These apps distract from the endless cycle of doomscrolling, without putting your phone away | TechCrunch

Why scrolling can take over

A quick check of the time or a message can turn into an hour of scrolling through celebrity news, videos and other content. The habit can be difficult to break, even for people who do not want to spend so much time on it.

Researchers have warned that extended scrolling can contribute to brain fatigue, difficulty focusing and disrupted sleep. Negative or stressful material can also leave people feeling disheartened, anxious or emotionally drained.

Build small self-care habits

Finch turns daily self-care into a virtual-pet routine. Users complete small goals such as drinking enough water, walking or practicing mindfulness, helping their pet thrive. The app also lets users write about their day, do breathing exercises and send good vibes to friends. Its activities offer a way to replace passive scrolling with brief self-care tasks.

Read, draw and explore

Libby connects users with their local public library’s digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. A library card provides access to thousands of titles, making it possible to read during a commute or while waiting for an appointment.

Dudel Draw supplies a random shape each day for users to turn into a drawing. Friends can compare their creations, adding a creative activity to time that might otherwise go to sharing TikToks or Instagram Reels.

Radio Garden offers access to more than 25,000 live radio stations around the world. Users tap green dots marking cities and towns to listen, and can save favorites or search for stations, countries and places. The app is free, with an ad-free premium plan for $2.99 per month, and is available on iOS and Android.

Train skills and learn words

Elevate offers more than 40 games aimed at skills such as focus, memory, reading and math. Users can track training streaks and compare performance over time; the free version includes three games a day, while unlimited access costs $39.99 per year. It is available on iOS and Android.

Vocabulary teaches a new word each day, with options to choose a difficulty level and categories such as emotions, the human body and business. Definitions, example sentences, pronunciation guidance and review games support learning, while weekly goals can help establish a routine.

Vocabulary offers a free trial, then costs $4.99 per month or $59.99 per year. The article says it is available on iOS, but its final sentence is cut off after “iOS an,” so it does not specify any other platform.