Consumed by doomscrolling? Pause and ask these 5 mindful news questions for digital wellness before you imbibe more fear and hate.

1. DOOMSCROLLING?
A S K T H E S E 5 Q U E S T I O N S
B E F O R E C L I C K I N G A G A I N

2. T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
SENSATIONALISM
DRIVES AD REVENUE.
Outrage, hate, and fear spur attention and
thus profits. Cha-ching!
But if you're tired of being held hostage by
endless scrolls of manipulation, ask these
questions before you click a new headline.

3. “There is only one road to happiness—let this rule be at hand morning,
noon, and night: stay detached from things that are not up to you.”
– Epictetus, Discourses
W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
– the serenity prayer, as adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous
CAN I DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
1.
Even righteous anger takes a personal mental toll.

4. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
2. DOES THIS SENSATIONALLY HARM ME?
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
4 types of sensationalism
(that I know of)
LABELING ONE
PARTY
name-calling
character attacks
pigeonholing all members of the
party's group
LABELING ONE
PARTY'S ARGUMENT
"slams," "destroys," "demolishes
their argument"

5. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
LABELING THE
SITUATION
"shocking", "incredible", "you
won't believe"
"battle," "showdown"
INFLATING
MAGNITUDE
"bombshell," "revelations,"
"explosive allegations,"
"emergency," "crisis"
Does the author's bias magnify your fear or anger more than
a less toxic author's would?
(i.e. fearmongers, race-baiters, etc.)
2. DOES THIS SENSATIONALLY HARM ME?

6. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
Fear is the root
of hate
By the way...

7. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
3. DOES IT MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE?
Plateresca / Getty Images
Usually can't progress to
higher levels unless you
meet lower levels first.
This is one reason you
keep doomscrolling.
But don't expect them
to offer you a sliver of
hope. Hope isn't
profitable.

8. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
3. DOES IT MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE?
Don't be held hostage by marketers
who terrify you into desire for their
manufactured hate!

9. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
4. IS THE ANGER, HATE, AND FEAR
WORTH IT?
No.
Never.
You know this.

10. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
You might be just fine.
5. WOULD I RATHER NOT KNOW?

11. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M

12. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
If expert #15 brings no new evidence, why give views
to their tirade?
DOES THIS CONFIRM WHAT I ALREADY BELIEVE?
DOES THIS PERSON'S OPINION MATTER TO ME?
bonus questions
toxic author
(hate, fear)
unqualified
poor factual
track record

13. T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
SOLUTIONS
AppBlock
StayFocusd
Lock Me Out
my favorite, Pluckeye
Blockers
follow FEED_BREAKER
Reddit Enhancement Suite
For Reddit

14. T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
SOLUTIONS
Nose breathing:
in for 2, our for 4 OR
in for 3, out for 6
(learn expanded, more
effective methods in my
free ebook Breathe)
https://tamingyourtech.eo.page/9cnmb

15. T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
SOLUTIONS
Metta meditation
Gratitude for what's going right
Listening to Spiegel im Spiegel
Religion (God fills the hole fear creates)
buying peace of mind, making a plan
Making an if/then statement
Nature; just watch the grass and trees sway
Mindful scrolling website
Affect labeling, i.e.
"I'm feeling scared right now"

16. W E D E L I V E R H E A L T H Y . C O
T A M I N G Y O U R T E C H . C O M
The mind is an excellent servant,
but a terrible master.
More tech addiction tips at: