As you all well know, we are deep in the digital age, meaning that technology heavily runs our day-to-day. Over time, I’ve seen many people turn away from social media, opting in for more quality time outdoors or with family and friends. You don’t have to delete every app or go off the grid completely to feel the shift though. It’s amazing what a few small, intentional changes to your digital routine can do for your mental well-being, focus, and peace of mind.
Here are six small adjustments that you can make this season to give yourself a digital reset, helping you to recalibrate your mind.
- Build a 30-minute screen pause into your morning
Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to a few tips shared by Dr. Amy MacKinnon, Co-Owner of Coalition Health Group, Vital Performance Care, and Coven Health Collective. In her Morning Toast session with Gentle Lion Communications’ Founder, Lana Rogers, she mentioned that building 30 minutes to 1 hour of “technology-free” time into your morning can do wonders for your health and wellness. Ditch your technology until an hour after you wake up, and fill the time with a slow coffee, a good read, and intentional time with family. Why? How you start the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. If the first thing you do is reach for your phone, you’ve handed your attention to other people’s priorities before you’ve even had your coffee.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb and use “Quiet Time” at night
Both iPhone and Android let you schedule a Do Not Disturb or Focus window that silences notifications during set hours. Set one for bedtime, giving you more space in the evening to properly slow down and better transition your body for rest. For me, the second that I crack open a new book, I’m out like a light. However, having my phone active and buzzing next to me can keep me from sleeping when I want or need to. The quick setup time is easy and will automatically help you transition into the new routine.
- Charge your phone in the next room
We’ve all heard of doom scrolling, and most of us have lived it – the bottomless slide through feeds and headlines that somehow turns five minutes into an hour. The trouble is that it almost always happens within arm’s reach of the bed, where nothing stands in the way of “just one more video.” Late night scrolling sessions can also result in impulse buys, so if you’re eliminating this altogether, you’re winning on all fronts!
Moving your charger to another room addresses the problem at its source. If the phone isn’t beside you, you can’t grab it the moment you can’t sleep, and you can’t reach for it the second you open your eyes. That small bit of distance is often all it takes to help break the habit. Make this a little more fun by investing in an alarm clock – the Hatch is quite popular for its soft, ambient light and easy wake-up experience. I’m loving the shift to more thoughtful nighttime routine tools.
- Set app limits on your phone
Many of us have heard of The Brick (no, not the furniture store) – a physical device that allows you to take control of your time by blocking distracting apps on your smartphone. All you have to do is choose which apps you want to block, tap the brick, and you’re all set. The point isn’t to feel guilty about your app and technology use. It’s to reduce friction, making it easier for you to be present in your everyday.
- Filter your email and promotional clutter
Set up a filter or folder that catches promotional emails, so they don’t land in your main inbox. Most email apps let you do this automatically, and many (like Gmail) will sort “promotions” for you with one tap. Filtering out the “noise” can help you to not get caught up in the impulse buys and last-minute decisions. While you’re at it, make sure you pull up your subscriptions list and identify which ones you truly use. It might not seem like much each month, but $15-$20 monthly for 4-5 streaming services or subscriptions does add up by the end of the year. Don’t get caught up at the end of 2026 wishing you’d cancelled things earlier. Bank those dollars for something special later!
- Go “touch grass”
Above all? The best solution for a practical digital reset is leaving your phone at home and going outdoors for a walk, hike, kayak, – whatever your choice activity is! I can guarantee that after 10 big breaths outside, you will feel so. much. better. No matter what you’re going through. The sun and wind are so healing, and lucky for us, we live in a sunny city with ample amounts of green space nearby. This is a no-brainer for our family, and we love spending extensive time outdoors together.
Summer is such a great time to do this, but really, I love resetting my digital routine year-round. Schedule it into your calendar, and I promise it will feel easier with time. As always, for any relatable financial resources and of course, tips and tricks, you can find me on my Instagram at Wealth With Julie.