The Walk - Between Doomscrolling and Escapism

About this episode

Fr. Roderick reflects on finding balance between doomscrolling and escapism while walking in nature.

Sometimes the world feels like a constant stream of urgency. News updates, deadlines, expectations, and worries about things far beyond our control. In this episode, recorded during a quiet walk through the woods on a bright spring day, I reflect on how easy it is to get pulled into that whirlwind, either by endless scrolling or by escaping completely into distraction. But there might be a healthier place somewhere in between. During these walks I notice how the rhythm of nature slowly changes my perspective. The problems of the world do not disappear, but they begin to settle into a different order. From that calmer place I talk about learning to set boundaries, protecting time to rest, and discovering that balance is not about ignoring suffering, but about making space to process it without losing hope or empathy. In the podcast I also share some of the lessons I’ve learned recently while juggling intense work, creative projects, and the temptation to overwork. It turns out that recalibrating your life often takes longer than you expect, but the peace that slowly returns is worth the effort. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay compassionate without becoming overwhelmed, this…

People in this episode

Host: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen

Topics covered

• doomscrolling
• escapism
• mental health
• nature
• balance
• compassion

Keywords

• doomscrolling
• escapism
• mental health
• nature
• balance
• compassion
• boundaries
• rest
• empathy

More episodes of The Walk

• The Walk - Momentum Before Motivation · June 3, 2026 · 1h 2m
• The Walk - What Happens When You Challenge Your Own Beliefs? · May 28, 2026 · 1h 2m
• The Walk - The Pressure That Finally Caught Up With Me · May 21, 2026 · 54 min
• The Walk - Imagination Is Not Escapism · May 15, 2026 · 1h 5m
• The Walk - Returning to Work After the Camino · May 6, 2026 · 46 min
• The Walk - What the Camino Taught Me · April 29, 2026 · 1h 9m