Disconnected in a Hyper-Connected World

What Constant Scrolling Did to My Mind (and How I Came Back)

Some evenings, I’d catch myself scrolling — not even knowing what I was looking for. Reels, quotes, random content... it never ended. But after all that connection, I felt strangely empty.

More noise. Less clarity. That’s when I knew something had to change.

1. I Stopped Feeling Things Deeply

I noticed something weird — the more I consumed, the less I felt. Moments that used to touch me… now barely moved me. I wasn’t present. I was just numb.

2. Comparison Was Stealing My Peace

Every scroll showed someone’s highlight reel — their wins, their travels, their smiles. And I started to question my own life. Why does theirs look better? But deep down, I knew — we don’t see the full story. We see the polished part.

3. The Craving for Likes

I don’t like admitting this — but yes, sometimes I posted just to feel seen. A post with fewer likes felt like a failure. That hit me hard. I had let numbers affect my self-worth. And that’s not okay.

4. Wasted Time, No Real Joy

I’d look at the clock and realize… I just lost 45 minutes doing nothing. I wasn’t learning, wasn’t resting — just numbing. And it left me drained.

What Helped Me Feel Like Myself Again

I took a break. No announcements, no drama — I just stepped away from social media for a few days. And in that silence, I found something real: stillness. Space. Presence.

I reconnected with the part of me that doesn’t need validation. Just peace. Just breath. Just being alive.

If you’re feeling lost in the scroll, maybe it’s time to pause. Not to run away — but to return… to yourself.

— Aditya Sah