Days of doomscrolling are over. How to find cheer online by bloomscrolling

We’ve all been there, lying in bed, endlessly scrolling through headlines, endless reels and brainrot memes until hours vanish away. That habit even has a name: doomscrolling.

But there’s a happier, healthier trend taking over the internet, it’s called bloomscrolling. Instead of feeding on negativity, people are now scrolling for joy, watching wholesome videos, reading good news stories, and finding reasons to smile again.

Here’s what bloomscrolling really means, why it works, and how you can start doing it too.

What is bloomscrolling?

Bloomscrolling is all about scrolling with intention. It’s not endless or aimless, instead, it’s the conscious choice to engage with content that makes you feel good.

In simple terms, it’s about curating your feed to bring more joy, calm, and inspiration into your day.

Psychiatrist and mental health expert Dr Mana Singh explained it best in an Instagram post, calling bloomscrolling “the intentional act of curating your social media feed to include content that uplifts or inspires rather than drains your mental energy.”

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That might mean spending time on posts that make you laugh, reading something uplifting, or discovering content that sparks creativity and curiosity. And it’s not just feel-good fluff, experts say it can genuinely support mental wellbeing.

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Dr Sonali Chaturvedi, consultant psychologist at Arete Hospital, told India Today that what we consume online has a real impact on how we feel day to day. “Bloomscrolling can actually help people sometimes, especially in the early stages of anxiety or depression, or even during seasonal affective disorder, which is an acute phenomenon too,” she said.

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Science backs bloomscrolling

There’s actual neuroscience explaining why bloomscrolling makes us feel better. When you watch something uplifting or positive, your brain releases dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical, which activates your reward pathways and creates a sense of calm and satisfaction.

Dr Rituparna Ghosh, senior consultant psychologist at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, told India Today that there’s solid science behind it.

“Research on the broaden-and-build theory shows that positive emotions literally expand our cognitive perspective and help us think more creatively and flexibly, counteracting the tunnel vision that anxiety creates. There’s also evidence that viewing nature scenes or prosocial content can lower cortisol levels and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation,” she explained.

In contrast, studies have shown that constant exposure to negative media heightens stress and emotional exhaustion. By consciously shifting to more positive content, bloomscrolling helps people build emotional resilience and develop a healthier, more balanced relationship with technology.

Also read: Doomscrolling on your phone before bed? It might be stealing your sleep

How to bloomscroll?

Bloomscrolling isn’t about deleting your apps or giving up social media altogether, it’s about being more intentional with how you use it. Small, mindful changes can make a big difference.

Start by unfollowing accounts that make you anxious or stressed, and instead follow pages that share inspiring stories, educational posts, or uplifting content. Set time limits for scrolling, ideally no more than five to ten minutes at a time, and use that window to look for things that genuinely make you smile or think.

Experts even suggest trying “gratitude scrolling”, intentionally looking for content that highlights kindness, creativity, or human progress. Over time, this helps your brain associate online spaces with calm and positivity rather than stress.

The most important thing, psychologists say, is to stay intentional. If bloomscrolling turns into another endless habit or becomes a way to avoid difficult emotions, it can lose its benefits.

“Because people are now wilfully engaging with positive posts, many feel anxious about accidentally consuming anything that might harm their mental health. So, the side effects of continuous exposure to social media or simply being on devices for too long still apply to bloomscrolling. After all, not every scroll guarantees good content; you still have to search for it,” cautioned Dr Sonali Chaturvedi.

In short, bloomscrolling works best when done with purpose, moderation, and mindfulness.

With input from agencies