled, but the other will only waste your time.