A GP’s guide to breaking the doomscroll and reshaping your feed
Dr Radha Modgil shares her advice on comparison, FOMO and creating a digital life that actually supports your wellbeing.
If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering why your real life feels flat compared with someone else’s perfectly polished posts or found yourself doomscrolling until well past midnight, you’re far from alone.
And the good news? We’ve teamed up with someone who knows exactly how to help. Dr Radha Modgil, NHS GP, wellbeing expert and familiar voice from the BBC’s daytime show Life Hacks, is joining us for our Disrupt Your Feed campaign, answering real questions from our community on how to build a healthier digital life.
“I get serious FOMO scrolling through other people’s lives. How do I stop comparing myself?”
You might think you’re the only one who spirals into comparison mode, but Radha says this is one of the most common issues she hears. And the problem isn’t you, it’s the performance.
“Social media is basically an illusion… we tend to just share the highlights of our lives rather than our regular day-to-day experience,” she explains. The trick, she says, is to remember that you’re comparing your unfiltered reality to someone else’s heavily curated highlights.
Best of all, she offers a simple reframing: “Change that kind of FOMO into JOMO – the joy of missing out”
Instead of longing for what you’re not doing, come back to what you actually are doing, your real friendships, real routines and real joys.
“Social media feels so fake sometimes. How do I remind myself it’s not real life?”
This one made Radha laugh because, honestly, you’re spot on. “A lot of social media is just the highlights of that kind of shiny appearance that everyone puts on their life… how often have you seen someone posting something difficult or challenging?”
If you’re finding the glossy perfection overwhelming, she recommends grounding yourself in the offline world and rethinking who you follow. Choose creators who share real moments, real challenges and real emotions. “Decide to maybe curate your feed… unfollow people who make you feel that way and start to follow people who are being a bit more authentic” she says.
It’s this spirit of authenticity that inspired us to create our Disrupt Your Feed list. This year, the campaign celebrates creators who are transforming social media into a space for honesty, empowerment, and connection. Each woman on the list embodies our mission in her own way, proving that success, beauty, and fulfilment can come in all shapes and sizes.
“I lose hours doomscrolling before bed. How can I break the habit?”
Don’t worry — Radha promises this is not a personal weakness. It’s your brain chemistry. “Every time we get a new bit of information, we get a dopamine hit… even if it’s about something we’re not very happy about” she explains. So you’re not choosing to stay up late reading bad news; your brain is chasing tiny bursts of stimulation.
Her solution is to interrupt the “habit loop”. When you reach for your phone, pause. Replace the urge with something that genuinely soothes you — reading, a shower, an audiobook. And if you really want to take it further? “Why don’t you put that energy into actually trying to solve the problem you’re worried about?” she suggests. A simple but powerful redirect.
“What’s one simple thing I can do to make my feed better for my mental health?”
Radha’s favourite question. And her answer is pure joy: go back to what you loved as a child. “Think about what you used to enjoy when you were growing up… what was it that lit you up?”
Following accounts that spark passion rather than pressure helps shift your feed away from perfection and back towards pleasure. “It will stop being about outcomes and illusion and productivity… and become more about you and your feelings” she says.
“What are your top tips for healthier online habits in 2026?”
Radha has three non-negotiables for the year ahead. First, tune into how you feel before and after scrolling. “If you notice you feel worse, that will hopefully trigger your brain and behaviour to remove yourself from that”
Second, clear out the negative voices and spotlight the positive ones. And third, imagine life without social media. “What would your life be like? That is the life you want to focus on”
Looking ahead: what gives her hope for 2026?
Plenty, as it turns out. What excites Radha most is the way young people are reshaping their digital worlds. “They’re starting to take control… to make that narrative theirs,” she says, describing a shift back to authenticity, community and real-life priorities.
It’s a hopeful note to end on. And if the messages you’ve been sending in are anything to go by, our community is ready for that shift too.
Know Your Own Power by Dr Radha is available to buy now!
