The War Against Doomscrolling
- JP de la Rama
- 13 minutes ago
- 4 min read
How Breaking My Bad Habits Helped Me Reclaim My Creativity
(And how a simple trick from James Clear changed how I work, create, and even parent.)
“Creativity doesn't die because artists lose talent—it disappears when distraction steals our attention. Protect your focus, and your art will come back to life.”
Introduction – Setting the Stage
Bad habits are stubborn creatures.
Just when you think you've finally defeated them, they quietly crawl back into your life.
For me, the biggest offenders are doomscrolling and procrastination.
You know the drill.
You open your phone “for a minute”…
Then suddenly, 30 minutes disappear into social media, bad news, and endless feeds designed to hijack your attention.
And before you realize it, the hour you promised to dedicate to your art is gone.
The worst part?
I had already built good habits that worked. My routine was improving. I was getting more focused, more productive, and more consistent with my creative work.
But every now and then… those old habits sneak back in.
And as artists trying to survive in an already volatile industry, we can't afford to lose time to invisible enemies.
The Deep Dive – The Real Enemy of Creativity
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Most creative blocks are not caused by lack of talent.
They’re caused by distraction.
Phones.
Notifications.
Endless content designed to keep us addicted.
And the scary part is that discipline alone rarely beats addiction.
That’s when I remembered something powerful from James Clear.
He once explained what he calls:
“The Secret to Self-Control.”
It’s surprisingly simple.
People with strong self-control are not better at resisting temptation.
They are better at removing temptation from their environment.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Self-control isn’t about being a hero.
It’s about not putting yourself on the battlefield in the first place.
My Small Experiment
So I started doing something incredibly simple.
Instead of trying to “fight” my bad habits, I made them inconvenient.
My phone?
It now stays in another room while I work.
My desktop?
I avoid opening browsers when I’m in drawing mode.
No YouTube.
No Twitter.
No “quick checks”.
Just drawing.
And something strange happened.
The distractions started disappearing.
Not because I became stronger…
But because they became harder to access.
An Unexpected Parenting Lesson
Funny enough, I applied the same idea to my five-year-old daughter.
Like most kids today, she loves gadgets.
Games.
Videos.
Endless screen time.
But I noticed something interesting.
When the gadgets disappeared, her imagination returned.
Instead of staring at a screen, we started doing different things:
• Reading books
• Playing with toys
• Drawing together
• Making up silly stories
And suddenly, creativity filled the room again.
Sometimes I jokingly tell her:
“Too much screen time will rot your brain.”
Of course it's an exaggeration—but the idea behind it is real.
The more passive entertainment we consume…
The less space we leave for imagination.
The Solution – Designing a Life That Protects Creativity
For artists, discipline alone is not enough.
We need systems that protect our attention.
Here are a few practical tips that helped me reclaim my focus.
1. Make Distractions Invisible
If the phone isn’t visible, you’re less likely to use it.
Put it in another room.
Out of sight. Out of mind.
2. Create a “Creative Environment”
When it’s time to work, remove anything unrelated to the task.
No browsers.
No notifications.
No unnecessary tabs.
Your workspace should scream one thing:
Create.
3. Replace Bad Habits with Better Ones
When my daughter stopped playing games all day, she didn’t become bored.
She became curious.
Kids naturally look for something else to do.
Adults can do the same.
Replace scrolling with:
• Sketching
• Reading
• Studying art
• Writing ideas
4. Reduce Friction for Good Habits
Make creative work easier to start.
Keep your sketchbook nearby.
Open your drawing tablet before work.
Prepare your tools the night before.
The easier it is to start, the more likely you'll continue.
Before & After Summary
Before
• Doomscrolling stole creative time
• Constant distraction
• Frustration with productivity
After
• Phone removed from workspace
• Browser distractions minimized
• More focused creative sessions
• Better habits forming for both me and my daughter
Small environmental changes created massive behavioral shifts.
Final Thoughts
As artists, we often think creativity requires inspiration.
But sometimes what we really need is protection from distraction.
Bad habits don’t disappear overnight.
But if we make them harder to access, they slowly lose their power.
And when our attention returns…
So does our creativity.
Call to Action
If you’re an artist struggling with procrastination or doomscrolling, try this simple experiment tomorrow:
Put your phone in another room while you create.
Just for one hour.
See what happens.
You might be surprised how much art you can make when the world stops demanding your attention.
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Product Links:
#thescribblemedia #indiebasedstudio #animation #comics #webtoon #webcomics #services #platform #illustrationservices #computer #freelance #comicsandmanga #filipino #bisaya #bisdak #clipstudiopaint #clipstudio #clip #studio #ipadpro #tutorial #beginner #tips #videotips #newsletter #inspiration #art #creativedad #struggleofacreativedad #artistdad #artisticmomentum #creativehabits #buildingsystems #atomichabits #atomichabitsbyJamesClear
