Why Holidays Make Everyone Doomscroll

Why does every family gathering turn into everyone staring at their phones? In this conversation, we unpack the psychology behind holiday doomscrolling—and why it’s not just “bad habits,” but burnout, overwhelm, and survival.

Host: Jim Lang Guest: Sim Chhabra — Registered Therapist, Horizon Within (CBT, anxiety, emotional regulation)

In this episode, we cover:

• Why smartphones become an emotional escape during holidays

• How each generation uses phones differently to cope with stress

• The carbs, protein, fats framework for managing energy (and doomscrolling)

• Practical alternatives to phones that actually recharge you

• How to reduce family tension without shaming or controlling behavior This episode reframes phone use—not as disrespect—but as a signal of depleted energy.

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Chapters

• (00:00:04) - Is Social Media Inviting the Phone to the Holidays?
• (00:05:13) - Gen Z: The Digital Pacifier
• (00:10:40) - Cognitive Reframing and the Carbohydrates
• (00:12:01) - Proteins and How to Restore Your Energy
• (00:15:46) - Film as a Family Activity
• (00:18:53) - How to Talk to Yourself About Your Phone Use the Santa Technique
• (00:23:15) - Jim Sim on the Holidays