Why photo books help fight digital overload & screen fatigue

In a screen-saturated world, it can be a major challenge to handle the negative emotional effects of endless scrolling. Mental health experts report a wide range of adverse experiences related to digital overload. But, it doesn’t take a scientist to sense when there’s something off in the balance of time you spend in the digital realm vs the “real,” physical world of human experiences.

Digital vs physical balance

We see some interesting parallels between discussions of digital vs physical experiences in all realms of life and the emotional impact of digital vs physical photo keepsakes. Chatting with friends online is different to hanging out with them in person. A hug emoji is a poor substitute for the real thing. And scrolling through hundreds of photos on your phone doesn’t have the same emotional impact as looking through a carefully curated and printed photo book.

None of this is to say that the digital world is bad, or emotionally empty. Quite the opposite! Chatting with far-away friends online is a miracle of technology, totally unthinkable to anyone born just a few generations ago. The ability to take and keep a virtually unlimited number of high-resolution photographs—available to all and at practically zero cost—is an outstanding innovation.

As with all good things, moderation and balance are key. That’s why we believe that printed photo books can be a wise counterweight to screen fatigue. A Mixbook project diverts a portion of your screen time into creating a meaningful keepsake to enjoy in the real world. It offers a satisfying balance of both digital and physical experiences, with significant long-term benefits.

The emotional effects of scrolling fatigue

Doomscrolling. Digital overload. Brain rot. Screen fatigue. Popcorn brain.

These are all concepts associated with the very common habit of spending a detrimental amount of time looking at screens and consuming digital content. Dr. Aditi Nerurkar of Harvard Medical School explains that doomscrolling—the urge to scroll through endless bits of bad news—can cause nausea, headaches, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping, and poorer mental wellbeing.

Dr. Nerukar also describes the problem of “popcorn brain,” a sense of overstimulation from too much time online, skipping through snippets of content at a rapid pace. Sufferers find it harder to engage when faced with the slower pace of the real, physical world.

Similarly, “brain rot” is the state of mental fog and fatigue caused by overexposure to shallow, negative, or over-stimulating content. It’s such a prevalent ailment that Oxford University Press made “brain rot” its Word of the Year in 2024.

Writing about digital overload, George Washington University professor Richard Cytowic says our brains are simply not equipped to handle the distractions of contemporary digital life. We consume an overwhelming volume of online content, which ruins our attention spans and robs our attention from our own lives.

Ways to escape the “digital void”

The effects of digital overload might sound pretty bleak, but the severity spans a wide spectrum from person to person. Many Americans seek therapy for digital overload, citing stress, social anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Others just have a feeling that they’re wasting too much time on screens and would like to have healthier habits in the digital realm.

The following advice can be helpful for anyone trying to develop healthier digital habits:

• Along with turning off your phone, Professor Cytowic suggests spending time in natural spaces, going for walks outside, looking out of a window, and just doing nothing for a little while.
• Screen breaks, screen time limits, engaging in offline activities (e.g. hobbies, exercise, in-person interactions), and prioritizing sleep are among the top recommendations from Inspira Health. They also suggest carefully curating the online content you do consume.
• Dr. Nerurkar stresses the importance of establishing digital boundaries to recalibrate your brain and body. Keep your phone out of reach when you’re in bed, at the dinner table, or working in your office, if possible. Switch your phone to grayscale and cancel all non-essential notifications.

The role of photo books in fighting screen fatigue

At Mixbook, we often emphasize the tangible nature of printed photo books. How you can hold them in your hands, flip through the pages with your fingers, and share the experience of reliving memories with the person sitting next to you. It’s a totally different practice to scrolling through endless reels on a screen.

Physical photo books engage more of your senses, and they give your memories a lasting presence in the real world—on the page, and on your shelf or coffee table.

Further, photo books are a link between the physical and digital. The beauty of digital photography lies in the potential for extracting the highlights—the true treasures—from a seemingly endless photo reel. Those treasures get the showcase they deserve in a beautifully designed book, customized in any way you desire.

The expert advice to be more mindful with screen time applies here, too. The hours you might spend in Mixbook Studio™ are far from empty or mindless. Choosing photos, picking the perfect theme, and playing with layouts and typography until your book is perfect all amounts to screen time well spent. So will the countless off-screen minutes and hours you’ll spend enjoying your printed photo books in the future.

Looking through your custom photo books is the opposite of doomscrolling, as most photo book projects are overwhelmingly positive. Think about all the positive, happy emotions associated with popular photo book ideas like your baby’s first year, a wedding album, memories of an amazing vacation with friends, or a collection of awe-inspiring landscape and nature photography.

Build your book and keep your memories alive

The next time you find yourself doomscrolling, do yourself a favor and head over to Mixbook.com. You can find inspiration for your next project on our blog, browse photo book themes, brainstorm gift ideas for birthdays and holidays, or start uploading favorite photos that always make you smile.