This lack of attention makes people uninterested in the plot of whatever they are watching and draws them deeper into doomscrolling, as it seems like a "simpler" form of entertainment. To me, doomscrolling feels like a thief of time and life. I love films and TV, so I still feel able to watch them without reaching for my phone. However, if I sit to look at my phone for a "minute" and the next thing I know 3 hours have gone by, I grow more scared that I will fall victim to my phone and stop seeking out joy in my daily life at home.
My relationship with YouTube has always been about trying to find creators who are similar to me and who act as a reminder to slow down and engage with things that bring real value to my life, such as books, recipes, gardening, pottery, social commentary, and travel that I would’ve never considered without them delving into it. I’ve curated a list of 5 of my current favorite YouTubers, some of whom I’ve been watching for more than a couple of years, who focus on video essays, discussing books, traveling vlogs, and just finding comfort in everyday rituals, such as coffee and journaling. Their videos have been really helpful, especially to counteract the anxiety that doomscrolling and social media can bring to me personally. I enjoy long-form content, especially creators with consistent 30+ minute videos, as they help combat doomscrolling and inspire my everyday life. And despite their similarities, they each have something different to offer.
Lauren Louise (@bigbooklady)
Starting strong, we have Lauren, aka Big Book Lady. I started following her on TikTok back in 2024 (when I was still on the app) because we shared a similar taste in books, and her recommendations were always huge hits in my book. As she began posting more on YouTube, she quickly became one of my comfort creators. The best way I can describe her is cool and cozy. From documenting her walks bundled up for a Canadian winter storm to drawing baths and repainting her bathroom, her videos have always inspired me to appreciate the small things in life and find comfort in daily rituals. Living in New York City, I’ve grown accustomed to moving every so often, and her moving a couple of times helped me view each place as a home to make rather than a house to stay in. So I take my time brewing coffee in my mokapot in the morning. I walk around aimlessly in bookstores, faintly recognizing a title she talked about videos ago with a pastry in hand; I light a candle when I read, and I find joy in ceramic mugs. And even though she now lives in a grown-up house with an entire garden to tend to and I’m still in a small apartment in New York, it’s comforting to know we are all living different lives in a world together, interconnected by various books and soup recipes.
Malissa (@bewareofpity)
Malissa, or as I call her by her Instagram handle, "the post office girl", is a legend in her knowledge of older books as well as fragrances. She is incredibly talented in articulating her thoughts on books and is the main reason I know when I’ve struck gold at a thrift shop or old bookstore. She lives her life and documents it through the seasons, changing her bedding for the holidays and her perfume tray to match the weather. She posts longer videos, sometimes up to an hour long, which I always find soothing. I take inspiration from the simplicity of her lifestyle, wardrobe and skincare, recipes and reading spots. She has helped me grow unafraid of heavier books, make a habit of annotating my thoughts as I go, and also learn to let go of a book if it doesn’t suit me because there are many others to go through and enjoy.
Lani’s Lens (@lanislens)
Now, Lani is someone that I feel can read my mind. Just from the title of her videos, I think to myself, "How did she know I was just thinking about that?" She makes video essays and deep-dives that are incredibly well-thought through and relevant. I feel like her videos always align with me, and they are very thought-provoking while still feeling like you’re just talking to a friend. She’s very fun and campy, covering a variety of topics trending on social media. I always feel I learn something from her, which then sparks deep conversations in my real life with friends and family. Because, yes, analyzing media and their societal implications is cool! Questioning why things are talked about in a certain way and how it affects people is not only rad, but important.
Noa Maria (@noa_maria)
Noa is a young creator from Switzerland who spends her free time on a train adventuring to a village in Italy, Edinburgh, or London. Living in a small flat, I’ve adopted a few of her space-saving hacks that also happen to be incredibly stylish, such as a dark wood secretary desk. She’s the closest to me in age, and there is a softness to her that makes me want to explore the world just as she does. She journals and makes collages with pictures and a glue stick, and walks around a city in search of the perfect sit-down cafe to order a matcha and settle down to read. She crafts beautiful pottery and has a business making whimsical stickers, and wherever she goes, she brings that beauty and whimsy for the world and the people in it. Having never left the country, except for Mexico, I find it wonderful to see her go to new cities and talk about her experiences in each place. Never taking for granted that, despite it not being her first language, she makes videos in a language I can understand.
Moya Mawhinney (@moyamawhinney)
Living a very "social media" perfect lifestyle, Moya has a very strong presence as an influencer on Instagram, collaborating with fashion brands and known for her style. I can always look to her for fashion inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram, but I am a bigger fan of her YouTube channel where she just documents normal days in her life. I think her channel is a perfect balance of travel and a homebody lifestyle. Longing to visit Ireland, her videos from years ago studying abroad in Dublin always just satisfied me. She brings a sense of home wherever she is, writing poetry on the seaside in Greece or in the corner of her bed. I find her videos keep me grounded in my own life, and I enjoy this premise on YouTube of (as she titled one of her own videos) "not a lot going on." I think, overall, YouTube is just a way of gaining insight into people's lives, helping you appreciate your own while feeling connected to unknown individuals and places in the world outside of you.
