If you feel like you have no time in your day but also feel like you were not productive like you should have been. You might actually have more time then you think. What if you could trade the time you spend on your phone to use it towards something meaningful to you? You could do something small you have been procrastinating, you could fill the small waiting games of the day with true moments that relax you or towards a goal you have been working towards.
Written By: Emily Lopez
Last updated: July 11, 2025
If you don’t know already, I am a busy mom of two boys. With little to no time—at least that is what it feels like—I need to somehow get the most out of my time (also when it comes to sleep). If you know, you know. I can easily get distracted and get caught in the lie of thinking, “I don’t have time.”
As a mother, I wanted to overcome this lie of “I can’t do this or that because I am a mom.” Things might look different in this season, and you might have more interruptions from your blessings, but there are other things you can do with your time besides having your face in your phone. Of course, there is a time and place to use our phones—they are super helpful—but we also have an opportunity to use our time in a better way.
This post is going to give you the best ideas for what to do without being on your phone.
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Scrolling and its effects?
If I could go back to a few years ago… specifically 2020… when the world was shut down… how many of us downloaded TikTok and became addicted? Yeah, same here. Looking back, I feel like I wasted so much time. I could have done something I enjoy way more than spending endless hours moving from my couch to my bed, scrolling on my phone. Of course, we can’t go back in time, but we need to look forward and change our habits in this area.
Personally, being on my phone as soon as I wake up does not set me up for a good day. Truly, it makes me feel like a zombie, and studies have shown how it can slow you down and have multiple negative effects on your brain. I think it also sends an unspoken message to my kids that whatever is on my phone gets my attention first.
As a “come to Jesus” moment of working toward being a good steward of my time—glorifying God in all things, including my time—I don’t want to be idle. We need to look at the things above, not the things of this world. Not a self-focused life. I don’t want to waste it—I want to be ready for the life ahead and fully present now, which means inviting the Holy Spirit into every moment.
This life is to glorify God.
Here’s the hard truth: I am not going to waste it by spending hours looking at social media/screen time. I had someone ask me, “If you’re not on social media, then what do you do?”
I find that question to be so sad. There must be more to life than sitting on my butt and looking at my phone. There is work to be done in this life—and a life to enjoy God’s creation.
How To Overcome The Scrolling Trap:
How can we get past this trap of scrolling on your phone for countless hours?
Do something else even if you dont want to. It really is all about getting started. Showing up.
Put your phone in another room
Set timers
Get connected with people- Stop isolating ourselves: fact about we are able to connect with people all over the world but people are isolated and fell lonely. Invite others to join you.
How to be motivated: tips for success in overcoming this trap!!
Things you can do instead of scrolling for a better life:
- Go for a walk
- Ride your bike
- Explore Nature Trials
- Go Swimming
- Group Fitness
- Yoga
- Paint
- Knit
- Gardening
- Create A Blog
- Journal
- Read/Memorize Scripture
- Play A Musical Instrument
- Cook A New Recipe
- Bake A Home Good For Someone
- Read A Book
- Listen To A Podcast
- Listen To An AudioBook
- Facial
- Learn A New Language
- Learn about Brain Health
- Meet With A Friend
- Go somewhere: like a local coffee shop or window shop.
- Meditation
- Declutter A Space
- Clean A Dirty Space
- Join A Volunteer Group
- Take A bubble Bath
- Get your nails done(at home is just fine too)
- Connect With A Loved One
- Create A Budget
- Write Down Your Goals
- Learn A New Skill
- Play A game With your family
- Get Outside
- Help A Neighbor
- Join A Book Club
- Join A Small Group
- Visit A New Place In Town
- Go To The Park