To Do to Avoid Double Screens

Like most people, I find myself looking at a little screen while watching a big screen. I scroll TikTok and other social media while a television show plays in the background. Even if it’s a show I’m very interested in, I find myself distracted because I go on my phone during a commercial and get sucked into the never-ending doomscroll. 

Sometimes I don’t just want to sit on the couch or lie in bed and watch TV. I want to relax and have a television show play in the background while I do a thoughtless task, which basically just gives me something to do with my hands. 

I have created a list of thoughtless tasks to do to avoid double screentime:

1. Any craft, puzzle, or word game ever created.

My go-to thoughtless task is a word search or coloring book. Most dollar stores sell word searches, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and coloring books that serve as great distractions. These books tend to have over 100 pages, so it’s hours worth of distractions. Those who have talent can crochet, knit, and complete other crafts that my brain can't comprehend.

2. Scrapbook

My other go-to task is scrapbooking. Although this takes a bit of planning because I like to print photos and collect items to put in it, a scrapbook is a great way to take your mind off the double screen. If you don’t want to go full craft mode, you can always print photos and simply put them in a photo album. 

3. Journal, doodle, hand-write anything 

People often think of hand-written notes as outdated and a waste of time, but getting your thoughts down on paper is very helpful in processing them (and avoiding screentime). These don’t have to be serious, reflective journal entries, but rather any idea or list that comes to your head. I hand-wrote the first draft of this list in a notebook while I was watching the MTV show Teen Wolf. 

4. Stretch…or just sit up straight.

My posture is one of my biggest insecurities. I rarely sit up straight. So, I have made it a point to focus on my posture instead of focusing on my phone while watching TV. There are many simple stretches and exercises people can do sitting down to fix their posture that can all be done while avoiding double-screen doomscrolling.