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Dear Digital, We need to talk: A guilt-free guide to taming your tech habits and thriving in a distracted world
Suffering with toxic tech-habits? Zoom fatigue? Digital dementia? Burnout? Many of us have adopted unhealthy and unsustainable digital habits that are not only putting a dent in our performance and productivity, they are also seriously impacting both our physical health and mental wellbeing. But it's no longer realistic to simply throw away our laptops or cancel our Netflix subscriptions. Whether we love it or loathe it, technology is here to stay. Dear Digital, We need to talk provides realistic, research-based ways to cultivate healthy and helpful digital habits that work with our brains and bodies, rather than against them. It presents a menu of practical micro-habits designed to bolster your productivity and support your wellbeing in our always-on, digitally distracted world. This book does not advocate for a #digitaldetox (in fact, it explores why detoxes don’ t work), nor does it propose that you digitally amputate yourself. Instead, Dear Digital, We need to talk will help you take back control of your attention and use technology in ways that will support your performance and wellbeing, rather than stifle it.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2023
13 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 15, 2024
Phones, laptops, computers, smart watches, internet enabled TVs – we are living in an increasingly technological world. The buzz and pings of notifications are all pervasive and all distracting, creating a sense of urgency and increasing cognitive stress.
The Covid pandemic and the subsequent move for a lot of workers to remote and hybrid working has conflated the workplace and the home, making it hard for anyone to truly ‘switch-off’. The ongoing impact of this is that more and more of us are OUSTED: Overwhelmed, Under the pump, Stressed, Time poor, Exhausted and Distracted. Digital burnout is increasing and our physical and mental health is suffering as a consequence.
Enter ‘Dear Digital – we need to talk’. This book covers the neuroscience behind why we react to digital stimuli in the way that we do, discuses the micro-stressors that permeate our days without us realising it, and shares all important micro-habits that anyone can adopt to reduce the negative impact that digital technology is having on our lives.
I found it very ironic that I read ‘Dear Digital’ cover to cover on my smartphone! Like most people, I have multiple devices, both for work and home use and am used to switching between them as my attention gets pulled in multiple directions. I know that my relationship with technology can be unhealthy at times, and have a basic understanding of the neuroscience behind how tech companies (particularly social media) design their apps to demand and keep your attention. However, what has been less readily available has been the simple ideas and tips on how to mitigate the impact of constant notifications, alerts, and implicit expectations of being ‘always on’. Most of the advice that I have previously seen has either been impractical to implement on a regular basis or genuinely impossible to achieve when considering the nature of my work and day to day life.
I therefore wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading ‘Dear Digital’. Another book advocating that we lock our phones away on a near permanent basis, or completely re-arrange our home office or working day? Not at all!
Dr Kristy’s conversational style and the easy read of the book hides the seriousness of her message and the impact of being swamped by the technology that is supposed to make our lives easier. This book is full of practical advice and techniques on how to reduce your digital load, without locking your phone or laptop away permanently.
Within the book, Dr Kristy has provided a number of micro-habits to help with different aspects of your digital life. Alongside these are different hints and tips to help build that habit. Not all of them will be practicable for everyone, depending on circumstances and working environment (I have limited ability to adjust the lighting in my corporate open plan office, for example), but if one tip doesn’t work, then there will be another which will be really easy to implement – it took me just a couple of taps to stop getting immediate email notifications on my phone. There are also ideas for different tools that can support you and other resources to investigate.
I’ve loved the way that implementing even the smallest micro-habits have changed my relationship with technology and improved my wider well-being. Setting my phone to turn to black-and-white half an hour before I’m aiming to go to bed was really easy, and it is a good visual reminder that it is time to wind down and put the technology away. Muting almost all of my WhatsApp and Slack notifications has dramatically reduced the interruptions I get during the day, and as an added benefit has led to me checking my phone less, as I know that there will be nothing sitting on my home-screen calling for my attention.
This is definitely a book that you will want to have by your side to pick up on a regular basis, and great reminder that small changes can make a big difference.
The Covid pandemic and the subsequent move for a lot of workers to remote and hybrid working has conflated the workplace and the home, making it hard for anyone to truly ‘switch-off’. The ongoing impact of this is that more and more of us are OUSTED: Overwhelmed, Under the pump, Stressed, Time poor, Exhausted and Distracted. Digital burnout is increasing and our physical and mental health is suffering as a consequence.
Enter ‘Dear Digital – we need to talk’. This book covers the neuroscience behind why we react to digital stimuli in the way that we do, discuses the micro-stressors that permeate our days without us realising it, and shares all important micro-habits that anyone can adopt to reduce the negative impact that digital technology is having on our lives.
I found it very ironic that I read ‘Dear Digital’ cover to cover on my smartphone! Like most people, I have multiple devices, both for work and home use and am used to switching between them as my attention gets pulled in multiple directions. I know that my relationship with technology can be unhealthy at times, and have a basic understanding of the neuroscience behind how tech companies (particularly social media) design their apps to demand and keep your attention. However, what has been less readily available has been the simple ideas and tips on how to mitigate the impact of constant notifications, alerts, and implicit expectations of being ‘always on’. Most of the advice that I have previously seen has either been impractical to implement on a regular basis or genuinely impossible to achieve when considering the nature of my work and day to day life.
I therefore wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading ‘Dear Digital’. Another book advocating that we lock our phones away on a near permanent basis, or completely re-arrange our home office or working day? Not at all!
Dr Kristy’s conversational style and the easy read of the book hides the seriousness of her message and the impact of being swamped by the technology that is supposed to make our lives easier. This book is full of practical advice and techniques on how to reduce your digital load, without locking your phone or laptop away permanently.
Within the book, Dr Kristy has provided a number of micro-habits to help with different aspects of your digital life. Alongside these are different hints and tips to help build that habit. Not all of them will be practicable for everyone, depending on circumstances and working environment (I have limited ability to adjust the lighting in my corporate open plan office, for example), but if one tip doesn’t work, then there will be another which will be really easy to implement – it took me just a couple of taps to stop getting immediate email notifications on my phone. There are also ideas for different tools that can support you and other resources to investigate.
I’ve loved the way that implementing even the smallest micro-habits have changed my relationship with technology and improved my wider well-being. Setting my phone to turn to black-and-white half an hour before I’m aiming to go to bed was really easy, and it is a good visual reminder that it is time to wind down and put the technology away. Muting almost all of my WhatsApp and Slack notifications has dramatically reduced the interruptions I get during the day, and as an added benefit has led to me checking my phone less, as I know that there will be nothing sitting on my home-screen calling for my attention.
This is definitely a book that you will want to have by your side to pick up on a regular basis, and great reminder that small changes can make a big difference.
June 1, 2023
Dear Digital, We need to talk... by Dr Kristy Goodwin is a book that disburses scientifically backed guidance for anyone feeling disconnected from their life, yet over connected to the world, in both the home and office.
Like a lot of great reads, Dr Goodwin sets the scene with some personal stories of the way in which digital devices are creeping (insert: overtaking) our daily lives. I found these narratives sometimes hitting too close home. Especially close if you’ve caught public transport or been to a kids sport event lately. Our distraction with the all-encompassing mobile device is said to cost us 17 years of our lives. What a waste.
The book begins with a ‘digital diagnosis’. I’m really glad this wasn’t an exercise with tick boxes to diagnose the dire state of my condition! As a manager of people, giving credence to all of the symptoms listed would be the first step in acknowledging your problem… yes, I’m looking at you! I’ve been in discussions where these same feelings have been raised and dismissed in startling succession, which displays the extent of the problem.
In today’s push to be more agile in our approach on where and when we work, I see great benefit from understanding everything we can about how devices impact our brains, causing neurobiological changes, to help ourselves, teams and families find sustainable ways to integrate technology into our lives. This book provides many (36 to be precise) micro habits to achieve digital peak performance and reset our boundaries without fear of #digitaldetox.
Whilst I have followed Dr Goodwin’s advice and taken a considered approach to the changes I’m making, just by reading this book, acknowledging the problem isn’t localised to me, and providing relevant and achievable micro habits, I’m already seeing differences. You too can regain some control, creativity and boundaries by making small by meaningful changes. When you're done, grab your boss a copy too.
And no, the irony isn’t lost on me that I read this book and you’re reading this review on a digital platform. Learning from the book, I know when and how to get the best of it and my time and you can too.
Like a lot of great reads, Dr Goodwin sets the scene with some personal stories of the way in which digital devices are creeping (insert: overtaking) our daily lives. I found these narratives sometimes hitting too close home. Especially close if you’ve caught public transport or been to a kids sport event lately. Our distraction with the all-encompassing mobile device is said to cost us 17 years of our lives. What a waste.
The book begins with a ‘digital diagnosis’. I’m really glad this wasn’t an exercise with tick boxes to diagnose the dire state of my condition! As a manager of people, giving credence to all of the symptoms listed would be the first step in acknowledging your problem… yes, I’m looking at you! I’ve been in discussions where these same feelings have been raised and dismissed in startling succession, which displays the extent of the problem.
In today’s push to be more agile in our approach on where and when we work, I see great benefit from understanding everything we can about how devices impact our brains, causing neurobiological changes, to help ourselves, teams and families find sustainable ways to integrate technology into our lives. This book provides many (36 to be precise) micro habits to achieve digital peak performance and reset our boundaries without fear of #digitaldetox.
Whilst I have followed Dr Goodwin’s advice and taken a considered approach to the changes I’m making, just by reading this book, acknowledging the problem isn’t localised to me, and providing relevant and achievable micro habits, I’m already seeing differences. You too can regain some control, creativity and boundaries by making small by meaningful changes. When you're done, grab your boss a copy too.
And no, the irony isn’t lost on me that I read this book and you’re reading this review on a digital platform. Learning from the book, I know when and how to get the best of it and my time and you can too.
August 31, 2024
Very useful book. Lots of useful and easy-to-do tips for coping with digital overload. And you don't have to implement all these tips all at once - slow incremental changes to your habits are fine.
May 21, 2023
Sped through this one, and will be revisiting. Practical and validating!
June 28, 2023
Loved this. Many take aways to implement!
October 7, 2023
Everything you already knew deep deep down AND everything you didn’t know but need to. Demolished in 24hours. A must read if you value your time.
February 20, 2024
Useful ideas.
May 5, 2024
Lots of information brilliant ideas
September 11, 2024
A really great book with some practical, easy to implement tips (notification batching? Genius). I’ve recommended this to friends, family and colleagues
August 11, 2025
fairly good read, plenty of solid advice thats helping in both personal and professional life
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews