EP7: Stuck in a Scroll Hole? Here's a Little Trick to Get Out of It

Ever found yourself in a scroll hole? You know the one—where two hours vanish into cat videos, TikTok rants, or oddly satisfying cookie frosting reels. In today’s episode, we dig into why this happens, how our brains are wired for overstimulation, and—most importantly—how to break the cycle.

What You’ll Learn:

• 🧠 Why our brains struggle with today’s world: We’re overstimulated and hooked on that dopamine hit from endless scrolling.
• 🎨 The sneaky power of bright colors: Why our phones are engineered to keep us glued—and how they’re winning.
• 🔧 A game-changing hack: Turn your phone to grayscale to reduce stimulation and take back control.
• 🛠️ How to set up grayscale: Step-by-step instructions for both iPhone and Android users (plus tips for automating it at bedtime or sunset).

Why This Matters:
Our brains weren’t built for this digital world, and the constant hits of dopamine leave us overstimulated, unfocused, and struggling with attention. Grayscale won’t “fix” it overnight, but it’s a tool to help you notice—and break free from—the scroll.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Overstimulation is making us crave more dopamine while shrinking our focus.
• Turning your phone to grayscale removes the extra layer of “excitement” that keeps you hooked.
• Self-control is a muscle—this simple trick can help you strengthen it, one small choice at a time.

🌟 Try It Yourself:
Switch to grayscale when you notice you’re deep in a scroll hole.

• iPhone users: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Color Filters and turn on grayscale.
  For easy access, set it as a shortcut by going to Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and choosing Color Filters. Now, you can triple-click the side button for quick toggling on and off.
• Android users: Settings > Accessibility > Color and motion > Color correction > Grayscale.
  On the same screen, toggle on the Color correction shortcut, so you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen with two fingers the next time you need to enable or disable grayscale mode instantly.

For automation, set grayscale to kick in at bedtime or sunset—because sometimes, we all need a little extra help!

Memorable Moments:

• “Our phones are a dopamine goldmine, and bright colors are part of the trap.”
• “Grayscale makes scrolling boring—and boring is exactly what your brain needs to break free.”

If this episode spoke to you:
✨ Subscribe to Becoming Aligned AF so you never miss an episode filled with real, actionable insights to help you find alignment in your life.
✨ Share this episode with a friend or on social media—tag us @stephwoods.co and let us know if the grayscale hack works for you!

Takeaway Challenge: Try turning on grayscale for a day and see how it changes your scrolling habits. Your focus (and your brain) will thank you!