Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is a sign I need to get a life and stop scrolling?

19 replies

HotelCanner · 14/01/2026 09:59

On Sunday I just phone scrolled all day and was completely unproductive and at one point I was actually watching a video clip of Jimmy Savile dancing to Jonathan King singing ‘Una Paloma Blanca’

i need to put the phone down - stop scrolling - and get a life don’t I?

OP posts:
zipadeeday · 14/01/2026 10:03

you and me both 😀

Lifelover16 · 14/01/2026 10:05

Yes - me too!

iamnotalemon · 14/01/2026 10:16

🤣🤣🤣 I also spend too much time on my phone.

floppybit · 14/01/2026 10:18

Hahaha, I know what you mean! Sometimes I watch something utterly ridiculous and think, ‘why am I doing with my life’ 😬

Morepositivemum · 14/01/2026 10:18

I’ve made it a resolution to read all the books I’ve been bought and when I have time I pick them up instead and have read two books in January but saying that I’ll never fully give up my phone!!!

mummypigoink · 14/01/2026 10:18

Also me.

But then I wouldn’t be part of this conversation so who knows….

frozendaisy · 14/01/2026 10:42

Instead of phone scrolling on Sunday, I use it sure, but not all day. I cleared laundry for the first half of week, H & I got cryptic crosswords out and chatted and did crosswords whilst roast was cooking, talked through the coming week with teens and just generally had a relaxing fun day with much family laughter.

Monday I put phone away and opened the Spanish books finally, if only to realise I know nothing and will need BBC bitesize to learn listening and pronunciation!

Tuesday I put phone down and went through source material for a dystopian landscape I need to paint.

Today I am about to start on sproutihg garlic to plant next week (or it will be too late), sort out some clothes to recycle and sketch out a misty field.

What have I missed scrolling? Not much radio 4 PM (5-6pm) catches me up on the main news with Evan Davis’s gorgeous calm voice. Much better way to consume news even the depressing stuff.

Instead of scrolling I have read a few short winter murder mystery stories and after the excesses of the festive holiday been cooking with mainly vegetables and spices.

Phones are great, I needed it on Monday evening to get a video on how to fix our youngster’s bike, not a perfect fix but decent enough. We needed some revision guides, easily ordered, you can transfer money in moments, catch up on radio shows you miss and have a spare half hour to listen, there is a decluttering one from yesterday I only caught the end of, check train times and order groceries without the ballache of going to a supermarket for 2 hours. They are great tools, if you use as tools.

Getting to the point of watching fucking dodgy dead guys then all you are doing is making some internet platform owners even richer as they sell your time and attention and data to the highest bidder.

BunnyLake · 14/01/2026 10:52

And me but my excuse is I hate winter, I hate the cold, I hate the seemingly constant rain, the dark mornings, the dark evenings. Apart from work I pretty much hibernate and indulge in scrolling and mooching till Spring is in the air. Then I get a new lease of life, put down the phone and become human again.

LoveWine123 · 14/01/2026 10:55

Posting on an online platform is the wrong way to go about it 😂

HotelCanner · 14/01/2026 10:57

LoveWine123 · 14/01/2026 10:55

Posting on an online platform is the wrong way to go about it 😂

I realise the irony 🤣

OP posts:
angelcake20 · 14/01/2026 11:07

Still in bed scrolling on my day off. Games, holiday planning, Facebook, Mumsnet. My to do list is very long.

RamALamADingDong2 · 14/01/2026 11:18

Same. The brain rot is real! Our brains are absolutely pickled.

CatchTheWind1920 · 14/01/2026 11:21

I love reading with a coffee. I haven't done it as much the last few years because I scroll... I've started putting the phone down more now but I've told DH this is my last chance...if I keep picking it up and scrolling, I'm getting one of those lock boxes and my phone will go to jail for parts of the day!

noidea69 · 14/01/2026 11:21

Someone will be along to say that having a day scrolling is some form of selfcare.

But yeah put the phone down, we all need to.

BunnyLake · 14/01/2026 11:24

RamALamADingDong2 · 14/01/2026 11:18

Same. The brain rot is real! Our brains are absolutely pickled.

I hate that I can’t seem to read books anymore. I loved reading all my life but since about 2015 I can barely read a page. I’m not entirely sure if it’s all down to scrolling too much or if contemporary books are not as good as they used to be or it’s my age so I can’t relate to a lot of contemporary books anymore (I read loads of Classics over the years but don’t fancy them much anymore). I would love to get back into reading and only use my phone for it’s original purpose. Even my adult son says I’m addicted to scrolling so have no attention span for reading😩.

Starlight1979 · 14/01/2026 11:31

BunnyLake · 14/01/2026 11:24

I hate that I can’t seem to read books anymore. I loved reading all my life but since about 2015 I can barely read a page. I’m not entirely sure if it’s all down to scrolling too much or if contemporary books are not as good as they used to be or it’s my age so I can’t relate to a lot of contemporary books anymore (I read loads of Classics over the years but don’t fancy them much anymore). I would love to get back into reading and only use my phone for it’s original purpose. Even my adult son says I’m addicted to scrolling so have no attention span for reading😩.

Same here. The only time I can get into reading is on holiday these days 😭

InterestedDad37 · 14/01/2026 11:32

HotelCanner · 14/01/2026 09:59

On Sunday I just phone scrolled all day and was completely unproductive and at one point I was actually watching a video clip of Jimmy Savile dancing to Jonathan King singing ‘Una Paloma Blanca’

i need to put the phone down - stop scrolling - and get a life don’t I?

😂😂😂
Yes, probably

BunnyLake · 14/01/2026 12:08

Starlight1979 · 14/01/2026 11:31

Same here. The only time I can get into reading is on holiday these days 😭

I used to love holiday reading! I don’t go on holiday anymore (can’t really afford it) but I really have to try and make the effort to put aside time to read (an actual, not kindle style) book. My son goes back to uni soon so I have a very good opportunity to just put the phone down and settle into a good book, no distractions. I need a really good page turner from the off though 🤞

BunnyLake · 14/01/2026 12:17

CatchTheWind1920 · 14/01/2026 11:21

I love reading with a coffee. I haven't done it as much the last few years because I scroll... I've started putting the phone down more now but I've told DH this is my last chance...if I keep picking it up and scrolling, I'm getting one of those lock boxes and my phone will go to jail for parts of the day!

I need to do this 😁

The annoying thing is when I do put my phone away, even for just an hour, I often come back to missed calls I needed or from my adult kids and I’m like, damn this is why I need my phone with me at all times. I also fear having a fall or something too far from my phone 😖

New posts on this thread. Refresh page