Mindfulness: An antidote to mindless scrolling

Nicola MacDonald
Aug 7
3 min read

In a world that encourages us to be always-on, always-scrolling, and always-doing, mindfulness can feel a bit out of reach. Add to that a few persistent myths, and it’s no wonder so many people think it’s “not for them.”

The truth? Mindfulness isn’t just for monks or yogis. It’s a practical, powerful antidote to the distractions of modern life. Here are five common myths that get to the heart of what mindfulness really is.

Myth 1 – Mindfulness is about zoning out or escaping reality

The truth: Mindfulness isn’t about floating away into a mystical realm. It’s about becoming more connected to what’s real — right here, right now.

It helps you see things clearly, without judgement. You become more aware of the stories in your mind, without getting lost in them. You don’t numb out. You tune in — to your body, your breath, the world around you.

And that includes the urge to escape through your phone such as doom scrolling when things feel uncomfortable or a bit boring. Mindfulness helps you notice that urge without automatically reacting. It offers a pause — a moment of choice. And sometimes, that one moment is enough to break a habit loop.

Myth 2 – Mindfulness means switching off and being unproductive

The truth: Far from making you less productive, mindfulness can help you be more focused, intentional, and energised.

It pulls you out of autopilot — that space where you’re flipping between tabs, jumping from email to Instagram, and wondering why you can’t concentrate. It brings your attention back to what matters.

You also start to notice when you’re using things like scrolling to avoid discomfort. And once you’re aware, you can choose a different response — one that nourishes rather than numbs.

Some of my best ideas come right after a mindfulness practice — not because I’m trying to “figure things out,” but because I’ve created the mental space for clarity to emerge.

Myth 3 – Mindfulness is only for chilled-out people (and I'm too tense)

The truth: If mindfulness was just for people who are relaxed all the time, I wouldn’t be here writing this. I have two children so I feel stressed every now and then (more during the summer holidays!). Mindfulness helps me to turn down the stress response when it starts bubbling up. Helping me respond to the stress trigger differently (e.g. children arguing). It gives me tools to pause, breathe, notice. And it gently shows me how often I reach for my phone or distractions when I am overwhelmed — and how coming back to my body and breath is the more healing choice.

Myth 4 – Life’s too busy for mindfulness

The truth: You don’t need more time — you need more presence.

When I started practising mindfulness, I was a mum to a one-year-old with very little space for myself. I assumed it wasn’t realistic. But what I discovered was that I did have moments — nap times, early mornings, quiet evenings — I’d just been using them to scroll or escape.

That’s not a criticism — sometimes Netflix or a scroll is exactly what we need. But mindfulness gave me another option: to use those moments to restore, not just distract.

Even Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of modern secular mindfulness, practised mindful walking while pacing the floor with his newborn. It’s not about silence or stillness. It’s about being awake to life as it is.

And let’s not forget informal mindfulness: paying attention while making a cuppa, walking the dog, or hanging the washing. These everyday moments hold a surprising amount of peace — if we’re there for them.

Myth 5 – Mindfulness clashes with certain religions

The truth: Mindfulness isn’t a belief system. It’s a way of paying attention — with curiosity and kindness.

Yes, its roots lie in Buddhist traditions, but it’s been adapted into a secular, science-backed practice that’s open to everyone. It doesn’t ask you to believe anything. It simply invites you to notice: your breath, your body, your surroundings, your mind.

And in today’s hyper-digital world, where much of our attention is pulled outward, mindfulness helps to redirect our attention to what matters. It allows us to step out of the noise and back into what’s real.

Whether you follow a specific faith or not, mindfulness doesn’t conflict — it complements. It helps us live with more intention, compassion, and awareness.