Overcome Digital Distraction | Reduce Screen Time, Phone Addiction, Improve Focus, Healthy Habits, Rewire Your Brain, Digital Detox, Digital Wellness, Time Management

49 | Reset Your Digital Habits: 30 Days to Greater Clarity, Improved Focus, and Habits that Lead to Lasting Freedom

This episode is your fresh start! I'm sharing about the beginning of a brand new podcast series and your personal Digital Habit Reset.
As we close out the year and step into 2026, I'm inviting you to pause, reflect, and reset. This isn’t about chasing quick wins or setting surface-level goals, it’s about getting honest about what’s been shaping your days, what’s been pulling on your attention, and what kind of habits will support the life you actually want to live. Before we dive into routines or resolutions, we need to name what needs to shift and prepare our hearts for a fresh start.
In this episode, I’m sharing how digital distraction shapes your daily life, and why resetting your digital habits is the most powerful step you can take before diving into any new goals or routines.
⚡️This is the kickoff to something I’ve created just for you:The Digital Habit Reset — A 30-day faith-based reset for renewing your mind, reshaping your habits, and recentering your heart.
Whether you feel tethered to your phone, burned out from constant scrolling, or just tired of being pulled in every direction… this is for you.
🎧 Listen in and get ready for:
A hopeful, grace-filled way to end your year
A sneak peek into our 4-week January podcast series
The truth about why January really matters (hint: your brain is wired for fresh starts!)
Why your attention is the foundation for lasting habit change
The #1 reason digital habits must be your starting point
Inside the 30-Day Reset Guide, you’ll find mind-renewing reflections, Scripture, and one small, doable practice a day. The guide is a daily companion to help you prepare your heart and habits for a new year of transformation.
👉 Be sure to get the Digital Habit Reset Guide — download it now and start the journey today!https://www.julianneaugust.com/reset
Here are the five questions to reflect on and ask yourself before you begin:
What did my screen time cost me this year?
Where did digital distraction steal moments I wanted to be present?
How often did I turn to my phone (or my screen of choice) when I actually needed rest, prayer, or connection?
What did I miss because I was scrolling? (On my phone, laptop, tablet, or Netflix)
What habits carried me closer to God… and which ones carried me away?
Resources & Next Steps:Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
Let’s Connect! Leave me a voice message with your thoughts or questions via Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com📱 Instagram: @julianne.august📘 Facebook: Julianne August🌐 Website: https://www.julianneaugust.com
🎙️I'd love if you would follow the podcast and leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

48 | What Happens When You Log Off for Christmas: The Silent, Holy Night Your Soul Needs

One Simple Way to Make This Christmas Sacred
You’ve got presents to wrap, a to-do list that’s growing by the minute, and a calendar that’s booked solid… and in the middle of it all, I’m about to suggest something that might sound completely countercultural.
What if the best gift you could give yourself this Christmas was to silence the screens and make space for something sacred?
In this special Christmas episode, I’m taking you back to the song we all know and love, “Silent Night” and inviting you to rethink what it really means. Because the night Jesus was born wasn’t actually silent. It was loud. Messy. Chaotic. And yet, in the middle of all that noise, Jesus was the peace.
So what if we followed His lead this Christmas?
We’ll talk about:
The real (and surprisingly chaotic) story behind that peaceful Christmas hymn
Why Jesus stepped away from the noise,  and why we need to do the same
How your phone habits might be stealing the sacred moments you crave
The kind of silence that invites awe, not awkwardness
A simple, one-time challenge to help you stay present with your people and with God
Whether you’re in the middle of gift wrapping or on your way to a family Christmas dinner, this episode is your gentle invitation to unplug and press into the peace of God’s presence.
Because the most sacred moments often come when we’re brave enough to be still.
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Would you take a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

47 | 5 Proven Strategies to Overcome Social Media Addiction This Christmas Season

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but scrolling through social media in December can feel like a full-on spiritual battle.
Everyone’s posting curated magic: matching pajamas, perfect trees, Pinterest-worthy cookies, exotic family vacations. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out what to make for dinner. It’s a comparison trap on steroids, and it’s exhausting. 
Today, I’m diving into 5 practical, no-fluff strategies to help you break free from social media addiction this Christmas season. These aren’t lofty theories. They’re real-life tools I’ve used myself and shared with others. If you want to feel more present, more peaceful, and actually enjoy your holiday season (without being glued to your phone), this one’s for you.
What You’ll Learn
🎄 Can you actually take a week off social? 🛑 What to do when you hit "Ignore Limit for Today" 📵 How to create “intentional friction” to stop the scroll 🌙 Why 8 PM should be your digital curfew 📸 How posting less can help you live more
🎄 Don’t miss this: if you’re looking for a life-giving Christmas gift for yourself or someone struggling with phone addiction, check out The Brick, a small device that helps break digital distraction. I’ve written a full review (and scored a 10% off link for you!) here: 👉 https://julianneaugust.com/brick
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️I would be so grateful if you followed the podcast and took a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

46 | The Self-Leadership Secret to Overcome Phone Addiction and Beat Digital Distraction

If your phone is leading your day before your feet hit the floor?  Maybe it’s time for a reset because when you live on autopilot, your screen isn't just distracting you, it's discipling you.
In this episode, I’m digging into self-leadership and what it really means, why it matters more than ever in a world of constant digital noise, and how the simple act of pausing can radically shift the direction of your spiritual and mental health.
This isn’t about another productivity hack. It’s about learning to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and reclaim your God-given agency. It's about not letting your phone decide who you become.
So the question is, who’s really leading your life right now?
👉 This episode will challenge your habits, renew your mindset, and give you one simple practice that can reshape your entire day.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Why digital autopilot isn’t neutral and how it’s training you
The real meaning of self-leadership (it’s not what you think)
What the Bible says about attention and spiritual boundaries
How habit loops are formed, and how to rewrite yours with God’s help
The one breath prayer that can change your whole day
A powerful spiritual practice to reclaim your focus – starting today
If you feel like your phone has more say in your day than the Holy Spirit does…this one’s for you.
🎄 Plus, don’t miss this: if you’re looking for a life-giving Christmas gift for yourself or someone struggling with phone addiction, check out The Brick, a small device that helps break digital distraction. I’ve written a full review (and scored a 10% off link for you!) here: 👉 https://julianneaugust.com/brick
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️I would be so grateful if you followed the podcast and took a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

45 | How to Stop Doomscrolling Through December and Discover the Joy You Can’t Scroll For

Why does December, of all months, make us feel behind, overwhelmed, and weirdly glued to our phones? You weren’t made to scroll your way through Advent.
It’s supposed to be a season of joy and peace, but instead, we’re juggling gift lists, family expectations, stretched budgets, and late-night scroll sessions that leave us more anxious than rested. 
This week we’re talking about why doomscrolling hits harder in December and how you can reclaim peace, presence, and attention with one simple routine: protecting the bookends of your day.
We’re talking about why our screens are so hard to put down in December and how Advent invites us into something deeper than curated joy and Pinterest tablescapes.
Here’s what’s inside the episode:
Why doomscrolling feels worse during the holidays
4 hidden reasons your brain craves your phone at night (and what to do instead)
How social media distorts your perception of Christmas without you even realizing it
The truth about Advent waiting, and why your soul actually needs it
A powerful morning + evening “bookend” practice to reset your attention this month
Let this December be different.
Resources & Next Steps:
🔲 Get Brick: A Digital Wellness Device to Help You Overcome Digital Distraction. You just tap your iPhone to it, and it activates a custom focus mode you’ve already designed. Tempting apps? Blocked. Helpful ones? Still accessible. Want to learn more or try Brick yourself? Get 10% off with my link here:👉https://julianneaugust.com/brick
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️I would be so grateful if you followed the podcast and took a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

44 | How to Stop Impulse Buying on Your Phone This Black Friday: 4 Simple Ways to Shop with Intention

Black Friday wants your money. Your phone makes it almost effortless to give it away. But what if the real cost isn’t your bank account but your peace?
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the psychology behind holiday marketing, especially the kind that targets you right on your phone. We’ll talk about why your screen is your biggest vulnerability this season, how shopping “deals” are engineered to hijack your attention, and how to stay grounded when the pressure to buy feels nonstop.
Whether you love Black Friday or dread it, you need a strategy to shop with intention and protect your peace. I’ll give you four simple practices you can use right now to stop impulse buying, keep your focus anchored in Christ and your phone from ruling your holiday mindset.
So, before you hit “add to cart” for the fifth time today… take a pause with me here first.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why your phone is the most powerful shopping tool retailers use (and how they target you)
How to spot emotional marketing and avoid it
The spiritual connection between Black Friday and Advent you might be missing
What Hebrews 13:5 and Psalm 23:1 reveal about contentment in a culture of consumption
4 simple, biblical practices to shop with intention, not impulse
One screen-free habit that can anchor your whole holiday season
Resources & Next Steps:
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

43 | Are You Procrasti-Learning? The Surprising Screen Habit That Feels Productive but Isn't

Have you ever convinced yourself you were being productive… while still glued to your screen for hours?
You're reading articles, watching tutorials, downloading podcasts and telling yourself this is different, because it's “educational.” But deep down… you’re avoiding the very thing you know God’s calling you to do.
Yeah. Been there. Still there some days.
It’s called procrasti-learning, and when I first heard that word, it was like someone peeked into my life and labeled this very sneaky, very justifiable form of digital distraction. It looks noble, feels responsible, but it’s quietly stealing our time, focus, and spiritual impact.
In this episode, we're talking about:
What procrasti-learning is and how it disguises itself as growth
Why your love of learning could be keeping you stuck
How screens make procrasti-learning feel productive (and why that’s dangerous)
What the Bible says about moving from knowledge to action
The surprising spiritual cost of staying in "preparation mode"
4 practical steps to help you stop consuming and start doing
We don’t need more information – we need transformation. And sometimes, the most spiritually mature thing we can do… is just start.
So if you’ve been stuck in a learning loop, bingeing podcasts, books, and free webinars instead of taking action, this one’s for you. It's time to break free from the distraction that doesn't look like distraction.
Resources & Next Steps:
Ready to start tracking your progress and building habits that actually stick? Download your free digital wellness habit tracker now and start small, stay consistent, and celebrate your wins. 👉Habit Tracker
Check out Episode 5 and download your FREE Guide to Grayscale with step-by-step screenshots to turn your phone into a calm, less-distracting space. 👉Guide to Grayscale
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Would you take a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

42 | 5 Screen Habits You Need to Break Right Now For a Calmer, Clearer Mind

I recorded this episode during a quiet retreat where I finally had space to slow down, unplug, and listen. And it reminded me just how much noise we’ve come to accept from our screens. If you’ve been feeling scattered, edgy, or just not fully present in your own life, this is your reset moment.
These five everyday screen habits might seem small, but they quietly train your brain to live distracted. And when that becomes your norm, it’s nearly impossible to experience a clear mind or focused, Spirit-led day.
In this episode, I’m sharing practical shifts that can help you take your attention back -- one small habit at a time.
What you’ll hear in this episode: • How constant notifications quietly train your brain to live distracted • Why your bedtime scroll is wrecking your sleep and focus • A fresh reminder that self-control is not optional, it’s spiritual
Resources & Next Steps:
Ready to start tracking your progress and building habits that actually stick? Download your free digital wellness habit tracker now and start small, stay consistent, and celebrate your wins. 👉Habit Tracker
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Would you take a minute to leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!

41 | How to Reclaim Your Attention and Improve Your Focus in a Digitally Distracted World

Is Your Attention Being Stolen or Given Away? 
If you’ve been walking with me since those first few episodes, then you’ve already taken some bold, intentional steps in your digital life. You’ve started noticing the invisible pull of distraction. You’ve built awareness. You’ve faced the hard truths. Today we’re going even deeper because it’s not just your time that’s being stolen.
It’s your focus. Your peace. Your presence.
And the tough truth is... we’re not just victims. We’re volunteers. Every scroll, every swipe, every buzz we chase, it’s not just happening to us. It’s a pattern we’re participating in. But don’t worry I’m here to help you take it back.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through:
Why your attention is more valuable than your money (and who’s profiting from it)
The hidden link between spiritual warfare and digital distraction
What Scripture teaches us about focused pursuit
Four surprising culprits that are secretly draining your attention
Eight practical habits to rebuild your focus muscle this week
And the powerful payoff of reclaiming your attention
This one gets real. But I promise it’s worth it because once you understand the cost of distraction, you’ll never look at your phone the same way again.
🎧 Hit play and let’s press into what matters most.
Resources & Next Steps:
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
Let's Connect! Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com📱 Instagram: @julianne.august📘 Facebook: Julianne August 
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Please follow the podcast and leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!
Hashtags: #DigitalWellness #DigitallyDistracted
 

40 | Dopamine: Why Your Brain Craves That Next Scroll and How to Train Your Brain to Focus Again

Dopamine, Distraction, and the Quiet Voice of God
Is your phone running your day... or is dopamine?
This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on the chemical that's silently driving your screen habits and showing you how to take back control. Dopamine isn’t just the “feel-good” chemical, it’s the reason you can’t stop checking your phone, chasing likes, or refreshing your inbox when you’re supposed to be focusing or praying.
But this isn't just about science it’s about your soul.
We’ll walk through how our brains were wired for survival but are now stuck in “dopamine abundance,” how that messes with your ability to feel joy in everyday moments, and most importantly, how this impacts your relationship with God.
We talk about the spiritual cost of distraction and how to reclaim your attention as an act of worship.
If your brain feels foggy, your spirit feels noisy, and your screen time feels out of control, you’re not alone and there is a simple, practical next step you can take today.
🎧 In this episode, we’ll explore:
What dopamine actually is and how it fuels your screen habits
The seesaw or teeter-totter effect: why you crash after every scroll
How big dopamine spikes make real life feel boring
Why distraction isn’t just a productivity issue, it’s a spiritual one
The Bible story that changed how I think about silence
Simple ways to start a dopamine fast to reset your brain and renew your attention
You’re living in a world that’s built to hijack your brain. But you can take it back, one small step at a time.
Resources & Next Steps:
Take the Screen Time Personality Quiz and get your 3-Day Digital Peace Plan - a free guide to help you reset your screen habits and reclaim your focus. 👉Screen Time Personality Quiz
🔲 Get Brick: A Digital Wellness Device to Help You Overcome Digital Distraction. You just tap your iPhone to it, and it activates a custom focus mode you’ve already designed. Tempting apps? Blocked. Helpful ones? Still accessible. Want to learn more or try Brick yourself? Get 10% off with my link here: https://julianneaugust.com/brick
📲 Grab Your Free WallpapersGet your free gallery of truth-filled phone and desktop wallpapers, designed to help you pause, reset, and refocus every time you reach for your device. 👉Digital Wallpaper
Let’s Connect!Share your experiences by leaving me a voice message through Speakpipe on my website!
📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com📱 Instagram: @julianne.august📘 Facebook: Julianne August 
🌐 Website: julianneaugust.com
🎙️Don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a written review, it helps this message reach more listeners who need it!
Hashtags: #DigitalWellness #DopamineDetox