Scrolling Woes

How much time do you spend scrolling on social media?? Be honest! I think I spend entirely too much time late at night scrolling for new recipes and gardening info! I need to change my ways. :) We were never designed to scroll endlessly on our phones, consuming information at a rapid pace from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed. Our brains were built for connection and reflection, not for the constant bombardment of noise, images, and digital content. Yet today, many of us spend hours a day absorbing hundreds of pieces of information with no time to process or integrate them.

This overload keeps the brain in a state of high alert. It activates the sympathetic nervous system, the part responsible for the fight-or-flight response. In small bursts, this response is helpful. It protects us in emergencies and sharpens focus in moments of stress. But when it's constantly triggered, through notifications, social media feeds, and nonstop content, our body remains in a heightened stress state.

We wonder why we feel anxious, irritable, tired, or restless. We blame hormones, the weather, or bad sleep, but often it's our nervous system waving a white flag, asking for calm. Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system disrupts sleep, weakens digestion, and throws off our ability to regulate emotions.

Creating moments of stillness, turning off notifications, and being mindful of screen time (yes!) can make a powerful difference. It helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as rest and digest, where the body heals, rebalances, and finds peace.

Your nervous system wasn't made for constant input.

Give it room to breathe, and your mind and body will thank you. \0/ ~Kimberly