86: Lessons From Switching Off and Welcome to 2025!

In this episode, Distracted host Angela Lockwood reflects on her recent family holiday where she switched off from work for 4 weeks. No laptop, no messages and no notifications. She shares the results of doing this and emphasises the importance of disconnecting from technology and creating boundaries to manage these distractions at all times. She shares insights on how to control attention and minimise interruptions in daily life, encouraging listeners to prioritise what truly matters to them.

By listening to the episode you will learn; 👉 The importance of consciously switching off from work during family time.

👉  How setting boundaries around email and notifications is crucial for focus.

👉 How turning off unnecessary notifications can reduce anxiety and distractions.

👉 Being strategic about attention can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Chapters

00:00 Post-Holiday Reflections 02:58 Family Adventures  05:10 Disconnecting from Technology 09:28 Creating Boundaries for Attention 15:32 Embracing Control in a Distracted World

Don't forget to subscribe, rate and share the Distracted Podcast on all of your favourite platforms!

85: The Distraction of Possibility

In this final episode of 2024, Angela Lockwood reflects on the highs and lows of the year, discussing the overwhelming nature of possibilities that can distract us from our goals. She explores how this distraction affects various aspects of life, including business, education, and personal choices. Angela shares strategies to maintain focus amidst the chaos, emphasising the importance of setting clear priorities and making conscious choices. As the year comes to a close, she encourages listeners to reflect on their experiences and set intentions for a more focused and fulfilling year ahead.

By listening to the episode you will learn; 👉 Why it is hard to make decisions in the face of possibilities.

👉  Why possibility distracts us and how to identify when this happens in your life.

👉  The impact of possibility overload o your health and wellbeing.

👉 The seven strategies to stay focused while remaining open to possibilities. 

👉  How to set a clear path for the new year.

Chapters

00:00 Reflecting on 2024: Highs, Lows, and Mundane Moments 10:03 Navigating Choices in Business and Education 20:10 The Impact of Personal Life Choices 36:37 Looking Ahead: Setting Priorities for 2025

84: Role Modelling Healthy Habits For Our Kids

In this insightful episode of Distracted, Angela Lockwood speaks with Dr. Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, about creating sustainable healthy habits within the family unit. Dr. Fuller explains why the focus should shift from weight loss and good or bad food to overall health. He breaks down the science behind why a focus on diets often fail and how evidence-based approaches can foster lasting wellness for the whole family. Together, they delve into the importance of parents modelling healthy behaviours, involving children in meal preparation, and making family mealtime a sacred ritual free from distractions.

Listeners will gain insights into countering social media’s impact on body image, promoting “nature’s treats” over processed foods, and avoiding the pitfalls of diet culture. Dr. Fuller shares actionable advice on how parents and adults can set health goals beyond weight, approach gradual lifestyle changes, and create a home environment that encourages a positive relationship with food and movement.

What You’ll Learn: 👉 Why focusing on health, not weight, leads to sustainable change.

👉 The power of parents as role models for healthy habits.

👉The importance of family mealtimes in shaping positive food relationships.

👉 How to avoid dieting cycles and embrace gradual, evidence-based weight management.

👉 Practical strategies to integrate natural, whole foods into your family’s diet.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Health and Wellness for Families 05:48 Understanding Weight Loss vs. Healthy Living 10:31 Role Modelling Healthy Behaviours for Kids 14:08 Cutting Through the Noise of Health Information 29:45 Quick Wins for Healthy Habits in Adults

You can learn more about Dr Fuller at:

About Dr Nick Fuller

www.feedingfussykids.com

www.intervalweightloss.com

Instagram @intervalweightloss

In the latest episode of Distracted, Angela Lockwood dives into the power of a humble tool that many of us overlook—sticky notes. Far more than just colorful squares, sticky notes are an incredibly versatile resource that can boost focus, productivity, and creativity. Angela explains how sticky notes can simplify project management, distill complex ideas, and provide clarity when juggling multiple tasks.

Whether you're brainstorming, organising thoughts, or managing tasks, sticky notes offer a tangible way to track progress and stay on top of what matters most. Angela also shares tips for using sticky notes effectively, including color coding, prioritising tasks, and, most importantly, ensuring they lead to action rather than clutter.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• How sticky notes can simplify overwhelming tasks and organize thoughts.
• Why they’re effective for summarising complex ideas and creative project planning.
• The role of sticky notes in educational settings to improve learning and retention.
• Strategies for actioning sticky notes to prevent clutter and enhance productivity.
• Tips on using color coding to prioritise and manage projects more effectively.

Whether you're looking to boost your personal productivity or streamline your professional projects, this episode will inspire you to use the simplicity of sticky notes to stay focused.

82: Finding Calm Through Your Breath

In this episode of Distracted, Angela Lockwood speaks with Angie Saunders, founder of Breathe Me and the O2 Collective, about the significance of breath in our daily lives. They explore how breathing affects our well-being, the importance of teaching breathing techniques to children, and practical strategies for managing stress through breath work. Angie emphasises the role of the vagus nerve and how breath can be a tool for emotional regulation and state change vital skills to help us in a fast-paced and often stressful life. The conversation highlights the need for awareness and control of our breathing patterns to improve mental clarity and overall health. This is an important episode to listen to if you feel the pressure of overwhelm in your body and want a simple way to overcome chronic stress.

By listening to the episode you will learn; 👉 How stress affects our breathing patterns, leading to physical and mental health implications.

👉  How to use your breath to change your mental and physical state even in heightened moments.

👉 Ways to teach children important regulation strategies.

👉 The skill of reflexive breathing.

👉  Co-regulation strategies for better relationships.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Power of Breath 01:55 Understanding the Importance of Breathing 06:05 Breath Holding and Its Effects 09:49 Breathing Techniques for Stress Relief 14:01 Breathing with Children: Techniques and Games 18:01 The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Breathing 21:57 Breath as a Tool for State Change 26:05 Recognising Signs of Breath Imbalance 29:45 Practical Steps for Breath Control

In this episode, Angela Lockwood discusses the importance of being present in our daily lives amidst the distractions that constantly vie for our attention. She shares personal anecdotes and practical strategies to help listeners cultivate mindfulness, improve focus, and enhance relationships. The conversation emphasises that presence is a skill that requires practice, and offers insights into how breath, self-talk, and meditation can aid in achieving a state of presence in our relationships and life.

By listening to the episode you will learn;

• Why being present is crucial for meaningful relationships.
• How being distracted can come from both external and internal sources and how to recognise them.
• The effectiveness of practicing mindfulness in minimising distractions.
• The power of breath to focus the mind and minimise distractions.
• Strategies to enhance presence.

Chapters

00:00 The Irony of Distraction 02:51 Understanding Presence and Distraction 06:39 Strategies for Being Present 11:50 The Power of Breath in Focus 18:30 Practicing Presence in Relationships 24:30 Sustaining Presence as a Skill

In this episode, Angela Lockwood discusses her strong feelings against smartwatches and how they contribute to distraction and stress. She shares her personal journey of removing her watch to alleviate the pressure of time and explores the impact of notifications on focus and well-being. Through anecdotes and observations, she encourages listeners to evaluate their relationship with technology and consider the benefits of disconnecting from distractions to foster deeper connections and mindfulness.

In the episode you can hear; 👉 Angela's complicated relationship with time and how it has shaped how she approaches her day. 

👉 How an obsession with managing time can lead to stress and distraction.

👉 How without boundaries and clear expectations on how we use our smart watches, we invite distractions into our daily lives.

👉 How being distracted in conversations can cause disconnect within the relationship.

👉 How Angela's experiment by wearing a smart watch did not go as expected and how you can learn from her experiment.

👉 How to evaluate technology use and make behavioural changes where you are in control.

👉 Ways to integrate presence and mindfulness with how you use your time to gain deeper relationships and better productivity.   This is an important reminder that our technology is there as a tool for us where we can still regain some control.

Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Distraction and Smartwatches 05:20 The Impact of Time on Well-being 10:11 Distractions in Conversations 15:42 Experimenting with Smartwatches 20:54 The Overwhelm of Notifications 25:12 Creating Focus in a Distracted World

In this episode, Angela Lockwood introduces the Learning Bridge, a membership platform designed to support both parents and educators in navigating the challenges of child development and education. The conversation highlights the importance of community, collaboration, and access to resources tailored to the needs of parents and teachers. Angela discusses the features of the Parent Hub and the Educator Circle, emphasizing the need for support in an age of distraction. Takeaways

• Angela Lockwood has 20 years of experience in education.
• The Learning Bridge is a community for parents and educators.
• Parents often feel overwhelmed and seek specific information.
• The Parent Hub offers support and resources for parents.
• Educators face unique challenges in modern classrooms.
• The Educator Circle provides resources and community for teachers.
• Collaboration between parents and educators is essential.
• Monthly themes and expert workshops are part of the membership.
• Customizable resources are available for both parents and educators.
• The Learning Bridge aims to help kids thrive in a distracted world.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Learning Bridge 03:11 The Parent Hub: A Community for Parents 07:40 The Educator Circle: Support for Teachers 14:41 Building Bridges: Collaboration Between Parents and Educators

In this episode, Angela Lockwood interviews Michelle Mitchell, a leading expert in supporting children and families, Educator and Author of "Tweens". They discuss parenting in the modern age and how to make connection with kids in the midst of the many distractions of life. Michelle shares how parents can build resilience in children and through leading by example our kids can learn the ways to navigate the complexities of teen life and parent and child relationships. This is an important conversation if you are a busy parent looking for ways to connect with your child and build your confidence as a parent to focus on the things that matter to you and to your child.

✔️Website: Michelle Mitchell

✔️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemitchellspeaker/

✔️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemitchell.author/

✔️Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mitchell-34b72118a/

✔️Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yxl1000

In this episode, Angela Lockwood interviews Michelle Mitchell, an expert in working with children and families. They discuss parenting in the modern age, helping children find their strengths, connecting with kids in the real world, and the impact of social media on parenting. They also talk about building resilience in children and the importance of being a role model. Michelle emphasizes the need for parents to step up and meet the needs of their children, and offers practical strategies for connecting with kids in the online world.

Episode Takeaways

• Finding your voice and being an effective communicator is important in both personal and professional settings.
• Simplifying complex information and using the who, what, when, where, why, and how framework can help in effective communication.
• AI can be a useful tool in communication, but it's important to inject your own personality and style into the content.
• Jamie Abbott offers programs like PR Club and Paid to Speak to help individuals improve their communication skills and become highly paid speakers.

Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:17 Parenting in the Modern Age 18:05 The Impact of Social Media on Parenting 23:08 Connecting with Kids in the Online World 27:03 Building Resilience in Children 31:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts