The Anti-Doomscroll Bucket List: 100 Fun Things to Do Instead of Scrolling

Teen enjoying screen-free activities during a digital detox by reading and journaling outdoors instead of scrolling on a phone.

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This post is based on an episode of The Glow Up Guide Podcast. Press play below to listen, or keep scrolling to read the full article.

Welcome!

Ever pick up your phone for what felt like five minutes, only to realize an hour had vanished?

I know I have. Chances are you have too. 

Maybe you’ve tried spending less time on your phone. But once the boredom kicks in, it’s easy to fall right back into scrolling. 

If you’re looking for practical tips to help you get started, check out my post on 5 Digital Detox Strategies That Actually Worked for Me.

The secret isn’t just scrolling less. It’s filling that time with things you actually enjoy. 

So here’s a list of 100 fun screen-free activities to try instead of scrolling. 

Get Creative

  1. Paint
  2. Scrapbook
  3. Learn calligraphy
  4. Make a vision board
  5. Try photography
  6. Bake and decorate cookies
  7. Learn origami
  8. Redecorate your room
  9. Start a memory journal
  10. Write a short story
  11. Make an aesthetic collage
  12. Press flowers
  13. Paint rocks
  14. Write a poem
  15. Plan out your dream room

Learn Something New

  1. Read a book
  2. Try your hand at sign language
  3. Learn a few phrases of a foreign language
  4. Try a new recipe
  5. Learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube
  6. Master juggling
  7. Learn to whistle
  8. Practice your handwriting

Move Your Body

Scenic lake surrounded by trees, inspiring outdoor screen-free activities and a digital detox from phone scrolling.
  1. Go outside for a walk or run
  2. Stretch
  3. Dance to your favorite songs
  4. Yoga
  5. Go on a long bike ride
  6. Play basketball
  7. Go swimming
  8. Learn jump rope tricks
  9. Lift weights
  10. Practice sports
  11. Roller skate or roller blade
  12. Play frisbee
  13. Play pickleball
  14. Walk your dog

Get Outside

Golden summer sunset over the horizon representing slowing down and being present away from screens.
  1. Watch the sunset
  2. Have a picnic with your friends
  3. Visit a park
  4. Walk a new route
  5. Start a garden
  6. Collect pretty flowers
  7. Read in your backyard
  8. Fly a kite
  9. Look for cool clouds
  10. Plant flowers
  11. Feed ducks
  12. Go to a botanical garden

Self-Care

  1. Journal
  2. Make a healthy snack
  3. Drink a glass of water
  4. Put on a face mask
  5. Do your skincare
  6. Practice gratitude
  7. Meditate
  8. Take a bubble bath
  9. Use a bath bomb
  10. Try breathing exercises

Spend Time With Others

  1. Play a board game
  2. Call your grandparents
  3. Bake with family
  4. Go on a walk with a friend
  5. Write someone a note
  6. Play cards
  7. Have a movie night
  8. Hang out with your friends
  9. Volunteer

Just for Fun

  1. Do a jigsaw puzzle
  2. Build LEGO
  3. Karaoke
  4. Learn card tricks
  5. Color a coloring book
  6. Make friendship bracelets
  7. Do crossword puzzles
  8. Play with a pet
  9. Try something new
  10. Make slime
  11. Make paper airplanes
  12. Blow bubbles

Productive Things

Minimal aesthetic workspace with journal, planner, and notes representing mid-year reset, goal setting, productivity, self improvement, motivation, and getting back on track for the second half of the year
  1. Deep clean your room
  2. Organize your desk
  3. Plan your week
  4. Declutter your backpack
  5. Clean out your closet
  6. Create or update your resume
  7. Create a budget
  8. Meal prep
  9. Make a reading list
  10. Clean your shoes
  11. Do some laundry
  12. Write a to-do list

Fun Side Quests

  1. Go to a farmers market
  2. Attend a festival
  3. Try a new ice cream flavor
  4. Go to the library
  5. Explore your town
  6. Have a water balloon fight
  7. Stargaze
  8. Make popsicles

Conclusion

The point of a digital detox isn’t to completely banish screens from your life. 

It’s to create a life that’s exciting enough that your phone becomes boring. 

Whether you try one activity this week or work your way through the entire list, every little step counts. 

Now get out there and live your life.

Image Credits

  • Hero image — Photo by Anna Lupa on Pexels.
  • Get Creative— Photo by Ansiveg on Pexels.
  • Learn Something New — Photo by bernahanim on Pexels.
  • Just For Fun — Photo by www.kaboompics.com on Pexels.
  • Fun Side Quests — Photo by Julia Kuzenkov on Pexels.

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