Breaking News: You Don’t Have to Scroll Every Time You’re Bored in Public
Thanks to my wonderful dog and a squirrel with a death wish, I spent a solid three hours at the doctor’s office yesterday getting my hand checked out. No breaks, thankfully—just a sprained pinky that now lives in a splint until further notice (glamorous, I know).
But that wasn’t even the most tragic part of my day. No, that honor goes to the moment I checked my screen time: 6.5 hours. SIX AND A HALF. And a full three of those hours were me scrolling aimlessly in the waiting room, hoping Instagram would cough up something other than another selfie, pyramid scheme promotion or engagement announcement.
It hit me—how normal it’s become to fill every idle moment with phone-scrolling. Waiting at the doctor? Scroll. In line for coffee? Scroll. Sitting on the toilet? Definitely scroll. And yet... surely there’s something better we could be doing?
My 3-hour doom-scroll sesh inspired me to create a little Waiting Room Survival Guide—aka things to do in public that don’t require sacrificing your soul to the infinite scroll. Some are phone-friendly, some are analog, all are better than watching Stories on mute for the 12th time.
🧰 Your Public-Time-Passing Toolbox
📚 Read a Book
Kindle app, actual Kindle, or a real paper book if you’re into that vintage tactile experience.
Best for: Doctor’s offices, hair salons, airports—basically anywhere you’ll be marinating in a chair for a while.
📞 Call a Friend
You know, like... with your voice.
Best for: Outdoor benches, metro platforms, or anywhere you won’t get side-eyed for talking out loud.
🧹 Clean Out Your Photos App
Goodbye, 87 identical blurry brunch pics and 400 screenshots of recipes you’ll never make.
Best for: Literally anywhere. A line, a train, the 6 hour red-eye you swore you were going to sleep on. Low effort, high payoff.
💬 Talk to a Stranger
Okay I know, terrifying. But a compliment or casual “how’s your day going?” could actually be fun (or at least make you seem confident and mysterious).
Best for: Short waits. Like coffee shop lines or waiting to cross the street.
🚶♀️ Go for a Quick Walk
Showed up 10 minutes early to pilates? Do a little loop around the block.
Best for: Neighborhood-y areas with good sidewalks.
🗣️ Language Learning
Whether you’ve got 5 minutes or 45, you can absolutely learn a few new words. Duolingo, flashcards, whatever floats your vocab boat.
Best for: Any situation where your brain is bored and your hands are free.
Moral of the story: 3 hours is not nothing. So next time you're waiting, why not use the time on purpose—even just a little? You might end up a little more relaxed, a little more connected, or slightly better at Italian.
