Today's episode is a Part II of breaking free from cell phone addiction by turning smartphones into "dumb phones." Reclaiming our attention through intentional boundaries, mainly by living like it's 1995 again.

• Deleting apps like banking, email, shopping, and browsers forces intentional computer-based usage
• Setting boundaries like no phone before 7am and designated check-in times reduces compulsive checking
• Switching to paper grocery lists and physical tracking systems eliminates constant phone dependency
• Leaving the phone in the car during errands creates freedom from constant digital connection
• Using an actual camera instead of phone camera brings back nostalgic imperfection in photography
• Placing the phone in one location at home (like an old house phone) prevents room-to-room carrying
• Weekly 25-hour "phone Sabbath" provides complete digital detox from Friday to Saturday night

If this journey inspires you to make changes in your own phone habits, I'd love to hear about your experience!

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www.daraboxer.com

I share my journey through 14 books read this summer - ten adult fiction and four children's books - reviewing the highlights, disappointments, and unexpected emotional moments along the way.

• My standout favorite was "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach, likely to be in my top five books of the year
• "Ask for Andrea" by Noelle Wehe captivated me with its unique perspective from murder victims in the afterlife
• Some highly-rated books like "The Grace Year" and "Don't Forget to Write" fell completely flat for me
• "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo made me ugly cry twice while reading it to my children
• Children's book "Pax" by Sarah Penny Packer dealt with themes too heavy for young children despite my initial excitement
• Some unexpected additions to my summer reading included Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Atmosphere" and Dr. Becky Kennedy's parenting guide
• Books that receive universal acclaim online can still be disappointing to individual readers
• The most satisfying reads often come from unexpected places

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www.daraboxer.com

Digital clutter may not take up physical space, but it consumes valuable mental bandwidth and creates background anxiety we often ignore. This episode provides a comprehensive September reset for five key digital areas.

• Phone usage is examined through the lens of "pickups" rather than screen time—revealing how we check phones every 8 minutes on average
• Simple strategies for breaking phone addiction include app deletion, grayscale display, and designated check-in times
• Computer organization focuses on desktop cleanup, download folder purging, and refreshing wallpapers
• Email management tips include separate addresses for different purposes (personal, kids' activities, shopping)
• Photo organization works best with timed 10-minute sessions, starting with older photos where emotional attachment is lower
• Color-coded family calendars serve as the "single source of truth" with different colors for each family member and activity type
• Breaking digital decluttering into small, manageable 10-minute sessions makes the process less overwhelming

Join me in this digital reset journey—I've already reduced my phone pickups from 90 to 37 per day and feel mentally lighter. I'd love to hear your thoughts on phone usage and digital decluttering strategies!

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www.daraboxer.com