5. Scrolling Instead of Writing? Try a Social Media Detox to Get the Words Flowing Again

Scrolling Instead of Writing? Try a Social Media Detox to Get the Words Flowing Again

Have you ever sat down to write… only to find yourself picking up your phone and scrolling social media instead?

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we’re unpacking why this happens — not from a place of blame or willpower, but from a neuroscience and attention-based perspective.

You’ll learn how social media trains your brain to seek quick dopamine hits, why that makes writing feel harder than it should, and how even a short social media detox can help you reclaim your focus, creativity, and writing momentum.

Because the truth is — this isn’t a discipline problem. It’s a conditioned pattern. And patterns can be changed.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why scrolling hijacks your focus when you’re about to write

• What dopamine actually does in the brain — and how social media uses it

• How constant scrolling trains shallow attention (and why writing needs depth)

• The hidden cost of “just a few minutes” on your phone

• How much writing time you could reclaim by stepping away from social media

• A powerful mindset shift to help you move from consumption back into creation

• A bold listener challenge to help you reset your attention and writing habits

I also share my own experience of checking my Screen Time, realising how much time I was losing to scrolling, and the practical changes I made — including deleting social media apps — that gave me back hours of focused creative time.

And because this episode is releasing on Christmas Eve, we also reflect on the value of stillness, presence, and creating space — not just for writing, but for what truly matters.

Listener Challenge:

I challenge you to try a social media detox — even temporarily.

Delete one app. Delete them all. Or take a 24-hour break.

Then notice what shifts.

If you do this, I’d love to hear from you — send me a message or comment and let me know what changed for you.

Guided Meditation:

This episode includes a short guided meditation designed to help you interrupt the urge to scroll, anchor your attention, and re-immerse yourself in your writing — choosing creation over consumption.

What’s coming next:

The episodes releasing next week are all about helping you start the new year in the strongest possible position.

We’ll be talking about goals — why they haven’t worked before, what’s been missing, and how to use your modalitiesand personality traits to build momentum and finally move forward with your book.

If writing has been on your heart for a long time, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next.

Ready for deeper support?

If you’re feeling called to break through your blocks and finally finish your book, I currently have a few spots open for 1:1 coaching.

👉 Learn more at maddisonmichaels.com/coaching

Until next time — Protect your attention. Trust your creativity. And let’s write the darn book, together. ✨