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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Lily Smith

Beat brain rot: clear your mind with 55 screen-free activities, from birdwatching to colouring books

Black woman thinking or building a puzzle on a table in the home living room.
Keep your thoughts in check with a jigsaw. Photograph: pixdeluxe/Getty Images

I’m sure many of us are guilty of relying on our phones to decompress, even when taking some downtime. But if your social media feeds are anything like mine – an endless stream of fad workouts, meal plans and extravagant skincare routines – it’s more likely to whip you into an anxious frenzy than leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Whether you have social media anxiety, insomnia or are just terrified by the idea of “brain rot”, you need a way to de-stress that doesn’t involve a screen, especially when many of us stare at one all day for work or school.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with the concept of mindfulness and how the practice can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and boost concentration. But you might not realise how easy it is to incorporate it into your everyday life – after all, at its core, mindfulness is just about keeping yourself in the present moment. So to help you do just that, I’ve compiled a list of screen-free activities to help you clear your mind, get outside (if the weather allows) and be more mindful, without meditating.

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