#30 TRENDING IN Mental Health 🔥

7 Feel-Good Websites to Browse Instead of Doomscrolling

Mental Health

December 04, 2024

Short-form video has taken our generation by storm. Apps such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts are designed to maximize the time you spend on them. This excessive use can harm our mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, 41 percent of teens with the highest social media use rate their mental health as poor.

While social media has many advantages, it can also have negative outcomes for our health. So let's explore some sites that get us off the negativity loop and boost our mental health!

The more social media we have, the more we think we're connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other.

- JR (Jean-René)

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The Quiet Place

Screenshot by Raeed Karim website Courtesy of The Quiet Place

We all have a quiet place to run to when things get too much for us. This website acts as a digital version of that space. It allows us to do meditation exercises to get a break from social media and focus on ourselves.

In an era where the fear of missing out has taken over our lives, this website allows us to step away from social media and understand where our priorities should lie. They also have a 90-minute relaxation exercise that helps us destress.

If you realize that you've been spending too much time online, take a few moments and use this site to disconnect!

Warning: Contains swearing. To play the clean version of this game click here.

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The Nicest Place on The Internet

Screenshot by Raeed Karim website courtesy of The Nicest Place on The Internet

The Nicest Place on the Internet is a website that was created during the pandemic to give people a sense of comfort. The main idea of the site is to provide a calming place where you receive virtual hugs from people around the world. With so much negativity, sometimes even a hug from a stranger can provide comfort.

A study published on PubMed said that while a virtual hug may not be the same as a physical hug, it can still provide a sense of comfort for some people. For me, the site helped remove some of the negativity that was floating around in my mind. Try it out for yourself and see if it makes you feel the same!

Recommend Me a Book

Screenshot by Raeed Karim site courtesy of Recommend Me a Book

Can one page of a story hook you to a book? Even if you're not that much of a reader, this question is still worth exploring through this site.

Studies have proven that reading has many mental benefits for readers that can last a whole lifetime. If you're not sure which book is right for you, this site provides the ability to read one page of a book to see if it's the right fit for you. If it is, you can reveal the author, otherwise, you can just skip to the next book.

In addition to this, the site also allows you to connect with people who have similar tastes to find books you're interested in. If you're an avid reader or just thinking about starting, this site is a great place to explore!

Hobby Finder

Screenshot by Raeed Karim site courtesy of Hobby Finder

Looking to start a new hobby? Hobby Finder is a website where you can discover a new hobby! According to an article published by Utah State University, hobbies have the best effect on mental health when you get to do them with other people―so consider this when choosing a hobby to explore!

Using this site, you can easily find a hobby that's right for you. The site even has a hobby quiz to help you find one that matches the type of person you are. I think this is especially helpful for people just beginning high school because it provides an entryway into making more friends and also provides new opportunities and experiences.

Explore.org

Screenshot by Raeed Karim site courtesy of Explore.org

Explore.org is one of my favorite sites on this list! It's an organization that has live cameras recording different wildlife, from dogs to giraffes. This website allows you to tap into your curiosity and learn at the same time, which in turn makes this a positive experience for our mental health!

As well as this, they have a comment section with discussions of interesting sightings as well as various information regarding the weather, location, and facts about the subjects in the streams. According to an article published by the National Institute of Health, interacting with nature can have a positive influence on children and teenagers. When we spend so much time on social media instead of the outdoors, it's easy to forget about the wonders of the world and how amazing it can be. This website serves as a good reminder.

A Soft Murmur

Screenshot by Raeed Karim site courtesy of A Soft Murmur

This is another tool for meditation and relaxation that can be extremely useful for disconnecting from social media. Sounds included on the website―such as white noise―are often associated with a calming sense and reduce anxiety. White noise is often recommended for babies with colic for this exact reason. Take these calming noises as an opportunity to disconnect and clear your thoughts.

In addition to this, these sounds can improve your focus if you need to study, making this tool incredibly useful. One thing I love is how the website lets you control the intensity of each sound, which means you can choose the level that makes you feel calmest. Another feature worth noting is the mixes feature, which allows you to create and share specific feelings from the sounds available.

Space Elevator

Space Elevator is another one of my favorite websites because it shows the amazing feats in aviation and space humanity has taken. From the highest paper airplane flight to the highest skydiving point, we can visualize some of the most historical moments.

Overall, this site is a great tool to spark curiosity and inspire you by showing you the greatness of humanity and the world around you. Take a scroll through the site. As you do, take a moment and think about something new you've learned from the site. Even if you're not interested in the information, at least you get some nice elevator music!

I'd like to end this article by talking about this quote by Noam Chomsky: “The internet could be a very positive step towards education, organization, and participation in a meaningful society”. Noam's quote highlights how we can harness the internet as a resource to improve our society and ourselves rather than let it take away from our mental health and life. So take a break from time to time to explore a side you don't always get to see on social media.

Learn about panda sanctuaries in China, about the highest skydive, or discover a hobby. The internet is whatever you make it to be!

Raeed Karim

Writer since Dec, 2024 · 2 published articles

Raeed Karim is a high school senior who takes an avid interest in technology and promoting the voices of the youth. He seeks to expand our curiosity one article at a time!

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