In the middle of our busy digital lives, where information overload and doomscrolling prevail, it becomes essential to find moments of tranquillity and give ourselves a break. Nevertheless, it might be quite challenging to have a complete detox from social media. Luckily, there are certain ways in which SoMe – platforms can be genuinely helpful in finding peace. In this article I invite you to escape doomscrolling and experience the art of bushcraft without stepping out of the house. Explore a digital realm that offers a refreshing perspective, allowing you to recline and virtually reconnect with nature.

Alta in winter #35mm. Photo: Kadriia Sungatullina / PRESSET.

Fluffy and dazzling snow covers tall pines and majestic spruces, while golden sun rays illuminate forest paths. The subtle and calming sounds of a frozen river nearby envelop you, with the warmth and unique taste of a cracking campfire that transcends through the frosty air… Can you sense it? This picturesque scene might make you want to experience winter camping. Going camping usually requires a lot: time, equipment, good weather conditions and so forth. However, is that truly a necessity? Take a break from exhausting doomscrolling and jump into relaxing and cozy winter adventure with YouTube.

Lost in Doomscrolling

Doomscrolling is often considered to be troublesome due to its very nature - excessive consumption of dreadful and unsettling news on social media. According to the annual Reuters Digital News Report 2023, “while the overall use by Norwegians of social media for news is low, use of TikTok is increasing fast, <…>, with the increase unsurprisingly concentrated among young users”. Moreover, following the statistics published in this report, 29% of Norwegians use Facebook and 13% use YouTube with the aim to get news. These numbers might showcase that social media play an important role for keeping us updated on world’s affairs.

One of the negative feelings that might appear out of this is fear of missing out, or simply, “FOMO”. “FOMO” is described in the book Sosiale Medier (2022) by Ida Aalen and Magnus Iversen as one of the subcategories for digital stress. This term means "the anxiety that comes, for example, from seeing that others are enjoying themselves and having fun without you being present". Furthermore, FOMO might also imply the anxiety that comes from the absence of receiving the news, which leads to general stress and a bad mood. This, in turn, fuels the process of doomscrolling and we find ourselves trapped and lost in a dreadful cycle. It is vital to get out and escape of this vicious circle, to get rid of the mean world syndrome and take care of ourselves.

På tur i Alta. Photo: Kadriia Sungatullina / PRESSET.

Finding peace and joy of life

However, it might be tough to stand up and go camping right away. In this case, social media can come to the rescue. There is a whole genre of videos on YouTube presenting bushcraft and camping in an utterly cozy way, which are aimed to provide advice, inspiration, and simply pure joy. For instance, YouTube channels like Bushcraft Russia| People of the Wild (@Lesnue), Joshua Gammon or Luxon Bushcraft has a lot of content dedicated to camping, building forest houses, or survival tips. But what makes these videos worth-seeing and how can they possibly make you feel better?

Winter in Alta. Photo: Kadriia Sungatullina / PRESSET.

Firstly, it is the mode of narration. Some of the channels have a fairy tale-like storytelling that generates a pleasant, leisurely atmosphere. Watching their videos might create a feeling of a warm blanket enveloping the viewer, making you feel calm and safe. Especially if you sit at home, drinking a cup of hot chocolate and snuggling under the plaid. Other channels prefer creating their content without any verbal narration, only the sounds of nature and surroundings. People in the comment section seem to enjoy it as well, as, for example, a person with username @carolyn6290 writes: “Yeah, no click bait, no music, no talking, just a peaceful atmosphere. That’s what I like!”.

Secondly, it is the visual part. Videos by @Lesnue provide a unique footage of frosty, snow-covered taiga. They present fascinating viewpoints through various perspectives and angles, that allows its audience to fully immerse in the experience. As, for instance, the user @margaritasmirnova5067 states in her comment: “Fairy tale! I am delighted with what I saw, it is a blessing to be part of nature, you gave me the pleasure of being there, at least in my mind.”

Walking around Øytun Folkehøgskole. Photo: Kadriia Sungatullina / PRESSET.

Finally, it is the overall picture and idea of the genre. It feels unusual and matchless. We, as active Internet users, are quite used to watching other genres, such as ASMR or oddly satisfying videos, if we want to get away from the routine and have some time for ourselves. The genre of bushcraft is something you, probably, have not experienced, but once you do that – you might get some peace of mind.

Forest in Finnmark, Norway. Photo: Kadriia Sungatullina / PRESSET.

In conclusion, I believe that social media platforms can be used in valuable and beneficial ways. Stepping out of the house and going camping, without no doubt, might bring you even more joy and relaxation. Nonetheless, if you feel the need to take a break from doomscrolling in the middle of the week, it is worth checking out some cosy bushcraft videos that will not leave you indifferent.

Doomscrolling Escape: Camping at Home