Comic books let me break free from phone addiction

After years of mindless scrolling through my phone, I finally made a change and it's been transformative.

Swapping doomscrolling for comic books

I used to go to bed each night staring at my screen, my finger scrolling endlessly through news headlines, social media and work chat apps. It was a ritual that started long before bedtime and consumed my evenings completely.

But one feverish night too many was the wake-up call I needed. I realized I had to break free from the insidious grip my phone had on my life before I became consumed by fear and anger.

So I turned to an old love - comic books. As a child, I devoured them, graduating from The Beano and Dandy to Tintin and Asterix before getting my hands on my dad's 2000 AD collection, which held a thrilling illicit thrill for a young teenager.

Rediscovering my passion for comics as an adult has restored a sense of childlike wonder that transcends anxiety. It's allowed me to tackle the fears of various apocalypses and toxic online commenters in a safe environment.

The best part? Reading comics has improved my quality of sleep, dreams are more fanciful, and I wake up feeling revitalized, free of the negativity from the night before.

Additionally, I've found my attention span has suffered less as I take the time to read lengthy comic series or graphic novels to the end, giving me a sense of accomplishment rather than the self-loathing that comes with hours wasted on Reddit.

Leaving behind my evenings glued to my phone has boosted my mood, creativity and general outlook on life. I let my inner child out and haven't looked back since.