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A prayer for the busy mind: Scrolling = "Popcorn Brain"

thephoebeproject
Sep 19
5 min read

I was reading about a title people are using for that restless, jumpy feeling many of us experience: popcorn brain. It describes a mind that has become so used to constant stimulation that our thoughts begin popping from one thing to another in every day life.


A notification pops. A new thought pops. Another video begins. Before long, a quiet moment feels uncomfortable, prayer feels difficult and anything requiring patience can feel almost impossible.


Popcorn brain is a picture of what can happen when our minds spend too much time moving between videos, messages, headlines and notifications. I know this too well!


What four months away taught me


This spring I felt God telling me to take some time away from social media. I was challenged to be intentional and honest in asking myself whether social media was something useful or something that began to master me.


Paul wrote, “I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). That gives us a gentle question to bring before God: Is this helping me, or is it beginning to control me?


I fasted from social media for four months, and I did not realize how much noise I had been carrying until it became quiet.


The peace I experienced was far more than I expected.

The peace I experienced was far more than I expected. People even commented on how healthy I looked. I began feeling more joy. My mind was no longer being pulled constantly toward the next update, opinion or notification. I had more room to think, to notice my emotions and to be present with God.


My ADHD did not disappear. I still had an ADHD brain, with challenges that had been part of my life long before social media existed. However, without the constant digital noise, I could see more clearly how much scrolling had been adding to my mental clutter.


I also was reminded that the stillness is where God whispers to us. He tells us secrets, mysteries and answers to questions. 


Psalm 23:2-3 says, “He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” During those four months, quiet became a place of refreshing for me.


What the research is showing


Researchers do not usually use the term “popcorn brain,” but they are studying the habits behind it.

One study looked at people who regularly juggled several forms of media at once. You might expect all that practice to make them better at multitasking, but it did not. They had more difficulty tuning out distractions and moving from one task to another. Another study found that people who multitasked with media more often reported losing focus and having their minds wander more in everyday life.


What encouraged me most was the research on taking a break.

What encouraged me most was the research on taking a break. In a 2025 study, people blocked mobile internet on their phones for two weeks, although they could still make calls and send texts. Their attention, mental health and sense of well-being improved. In fact, 91% experienced an improvement in at least one of those areas. With less time online, they spent more time talking with people face-to-face, exercising, getting outdoors and sleeping.


That sounds a lot like what I experienced during my own social-media fast. We do not necessarily need to give up technology completely. Sometimes we just need to step back long enough for the noise in our minds to settle and for us to hear God more clearly again.


I wonder...


I sometimes wonder whether some people are being diagnosed with ADHD, or diagnosing themselves through social-media content, when part of what they are experiencing may come from constant scrolling, interrupted sleep, stress and an inability to be still.


I do not say this to question the reality of ADHD. ADHD is real, and taking a break from social media cannot diagnose it or make it disappear. I simply wonder whether we are always looking at the whole picture.


A careful ADHD assessment considers whether symptoms were present in childhood, occur in more than one part of life and interfere with everyday functioning. It should also consider whether sleep, anxiety, trauma, physical health, medication or digital habits may be contributing.


Perhaps we can gently ask ourselves:

  • How much time am I spending scrolling?

  • When did I last allow myself to be truly quiet?

  • Can I sit with an uncomfortable feeling without reaching for my phone?

  • Have I made room in my day to be still in the presence of God?


Take a self assessment here.


Be still and know


Constant stimulation can leave us mentally tired without allowing us to feel truly rested. We may sit beside someone we love but give them only part of our attention. We may reach for our phones whenever an uncomfortable feeling rises, distracting ourselves from emotions that need to be acknowledged, brought to God and healed.


There can also be a spiritual cost when we lose our ability to be still. God is with us in our busiest days, but Scripture repeatedly invites us to quiet ourselves before Him.


“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) is an invitation from a loving Father who knows our souls need rest.


Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Stillness turns our attention from the endless demands of the world toward the One who holds us steady and still. We remember that God is God, that we are loved. he gives us peace and we remember that not everything needs an immediate response.


Philippians 4:6–7 also reminds us to bring our concerns to God and promises that His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Stillness gives us space to release what we have been carrying.


If stillness has become difficult, please do not hear condemnation in that. We are all human after all, and we are in this together.


A scheduled break


I try to schedule a social media break these days because of the benefits I've seen. A break helps me sleep better, feel more present, spend more time with people, be more active, and connect with God in a deeper way. It's always an adjustment because our minds are so accustomed to reaching for stimulation. When my brain starts to shift into a different gear a peace eventually comes over me.


If your mind feels scattered, you are not lazy, broken or beyond help. You may be overstimulated. You may be exhausted or carrying pain. You may actually have ADHD. You may be dealing with several things at once.


Whatever the reason, God is near. He can help you recognize what is stealing your peace and lead you back into His safe hands.


A prayer for a busy mind


Father, my mind feels pulled in many directions, and sometimes I do not know how to slow it down. Show me what is feeding my restlessness and stealing my peace. Help me use technology wisely without allowing it to master me. Teach me to be still in Your presence. Renew my mind, steady my thoughts and help me be present with You and with the people I love. Thank You for meeting me with compassion and reminding me that I can begin again today. Amen.



“Popcorn brain” is an informal description, not a medical diagnosis. ADHD is a recognized neurodevelopmental condition and should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional. A proper assessment considers whether symptoms began in childhood, occur in more than one setting and interfere with everyday life.



 
 
 

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