Episode 84: Digital Wellbeing with Kristy Goodwin

52 Weeks of Me

Kristy is a digital well-being researcher, speaker, and mom to three of her screen ages. She's also the author of Dear Digital, We need to talk. She delivers evidence-based information about the impact of digital technologies on children, adolescents, and adults' health, well-being & learning.
Having personally experienced how our always-on digital culture compromises people’s well-being and is counter to optimal and sustainable performance, an award-winning researcher and speaker, Dr. Kristy Goodwin, is on a mission to promote employee well-being and bolster workplace productivity in an always-on digital world.
Highlights:

• 3 Bs parents need to establish

1. Borders & Boundaries- Time is undoubtedly an important metric. Still, we also need to have boundaries around when our child uses a device.
2. Basic Needs- We must ensure that tech habits are not encroaching or displacing our basic needs; this applies to the kids and us adults.
3. Boredom- We have to disconnect digitally. Our kids need to know what it is like, not constantly to be tethered to screens. It is vital for their creativity and their sense of identity.

• Three significant threats most adults are facing at the moment.

1. Digital Overload- is not just about using technology but also the when and how we are using the technology.
2. Working in incongruent ways- our digital habits have forced us to start working in tracks entirely misaligned with how our bodies and brains operate due to the constant barrage of information.
3. Always-on culture- we are plugged in and switched on 24/7, which again is detrimental and will not result in peak performance.

• Multitasking is a myth- Numerous studies tell us that multitasking takes us 40% longer than had we monotask done each task in isolation, so we are working in really ineffective ways.
• Chronotype- is your biological predisposition to be alert and focused at particular times of the day. It also dictates when you naturally want to fall asleep.

1. Micro steps to take to start to create deep, focused work
2. Disable non-essential notifications or create VIP notifications
3. Go to do not disturb mode
4. Switch your device to grayscale
5. The Forest App

Refrain from letting technology rob your two most important resources: time and attention. If we want our kids and teens to develop healthy digital habits, we must try to be good digital role models. If you want to learn more about digital well-being and Dr. Kristy, check her website, drkristygoodwin.com. She is also active on Instagram and LinkedIn and provides parents with information on Facebook.
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52 Weeks of Me is hosted by Jacklyn Osborne and Erika Brooks.
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