3 Mindset Shifts That Got Me From Scrolling to Streaming (and Why My Thumb Finally Forgave Me)

3 Mindset Shifts That Got Me from Scrolling to Streaming

(and stopped my thumb from developing its own gym membership)

 

You ever pick up your phone for “just 5 minutes”… and suddenly it’s 1 a.m., your charger’s hanging by a thread, and TikTok thinks you want to see 40 more videos of people cutting soap?
Yeah — that was me.

I used to scroll like it was a part-time job. My brain was basically a smoothie of memes, dance challenges, and random “top 10 richest anime characters” videos. But then I hit a point where I realized: I’m watching people live their dreams while I’m just double-tapping them.

So, I flipped the script — from scrolling to streaming. Here’s how it happened (with a bit of science to back me up).

1. “I have no control” → “I’m the one holding the phone, duh.”

There’s this study from the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication that says people fall into two groups:

• those who think social media controls them, and

• those who think they control how they use it.

Guess which group feels better about life?
Yup — the second one.

I used to open apps automatically, like my thumb had its own brain. But when I started seeing social media as my tool, not my boss, things changed.
Now, before I open an app, I ask: “Am I here to learn, laugh, or create?”
If the answer’s “just bored,” I hit exit. (Okay, not always, but I try.)

That small mental switch — from “I’m trapped here” to “I’m choosing this” — made a huge difference.

2. “It’s just entertainment” → “It can actually serve me.”

There’s an old media theory called Uses and Gratifications, which basically says: we use media to get something out of it — information, connection, or self-expression.

I stopped seeing content as junk food and started treating it like a buffet.
I began asking:

• Can this teach me something for my stream?

• Can I remix this idea for my next TikTok?

• Can this spark a conversation in my comments?

Once I started consuming with intention, I started creating more.
Even the dumb stuff helped — like when I saw a guy rant about reckless pedestrians, and it reminded me of how we cross roads in Gaborone like we’re in Fast & Furious: Family Edition.
Boom — instant video idea.

3. “Quick hits feel good” → “Slow rewards feel better.”

Science says every scroll gives you a dopamine hit — the same brain chemical that fires when you eat chips or score a headshot.
Problem is, your brain gets used to it. So you need more scrolls to feel good.

Researchers found that watching full videos — actually engaging — makes you less bored and more satisfied long-term.
So I tested it: I stopped skipping clips halfway.

At first it felt weird. Like eating vegetables. But then… I noticed something.
I started enjoying content more.
I started learning more.
And — plot twist — I started creating better stuff, because my brain wasn’t stuck on a 5-second attention loop anymore.

Why These Shifts Mattered

• I stopped feeling guilty every time I opened my phone.

• I started making things instead of consuming everything.

• I felt more focused, less like a zombie.

In short, I stopped letting the scroll own me — and started owning my screen time.

Want to Try It?

1. Be the boss of your apps. Before you scroll, ask yourself: what am I here for?

2. Use “learn, laugh, or create.” If it’s not one of those — close it.

3. Slow your scroll. Watch a full clip. Your brain will thank you.

4. Start streaming your world. Doesn’t have to be fancy — just real. Even your everyday thoughts can spark something. 

Final Thought: 

Scrolling gave me quick laughs.
Streaming gave me stories, community, and purpose.

So if you ever feel stuck watching everyone else live out loud online — remember this:
You’re one mindset shift away from joining them.
Pick up your phone… and press Go Live.