Why scrolling your phone first thing in the morning could increase anxiety and stress: AIIMS neurologist explains

For many people, mornings begin not with sunlight or silence but with the glow of a phone screen. Before getting out of bed or taking the first sip of water, the instinct is to check notifications, social media, news or messages. It can feel harmless, a small habit that helps ease into the day. But experts warn that this automatic urge may be quietly damaging mental well-being. Starting the day with digital stimulation can overwhelm the brain at its most sensitive moment, raising stress levels and increasing feelings of anxiety that continue throughout the day. The first few minutes after waking shape emotional balance, and flooding the mind too quickly with information can disrupt that fragile equilibrium. AIIMS neurologist Dr Priyanka Sehrawat recently urged people to stop scrolling t