Memes are a contradiction in that they are both relaxing and incredibly overstimulating at the same time.

They require pretty much no physical effort, but mentally, it is a different story. A meme break that is supposed to last only a few minutes can quickly derail any productivity in the near future. Even though you’re technically doing little, your mind is ping ponging from one silly punchline to the next.

This is a change from how things used to be. Before screens, rest was generally a calming thing, and mental engagement often came through active participation in something. Today, however, we can expose ourselves to a flood of information and humor while still calling ourselves lazy. It has got to be weird for our brains, although it has to be said that we seem to have adapted to the whole concept pretty fast.

As well as this, knowing that a pastime may have some negative side effects has never stopped people from participating in it in droves. We’ve all promised ourselves just another five minutes of doomscrolling, only for it to turn into an hour. That being said, despite its reputation for making us useless, meme scrolling remains one of the best things about living through the highs and lows of the internet age. If you’re going to indulge in a habit that keeps you glued to your screen for longer than is healthy, you might as well make sure you’re getting plenty of enjoyment out of it.