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If you've been feeling distracted, anxious, overstimulated, or constantly glued to your phone, you're not alone. In this episode, we unpack why our minds feel so overloaded and how small, intentional breaks from technology can restore calm, focus, and genuine connection.

In this grounding conversation on The Art of Living Well Podcast®, hosts Marnie Dachis Marmet and Stephanie May Potter explore what it really means to live an analog life in a digital world. Inspired by a listener who shared a workbook on the topic, they dive into why we reach for our phones so often, how screen habits shape our mood and sleep, and what happens when we finally give ourselves permission to slow down.

They share personal stories - from hiking with zero cell service to rediscovering handwritten letters and simple creative hobbies - that reveal how powerful it can be to step away from constant stimulation. You'll also hear how phone dependence is affecting people of all ages, including teens, adults, and even the elderly, and how daily mini-detox moments can help you feel more grounded, peaceful, and truly present.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why phone pickups, notifications, and endless scrolling silently raise anxiety and interrupts being present.

• How nostalgia, nature, and analog practices like hiking, cooking, puzzles, or letter writing offer screen free dopamine as well as stress relief.

• The deeper emotional impact of tech addiction on adults, teens, and especially the elderly.

• Simple ways to create tech-free zones, reduce nighttime screen habits, and protect your sleep.

• How hobbies and creativity can naturally fulfill the "dopamine hit" we look for in our phones.

• The power of mindful living, intentional slowness, and creating boundaries around digital use.

• Practical mini digital detox moments you can integrate daily - like waiting in line, walking with a friend, or winding down in the evening.

Noteworthy Quotes from the Episode:

• "When we're always on our phones, it creates all this anxiety and stress and pings and distractions."

• "Disconnected time with people that I love is all I really want."

• "We've lost this human connection because we go to the phone instead of the person in front of us."

• "You have to sit with the discomfort of unplugging. That's where the magic happens."

• "Find something that sparks your creativity—anything that brings you joy without a screen."

• "We can't control others. We can only control ourselves."

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

[00:00] – Trailer: Why phone overuse is making us stressed & distracted

[01:16] – Hosts Introduction

[02:06] – How often we pick up our phones + what screen habits reveal

[06:15] – Life before smartphones & the lost art of real connection

[12:00] – Dopamine loops, anxiety, sleep disruption & tech addiction

[18:14] – Simple analog habits to feel calmer, present & more creative

[25:19] – Mini digital detox tips: Boundaries, mindful living & daily reset

[33:00] – Reclaiming joy, intention & final takeaways for healthier tech use

Ep 283 The Art of Doing Nothing

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