Podcast
Overcome Digital Distraction | Reduce Screen Time, Improve Focus, Stop Doomscrolling, Phone Addiction, Digital Detox, Healthy Habits, Digital Wellness, Rewire Your Brain
Hosted by Julianne August | Christian Life Coach, Habit Change Specialist, Brain Health Trainer, Digital Wellness Advocate · EN
The Podcast Where Faith & Digital Wellness Meet
**Top 2.5% Globally Ranked Podcast**
Is your phone controlling your life, pulling you in every direction, leaving you feeling disconnected and overwhelmed? Are screens stealing your time, diluting your faith, and distorting your focus?
Maybe you feel stuck in a habit loop, lost in mindless distraction and information overload when you were made for so much more! Excessive screen time is among the most challenging habits people want to break—and for good reason. Too much time on screens doesn't just waste hours, it quietly steals your focus, drains your energy, hijacks your sleep, and crowds out the very things that matter most.
I know the frustration of wanting to change my screen habits but not knowing where to start, and I've helped many others through this exact struggle.
I'm Julianne August, a Christian life coach and digital wellness advocate. With 25 years of leadership experience and certifications in life coaching, habit change, and brain health, here's what I know: habit change is heart change - that's where real transformation happens. I’m passionate about equipping Christians leading in this generation, who are positioned for influence and impact, with the tools they need to overcome digital distraction and build healthy habits that actually stick.
On this podcast, we'll dive deep into practical strategies, rooted in biblical principles, to help you reduce screen time without guilt, frustration, or rigid rules. You'll discover the power of habits, learn simple habit stacking techniques, and learn how to rewire your brain for lasting change—one step at a time.
In our digital world, it's easy to feel half-hearted about your faith and values when you're constantly battling phone addiction. Whether you want to stop checking social media, limit screen time, or declutter your digital life, I'll help you set boundaries that protect your peace and create space to slow down, think deeply, and breathe again.
This isn't just about going unplugged with your cell phone—it's about breaking free from limiting beliefs and building healthy habits to reduce screen time and reclaim your focus. You weren't meant to live distracted.
It's time to Overcome Digital Distraction!
Next Steps:
👉Take my FREE Screen Time Personality Quiz! https://julianneaugust.com/screen-time-personality-quiz.
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27episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
73 | How to Break Free from the Social Media Comparison Trap
3d ago00:10:59Tap to summarizeSocial media comparison is one of the most consistent thieves of contentment in a Christian's life, and it is often happening before you even realize it. This episode takes an honest look at what the comparison scroll is actually costing you, why the problem runs deeper than you might expect, and what Scripture and practical wisdom say about getting free from it. The conversation covers why comparison has evolved beyond highlight reels, how to recognize the signs when comparison is affecting you, what it slowly takes from your contentment, gratitude, and sense of calling, and three grounded, actionable steps to help you come back to your own life and your own lane. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why social media comparison is affecting you in ways that go far beyond Instagram How to recognize the quiet signs that comparison is shaping your emotional state without your realizing it What three things the comparison scroll consistently steals from your life over time Why jealousy rarely stays small, and what it tends to bring with it when left unchecked What two specific passages from Paul reveal about comparison and calling How to curate your feed in a way that reflects stewardship rather than avoidance What one honest question can help you return to your own calling when comparison starts to rise Resources & Next Steps Episode 13 Jealousy and Comparison Prayer — Grab the free prayer mentioned in this episode to help you break agreement with jealousy and comparison. 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →72 | Is Divided Attention Between Two Screens Making You Tired, Distracted, and Half-Present? Learn How to Take Back Your Focus
1w ago00:09:52Tap to summarizeYou picked up your phone without deciding to, and somewhere between two screens, your rest, your focus, and your presence quietly slipped away. This episode is about divided attention and what it is, why it matters more than most people think, and one small habit that can help you get back to being fully present. Divided attention between two screens is one of the most common and least recognized screen time habits today. It feels harmless. Phone beside you on the couch, laptop open while the TV runs, scrolling during a phone call. But this episode makes the case that what feels like relaxing is often anything but, and that the people in your life notice the difference even when you do not. This short but convicting episode reframes full attention not just as a focus strategy, but as a daily act of love toward yourself and others. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why divided attention between two screens is costing you more than you realize What your brain is actually doing when two screens are running at once Why your evenings feel unsatisfying even after an hour on the couch How the people in your life experience your divided attention, even on a phone call What one simple screen habit can do for how present and settled you actually feel What Proverbs 4:25 reveals about where we are meant to fix our gaze Resources & Next Steps 🔗 Episode 68 Task Switching and Divided Attention Go deeper on why your brain struggles every time it shifts between two things. 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →71 | How to Break Your Doomscrolling Habit When Anxiety Is Running the Show and Faith Feels Far Away
2w ago00:23:25Tap to summarizeYou pick up your phone because something feels uncertain. Then you check, scroll, and refresh, and somehow end up feeling worse. That pattern has a name: fear forecasting. Doomscrolling anxiety runs deeper than screen time. This episode explores the neuroscience behind fear forecasting, a three-step habit interrupt for breaking the anxious scroll, and the spiritual root that surface-level strategies cannot reach. Drawing from 1 John 4:18, Philippians 2, and insights from Craig Groeschel, you will discover how confession, repentance, and renouncing fear unlock genuine freedom, and how the phone already in your hand can become a tool for connection and peace. What You'll Learn in This Episode What fear forecasting is and why it sends so many people straight to their phones Why knowing a habit is harmful is never enough to actually break it What Scripture says about fear that goes far beyond coping with or managing it How three specific spiritual steps can unlock freedom from anxiety that willpower alone cannot reach Why the same phone fueling your anxiety could become your most intentional daily tool What Paul's ifs in Philippians 2 reveal about what you already have access to right now How to replace anxious scrolling with a habit your brain will actually thank you for Resources & Next Steps 🎯Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →70 | The One App That's Stealing Your Time and What to Do About It for a Clearer, Less Distracted Mind
3w ago00:08:19Tap to summarizeOne app on your phone is quietly pulling your focus, your time, and your peace, and chances are, you already know which one it is. This episode cuts straight to the point. Not a full digital detox, not a complete phone overhaul, just one small, targeted shift that has the potential to change the shape of your entire day. Discover three practical filters for identifying your most distracting app, whether it's social media, email, the news, or something else entirely. Then choose from three levels of action, each one designed to interrupt the automatic habit loop that keeps pulling you back. Small change, real impact. This is where it starts. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why identifying just one app, rather than overhauling everything, can create almost immediate relief. What three quick filters reveal about your most automatic and time-stealing digital habit. How a simple folder rename can be enough to interrupt the mindless pattern keeping you stuck. Why the boldest option for dealing with your most distracting app might be more accessible than you think. What happens in your brain when you reduce easy access to a deeply habit-forming app. How a seven-day challenge with just one app can prove you are more free than you believe. Resources & Next Steps 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →69 | Forget Mindless Scrolling. Why Good Screen Time Might Be the Sneakiest Digital Distraction Threatening Your Faith and Focus
May 1900:15:38Tap to summarizeMindless scrolling gets all the attention, but what if the real problem is your good screen time? Digital distraction doesn't always look like doomscrolling or wasted hours on junk content. Sometimes it looks like twenty minutes of wholesome, completely defensible scrolling that still leaves you feeling strangely empty when you close the app. This episode unpacks the good, better, best framework for your phone, grounded in Scripture and practical habit change. Through the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 and Paul's prayer in Philippians 1, you'll discover why even good screen time can quietly crowd out your best life. You'll also walk away with three simple, doable ways to start choosing better and best this week, no drastic phone detox required. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why closing Instagram after good content can still leave you feeling strangely empty and unfulfilled. What the story of Mary and Martha reveals about your relationship with your phone today. How to tell the difference between screen time that fills your time and screen time that feeds your soul. Why better is not just about using your phone less but about using it more intentionally. What best screen time actually looks like and why it does not require a special occasion to experience. How one simple question, asked before every phone pickup, can shift your relationship with your phone. Why the version of you living your values already knows what best looks like for you. Resources & Next Steps 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →68 | How Phone Addiction Keeps You Task Switching All Day, Stealing Your Focus, Draining Your Energy, and Leaving You Exhausted
May 1200:17:36Tap to summarizeSomething is draining your energy every single day, and it probably has nothing to do with how much sleep you got or how full your schedule was. Every time you pick up your phone, your brain stops what it was doing, shifts gears, and tries to find its way back. Science calls this task switching, and it is happening dozens of times a day without most of us ever realizing it. This episode breaks down what task switching is actually doing to your brain and your body, why it shows up as physical exhaustion by evening, and what you can start doing today to protect your focus, your productivity, and the peace you are genuinely longing for. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why multitasking is a myth and what your brain is actually doing instead The eye-opening number of times the average person picks up their phone every day How task switching raises cortisol levels and why that shows up as physical fatigue What "attention residue" is and why your focus never fully returns after an interruption Why staying on top of everything throughout the day could be costing you nearly half your productivity What monotasking is and why it consistently leads to more satisfaction by the end of the day Why Philippians 4:7 has something important to say about the way you spend your attention Resources & Next Steps 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →67 | Phone Anxiety, Scrolling for Counterfeit Peace, and Why Real Peace Lives in an Ordered Life
May 500:16:44Tap to summarizeThis episode explores why scrolling feels like relief but never actually brings peace. Do you reach for your phone the moment anxiety hits? That quiet moment at the end of the day doesn’t always feel peaceful. Sometimes it feels like tension you can’t quite shake, and your phone becomes the easiest place to run. You’ll uncover the deeper connection between anxiety and chaos, and why your phone often becomes a source of counterfeit calm. Drawing from Genesis and practical habit science, this conversation reframes what peace really is and where it actually comes from. Instead of chasing quick fixes, you’ll discover how small, intentional acts of order can begin to reshape your days, your attention, and your spiritual life in a way that creates space for something far more lasting. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why anxiety is often a signal of chaos, not a lack of calm How scrolling creates a convincing but temporary imitation of peace What your brain is learning every time you reach for your phone Why real peace is connected to order, not avoidance How small digital habits quietly shape your spiritual life What it means to create space for God’s presence in everyday rhythms Resources & Next Steps 🎯Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. Download your FREE Guide to Grayscale with step-by-step screenshots to turn your phone into a calm, less-distracting space. 👉Guide to Grayscale and check out Episode 5 to learn more! 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let’s Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →66 | Want to Limit Screen Time for Your Whole Family? These Two Simple Ideas Are Where to Start
Apr 2800:14:15Tap to summarizeWhat if the most powerful change you could make for your screen time had nothing to do with your screen? In the final episode of this three-week series exploring tiny tweaks, the focus shifts entirely to where your phone physically lives throughout your day, and what that means for everyone in your home. A landmark study from the University of Texas at Austin found that simply having your phone within sight quietly drains your mental energy, even when it's completely silent. This episode introduces two simple ideas that tackle that problem at its root, one situational and one structural, both designed to reduce screen time without relying on willpower. Rooted in Psalm 46:10 and the Hebrew meaning of "be still," this episode closes the series with what may be its most surprisingly spiritual tiny tweak of all. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why having your phone nearby could be quietly draining your focus without you realizing it What a drop zone is and why it could be one of the most powerful habits your whole family shares Why the out of reach practice works even when your phone is face down and completely silent What the Hebrew word behind "be still" reveals about your posture toward your phone Why where your phone lives at home might matter more than any setting or app timer ever could Resources & Next Steps 🍽️ 50 Conversation Starters for Screen-Free Family Dinners A free resource to help your family stay present and connected around the dinner table without a screen in sight. 📅 30-Day Digital Habit Reset Ready to go deeper? This four-week guided reset helps you build a healthier relationship with your phone one theme at a time. 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →65 | Doomscrolling Stealing Your Best Hours? Two Simple Phone Changes That Can Take Them Back
Apr 2100:10:02Tap to summarizeDoomscrolling isn't always something you choose. Sometimes your phone simply pulls you in before you've had a chance to think, and this episode is about taking that power back. This is part two of a three-week series exploring what happens when you make tiny tweaks to your phone setup, because small, intentional changes have a way of creating transformation that willpower alone never could. Every notification your phone sends is designed to bring you back to the screen, and research shows that a single interruption can cost you the better part of half an hour of real focus. In this episode, two tiny tweaks tackle what interrupts you throughout your day. One removes the signal your phone uses to summon you. The other replaces it with something far better. Rooted in the story of Elijah and the still small voice in 1 Kings 19, this episode asks a simple question: what if reducing the noise around you made more room for the voice that matters most? What You'll Learn in This Episode Why a single notification could be costing you far more time and focus than you realize What doomscrolling has to do with the interruptions hiding in your notification settings Why turning off just one notification is more powerful than it sounds What your lock screen has to do with how present you feel throughout your day Why the still small voice of God is surprisingly connected to how you manage your phone Resources & Next Steps 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
Transcribe →64 | How to Break Phone Addiction Before It Starts with Two Tiny Tweaks That Take Less Than a Minute and Zero Willpower
Apr 1400:13:19Tap to summarizeThe solution to phone addiction might start somewhere you haven't looked yet. This episode opens a three-week series exploring what happens when you make tiny tweaks to your phone setup, because small, intentional changes have a way of creating transformation that willpower alone never could. For most of us, screen time is a harder habit to break than we expect, and it's not because we lack discipline. The apps, icons, and visual cues on your phone are quietly driving automatic behavior before you've made a single conscious choice, and that's exactly where this episode begins. Two tiny tweaks, both taking less than a minute and requiring zero willpower, go straight to the source of what tempts you on your screen. Rooted in habit science and Proverbs 4:23, this is part one of three in a series on breaking phone addiction one small step at a time. What You'll Learn in This Episode What your home screen has to do with phone addiction and why it matters more than you realize What the science of habit cues has to do with your screen time struggles Why removing one app for just 24 hours could reveal something surprising about your habits Why guarding your heart means something far bigger than most people realize Why small changes to your phone setup can create the kind of transformation willpower never could Resources & Next Steps 📥 Free Guide to Grayscale A step-by-step visual tutorial for switching your phone to grayscale mode on iPhone and Android, including a shortcut to toggle it on and off instantly. 🎯 Focus Modes Made Simple Join the Workshop! Learn how to set up your phone so it supports your focus, your faith, and your daily rhythms instead of distracting from them. 🎧 Visit the Podcast Page! to listen to this episode, explore blog posts, or leave a message on Speakpipe for the show. 📱 Grab Free Wallpapers from a curated gallery designed to help you pause, refocus, and keep what matters most in front of you. Let's Connect 📩 Email: hello@julianneaugust.com 🌐 Website: https://julianneaugust.com
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