26 Amazing Alternatives to Scrolling Social Media in 2026
Looking for something to do instead of scrolling?
We’re all trying to be better people.
More present. More alive. And the more time we spend online, the more we’re craving some offline, unplugged time.
And we know that sitting with our phones in our hands for hours, flipping our thumbs, doomscrolling, is NOT making us any better, smarter, faster, kinder, or richer.
This isn’t to knock social media. After emerging from a love-hate relationship with social media, I’m now on the love-love side of social. I’ve curated my feed to follow accounts and people who inspire me to do and be better. As a three-time author and 20-year communications professional, I also choose to see social media for what it is — a tool. It’s a tool that’s connected me to clients, readers, and great connections.
You choose how you interact with it.
Filter out the extra noise on social media so you can focus on the information you need.
You know those in-between times? Like that super weird week between Christmas and New Year’s, where you feel a pull to get back to work, to be productive, and to get out of your holiday pants (extra stretchy yoga pants that have never actually seen a downward dog) and get back to life. Or those 15 minutes between meetings, waiting in line at the grocery store, or when you think you need to scroll in an effort to relax.
So instead, you turn to scrolling.
You know the kind. The mindless scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. The forgettable scroll, where you don’t remember what you saw at the end of the day.
Here’s the thing: When you’re scrolling, you might feel relaxed, but you’re not actually restoring your body and mind (and your spirit, too).
These suggestions for alternatives to scrolling are more restorative than half-watching reels with trending audio and the occasional puppy appearance.
Have you ever wondered what the actual data and activity volumes would be on social media if we all stopped posting filtered photos of ourselves doing uninteresting stuff, gym check-ins, completely unintelligent rants, and other mindless fuckery?
Imagine a social media feed filled with creative, thoughtful expressions of our intelligence — an abundance of inspiration.
Then I wondered, if I’m bored by my social feed, I'm the boring one. I can only change what I can control, and that's what I do with my time.
You don’t have to quit social media completely. It’s something I’ve become more mindful of over the years.
Even if the only thing you ever post on social media is cat videos, and you’re happily laughing through them, there’s no judgment from me!
I wrote this to give you some inspiration. Offer up some ideas of things you could do other than scrolling social media. But only if you want to.
And please, don’t treat this list as a checklist, trying to do all these things. Instead, look at this list like a menu. These are just some ideas for creating new habits that don’t involve mindless scrolling.
24 things to do today besides scrolling
Write something.
Did you really think you’d click on this article from a website called The Intuitive Writing School, and I wouldn’t tell you to write something? Write:
- A new business announcement
- A manifesto
- A book (not literally today, but you can start)
- A new LinkedIn headline
- Website copy, like your About Page, Sales Page, or Home Page
- A blog post
- One of these 30 ideas that you can finish in a day
- Or, just follow some writing prompts with your pen and paperRead a book.
Not sure where to start? Check out the features at your library or the unfinished books on your bookshelf. Read just one page.
Read an essay.
This is one reason why I love Substack more than social media these days. Now, the Notes feature IS social media, but Substack is calmer, more nervous-system friendly, and favors long-form content 🙌 As an author, writer, and entrepreneur, I’ve seen MASSIVE growth there. You can start with one of my ⚡️🪶Energy-First Substack essays here.
Move your body.
Take a walk even if it’s cold or hot enough to melt your flip-flops. Even if it’s only 10 minutes, it's still nice to get outside. Do some squats or pushups. Clear mind AND a stronger body! I keep a rebounder in my office and get on it to bounce for a few minutes each day.
Write a thank-you note.
For a gift you received recently, or to a friend or family member, just for being awesome.
Send fan mail.
Send a letter or email to an author you love. You might think they get boatloads of mail every day. They might not get any. Check their contact page for their email address or a message form. If your website doesn’t have a contact page, make one! You can whip one up in minutes, and it’s useful for SEO and making it easy for readers and clients to get in touch with you.
Watch TV.
I know, one mindless activity to another, but the key here is ONLY to watch TV. No double-screening (scrolling while watching TV). Personally, I’m a fan of documentaries ;)
Go to the movies.
Leave your phone in the car and get the most ridiculous bag of candy you can buy.
Listen to a book.
Listen while you do some household chores, while driving, or walking.
Find a new podcast.
Learn something new while you go about your day. You can listen to mine! How Women Write.
Make art.
It doesn’t need to be gallery-worthy. I used to love playing with my kids’ Buddha board. On it, you paint with water, and the picture disappears in minutes — so therapeutic!
Journal.
I didn’t journal for years because I thought I had nothing interesting to say. You know what, my morning pages are super dull and that’s cool! Or use your journaling practice to manifest some stuff.
Purge some clutter.
You know you’ve got it. Read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up if you need some inspiration.
Wander a local museum, shop, or new-to-you town.
You don’t need to spend money; simply wander around. Bring a notebook to capture all the inspiration you’ll get.
Go for a drive.
Take a new route, visit a cafe on the other side of town just ‘cause.
Talk to people.
I feel a little sad that this needs to be on a list. Instead of scrolling social media while you wait for your triple-shot, extra-hot oat milk cappuccino, look up and say hi to the person making your coffee. A simple “Hey, how’s it going?” is all you need to muster up to make someone’s day.
Create a power playlist.
This is the modern version of the mixtape or burning a CD. You know the kinds of songs that make you feel like Rocky? Put all those tunes in one place and have a special playlist just for writing. Here’s one of mine.
Make something.
Build a thing, do a craft, assemble a damn birdhouse, paint a chair. Just use your hands.
Make a start, stop, continue list.
What are some things you'd like to start doing? Going to the gym? Drinking tea? What about things to stop doing? And what’s working well for you that you want to keep doing? Writing it down gives it more power.
Clean out your inbox.
You don’t need to achieve inbox zero, but you could enjoy some newsletters or unsubscribe from some that no longer bring you joy. Even if it’s mine.
Look at all the free PDFs you’ve downloaded this year.
Delete the ones you know you’ll never complete and keep the others in a special folder.
Watch your pets.
Or go outside and watch some birds and squirrels. If wildlife is hibernating where you live right now, watch some animal videos on YouTube. BUT … this isn’t a mindless activity. You’re watching them to notice how they live in the NOW. They’re never bored. They don’t care what time it is, if their coffee is cold, or how many minutes they waited for their last meal. Read more about rewriting your relationship with time in this 2026 Substack essay: Stop Racing: Kairos and the Right Time to Write.
Start a blog — even better, start it on Substack.
Even if it’s just some random thoughts and you’re not ready to publish yet. If you want to write essays without sharing advice, simply to share your story, try Substack. If you want to share advice, try Substack.
Upcoming Substack Workshop: On Tuesday, January 27, you can join a 90-minute workshop that’s ALL about getting started and growing on Substack. Get access inside the writing community. You can cancel anytime.Take a free online class.
Or do some learning on YouTube. Pick a topic you’re interested in and follow the breadcrumbs.
Do nothing.
Without feeling guilty, of course. You might be doing your brain a favor. Simply sit or lie down. Maybe you even need a nap, and you’ll really feel refreshed later. Close your eyes and notice the sensations of your heart beating effortlessly in your chest, and your lungs filling and emptying.
Take action on something you already learned.
How many books have you read in the past year? How many courses did you take? How many live events did you attend? Learning without action is useless. Spend 30 minutes today flipping through a book you just dog-eared and highlighted, and turn the pages into action items, to-dos, and calendar entries. Here are some more ways to integrate what you learn in this blog.
If you enjoyed this list of things to do instead of scrolling, you might also like these inspiring articles to spark your intuitive writing:
7 Things To Consider When You’re Trying To Choose a Writing Idea
Write the Book Your Soul Wants To Write: 11 Important Questions To Ask Yourself
The Power of Penning Prayer Pages to Manifest Your Most Authentic Self
Want nervous-system-friendly inspiration beyond scrolling social media?
Sign up for my Energy-First Writing Substack. Expect:
Energy-first writing principles to never experience writer’s block again
To learn how to write WITH your natural rhythms, not fight against it
Essays on real-life, on writing books, and addressing the top challenges I see with book coaching clients
