Doomscrolling Doesn’t Inform You. It Exhausts You.

The case for a boring life

We’re losing ourselves.

Every morning, we plug into the internet and frazzle our brains with scary stats and headlines.

I say we.

I stopped doomscrolling the news and social media 18 months ago, and I’ve never been happier.

But is this responsible?

Some people say not:

*Screenshot from the comments section:* *My Quiet Life Is Boring as F*ck — And I Absolutely Love It*

“You SHOULD be paying attention to current events or your “quiet life” may not be so quiet in the future.”

Perhaps.

But I still believe more people should stop the scroll and live a boring life.

And if you’re worried about being irresponsible or letting grandparents ruin the world, you shouldn’t.

Here’s why.

The internet confuses visibility with impact.

There’s a quote that lives rent-free in my head:

“If it’s not going to matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes thinking about it.” — Cher

That’s how I feel about social media.

So many people are trying to blow up on YouTube, IG, Substack... And I get it. It feels terrific!

I’ve written viral articles like this one, and this one.

It can also be good for business.

But how many of those plant-in-the-background YouTube videos do you actually remember?

Repeat after me:

Loud doesn’t equal important.

Meaningful change happens in rooms without cameras.

Calm ≠ complacency.

I’m well aware of the state of the world.

Jimmy Carr puts it best:

“In the West, I think we suffer a lot from Life Dysmorphia […]
“A lot of people think their life is terrible because of the hedonic treadmill. You get used to how great your life is. (But remember), no one had a hot shower until 50 years ago […]
“ There’s been 100 billion people ever. We are in the top, top percentile in terms of the luck that we have had. We’re living like kings and yet life has never been objectively better but subjectively worse.”

Bunkering up in your home and ignoring your phone can feel like an abdication of responsibility.

Or at least that’s what some people say.

But avoiding the doomscroll doesn’t mean your complacent. You can still make a difference.

I just try to do so in quiet ways.

I recently signed up to Planet Wild, and I’ve been a member of Tim’s Club since its launch in May 2023.

I also manage a small team at work and contribute to the happiness of my friends and family.

“Watch out when anyone (including you) says he wants to do something big, but can’t until he raises money. It usually means the person is more in love with the idea of being big-big-big than with doing something useful.”

— Derek Sivers

You don’t have to save the world to be impactful.

You just have to show up.

Who are you performing for?

You don’t have to post online.

You don’t owe anyone a public stance on every issue.

You’re allowed to think slowly.

Me and my girlfriend were chatting about this the other night. She was lamenting the fact she has so few opinions, whilst her friends lob opinion bombs at each other every time they meet up.

But here’s the thing.

Not having an opinion is — somewhat paradoxically — an opinion. You’re not drawn into battle. You’re making a stance. You’re choosing what to give a f*ck about.

Mark Manson would be proud.

Boredom is often a sign of intentional stability.

Lots of people are getting traction by celebrating their “boring lives”.

Take Amber Baldwin. She has 105K subs. And Matt D’Avella has over 4.02m.

Generally speaking, though, a life without incredible peaks and troughs doesn’t trend on social.

You have to be okay with that.

The opposite is a life of chaos.

I watched an episode of Steven Bartlett’s “Behind The Diary” and his calendar popped up.

All these meetings gave me the chills:

*Screenshot from* *EP8 Behind The Diary*

When I scrolled through the YouTube comments, everybody was singing his praises.

I couldn’t find anything negative.

Now don’t get me wrong — I’m not bashing Steven. He’s a skilled marketer.

But why do so many people strive for a life like this?

Countless meetings, shuttling in taxis, trying to respond to messages whilst your assistant barks instructions from behind you…

I don’t get it.

This isn’t fun.

This isn’t freedom.

“Opportunities are just obligations wearing an appealing mask.” — Paul Jarvis, Author of “Company of One”

Not broadcasting your struggles doesn’t mean you don’t have any.

Some people are comfortable displaying their open wounds for the world to see.

Others are not.

Either way, I know through just speaking with friends that quiet people still fight private battles. They struggle with their mental health. They have turbulent relationships. They feel alone.

Their silence does not signal a lack of depth.

Or that they’re boring.

Or some other random troupe we’ll throw their way.

If anything, choosing not to reveal your inner-most thoughts in a world that can’t stop talking is brave. A sign of strength.

Privacy is not avoidance.

Consistency is more impressive than grand gestures.

Paying bills.

Keeping promises.

Being emotionally reliable.

These are unsexy forms of heroism that lead to a good life.

Ultimately...

If WWIII does kick off, “staying informed” won’t make the slightest bit of difference.

Our lives will still get blown to smitherines — literally and metaphorically.

I rest my case.