Bloomscrolling Can Boost Your Mood
What’s your favorite thing to watch on social media? Perhaps it’s videos of cute animals, people accomplishing their dreams, or scenic destinations that inspire you. With its abundance of feel-good content, scrolling on TikTok and Instagram can be soothing.
One heartwarming activity called “bloomscrolling” encapsulates this, according to Real Simple. It can provide a digital refuge from what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming world and may be an instant way to improve how you feel.
What is Bloomscrolling?
Bloomscrolling involves seeking out uplifting content on your social media feed. That might mean watching inspiring stories, content about hobbies you enjoy, or calming nature videos. “Bloomscrolling is the conscious act of seeking out uplifting, beautiful, or inspiring content to protect your peace, lift your mood, and cultivate digital wellness,” Niloufar Nekou, LMFT, chief clinical officer at Care Predictor, tells Real Simple.
Bloomscrolling offers a more positive alternative to doomscrolling. “Bloomscrolling is essentially the opposite of doomscrolling, where you can get stuck reading one upsetting story after another,” Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind, says.
The Feel-Good Benefits of Bloomscrolling
While doomscrolling can leave you feeling irritable or stressed long after you put your phone aside, bloomscrolling may have feel-good benefits for your mind. “When you bloomscroll, you shift your brain chemistry toward oxytocin and stable dopamine releases,” Nekou adds.
Researchers have tested the impact of viewing this type of content. As part of a study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 30 young adults looked at images of natural and built environments in separate three-minute sessions, although 25 participants were included in the final analysis. Participants reported feeling more comfortable and relaxed after viewing the nature images.
How to Practice Mindful Bloomscrolling
To try bloomscrolling, start by thinking of what you enjoy watching and what helps you feel calm, Mashable reports. Examples of such content can include a tutorial on how to create art, a comedy sketch, or cooking inspiration for your next meal.
Pay attention to how different accounts make you feel, and curate your feed accordingly. If certain posts bring your mood down, unfollow or mute the accounts, or mark the content “not interested” to see less of it. Make sure to also set boundaries for yourself when it comes to bloomscrolling. Setting a stopping point for yourself can also help keep bloomscrolling intentional, since even uplifting feeds can take up more time and attention than you planned.
Finally, take some of that inspiration offline. Try an idea you discovered, create something yourself, or head outside. While bloomscrolling is a positive way to navigate the social media landscape, it’s not the final destination.
In a world where feeds are often crowded with negative news and heated conversations, bloomscrolling shows that opening Instagram and TikTok can be a more positive experience when approached with intention.
