If your thumb moves faster than your brain can handle, you’re not alone. The constant barrage of heated takes, breaking news, and doom-laced updates on your social feeds may be affecting your mental bandwidth more than you think. And now there’s a name for that creeping tension: Feedxiety.
The term was coined by Doug Fleener, a performance expert and author who’s spent years helping people operate better under stress. He defines it as “the low-level tension people feel when scrolling through their feed—never knowing what emotional curveball is coming next.”
In short, it’s not just about being online too much. It’s about the emotional wear and tear from bracing for the next wave of bad news, outrage, or conflict. And it’s affecting how people feel throughout the day—even when they’re not looking at a screen.
A New Problem with an Old Root
Fleener says people often underestimate how much influence digital media has on their baseline stress. It’s subtle. You’re not panicking, but you’re also not relaxed. He compares it to driving with the brakes slightly pressed—not enough to stop, but enough to wear you down.
This low-level drain isn’t dramatic, which makes it hard to recognize. But the impact adds up. It affects decision-making, sleep, patience, and even productivity.
And unlike traditional burnout, Feedxiety builds quietly. You won’t spot it in one big crash. It shows up in frayed nerves, mindless scrolling, and that moment you open an app… and immediately regret it.
The Fix Doesn’t Involve Throwing Away Your Phone
Most advice for digital burnout sounds extreme. Delete all your apps. Start meditating. Move to a cabin. But Fleener says that’s not realistic for people who work, parent, or just want to stay connected.
His answer is Peace in a Chaotic World, a 28-minute online course that cuts through the noise and offers five fast tools. No filler. No fluff. Just actions people can take today—even if they’re short on time or patience.
“You don’t need another tip,” Fleener says. “You need tools that help you feel calm even if your phone’s blowing up and your inbox is full.”
He built the course with busy professionals in mind. People who don’t have time to meditate for 45 minutes, but still want to feel more grounded. Each lesson gives a quick way to reset focus, shift energy, and stop digital noise from running the show.
Who Is Doug Fleener?
Fleener is the author of The Day Makes the Year (Makes a Life) and founder of Peace is the Day. His work focuses on small daily choices that shape long-term outcomes. He’s led workshops and keynotes for teams around the globe. His message is simple: clarity comes from consistent action, not big breakthroughs.
With Peace in a Chaotic World, he’s applied that same philosophy to digital stress. The course is short, affordable ($27), and doesn’t require tech know-how or lifestyle changes.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about regaining control, even for a few minutes a day.
A Name for the Noise—and a Way to Quiet It
Feedxiety might be a new term, but the feeling is familiar. It’s the tightness in your chest when you scroll past your tenth heated headline. It’s the energy drop after an hour online. And for many, it’s become part of daily life.
Fleener’s approach doesn’t ask people to give up their devices or pretend the world isn’t noisy. It just offers a way to stop the stress from sticking. For those tired of feeling worn out by their own screen time, it could be the reset they’ve been waiting for.
Peace in a Chaotic World is available now at peaceinachaoticworld.com.
