December 4, 2025 • 15 mins
In this episode of God-Sized Dreams, Melissa shares a vulnerable and eye-opening look at the screen-time habits most of us finally noticed over the holidays — the constant checking, the overstimulation, the emotional numbing, and the way our phones quietly steal presence, peace, and connection.
After asking her own family to check their screen-time data, Melissa discovered five-hour phone averages, 100–168 pickups a day, and more than 300 notifications in a single day. These numbers tell a story many of us feel but haven’t put words to: we are overwhelmed, distracted, and operating on mental overload… and our phones have become our default coping mechanism.
This conversation isn’t about perfection or giving up your phone completely. It’s about finding one specific area where your phone is stealing something important — bedtime connection with your husband, dinner-table moments with your kids, or the space you need to hear from God — and learning how to protect that place with intention.
If you are struggling with brain fog, feeling overstimulated, or emotionally overwhelmed as you head into winter, this episode will help you name what’s been happening, breathe a sigh of relief, and take a small baby step toward greater clarity and presence.
Key Takeaways● What holiday rhythms reveal about your screen-time habits Why slowing down helps you notice what you're normally too busy to see.
● Five-hour averages, 300 notifications & nonstop pickups How these small interruptions slowly drain your mental and emotional capacity.
● The link between phone addiction, anxiety & emotional numbing Why your phone becomes a coping mechanism when you’re overstimulated or exhausted.
● Procrastination, online shopping & escaping discomfort How distraction sneaks in when your brain is overwhelmed or tired
● Why this isn’t about getting off your phone completely Practical truth: it’s about getting specific with the area that matters most.
● Melissa’s personal story: protecting the bedtime hour How one small shift is changing the atmosphere of her home and marriage.
Baby Step ChallengeChoose ONE specific space where your phone is stealing connection, peace, or clarity — bedtime, dinner, after-school hours, car rides, or quiet mornings — and protect that space for the next three days.
Simple, intentional, doable.
Ready to Be More Present & Less Distracted?Join the 12-Week Screen Time Reset, where you’ll learn how to build calmer rhythms, lower your overwhelm, and reconnect with the people (and purpose) that matter most.
This isn’t about perfection — it’s about one small shift at a time.
Work With MelissaWhether you’re ready for a full six months of breakthrough coaching or want to start small with a single Breakthrough Unstuck Session, you can take your next step today.
Learn more at melissabatt.com/breakthrough-coaching
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Okay, so I need you to know this about this episode.
(00:03):
I wanted to have it recorded last week before I left, my office for the holidays.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen The overachiever and perfectionist in you needs to hear this.
This episode in my opinion, is not good.
(00:28):
It would've been so much better last week if I could have gotten it done.
However, I ran out of time.
I was on a roll, full of excitement, full of energy, just the momentum was there, loving everything.
But I made a commitment to my family, to my home, to God that on a specific day, at a specific time, I was clocking out and I would be back this next week and it's next week, and I am struggling because.
(01:00):
The momentum isn't there.
It feels very foggy, and I feel like it seems muddy and it's like I'm trying to pick up the momentum and I just wanna be back where I was.
Last week I was having really good brain days and I have, like, most of my days are really, really good.
Like, I don't have bad brain days much anymore.
However, currently I am struggling.
(01:22):
There's a lot going on though I think, I'm processing a lot of things that I don't feel comfortable sharing.
And so it's kind of one of those things where I have to show up.
I have to do my best, and I have to let God do the rest.
And so I share that with you in hopes that you will give me grace.
But also that if you get nothing else from this episode, you take that away that some days you just have to do your best.
(01:49):
And that's all you can do.
And you surrender.
You just surrender.
Like, here it is Lord.
You know, the widow who only had pennies, gave what she had and it was honorable.
Sometimes when we know what wealth feels like or we know what good days feel like we, we discount when we only have pennies to give.
(02:17):
But God is gracious and he honors even when we only have pennies to give.
And so today when I'm struggling, I want you to know that.
These pennies that I have to give.
I, I just pray blesses you more and normally it does like that.
That's what I know, the days that I show up and I'm like, man, that was terrible.
(02:39):
God does so much more with it than I ever could imagine.
And so I just show up and I do my best.
I have a Spotify playlist that literally says God will provide, and this week when I'm trying to get the train moving again after being off enjoying my family.
(02:59):
I put this playlist on, I'm like, okay, God, like I just need you to provide, provide energy, momentum, stamina, clarity, and I'm gonna do my best, and that's all I can do.
And so I share that as you begin listening to this episode.
And again, friend, come join me in the screen.
Time reset.
(03:20):
I am.
So I think that's part of my struggle is I'm so passionate about the screen time reset, except that right now my brain feels like mush and like the passion I have, I don't feel like is exuded well in this episode.
But I want you to trust me and just come sign up, come sign up, be a part of the screen time reset because we all.
(03:44):
Can probably stand being away from screens just a little bit more than where we are currently. 41 00:03:51,797.66666667 --> 00:03:54,257.66666667 I am Alyssa Bat, and this is God-sized dreams. 42 00:03:54,257.66666667 --> 00:04:02,687.66666667 The Go-to podcast for Christian women who know they were made for more, but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and stuck in survival mode. 43 00:04:02,987.66666667 --> 00:04:04,727.66666667 I'm your Jesus Levin hype girl. 44 00:04:04,727.66666667 --> 00:04:13,187.66666667 Here to help you break free, build simple healthy rhythms, and take small baby steps towards the life God has for you. 45 00:04:13,547.66666667 --> 00:04:16,97.66666667 If you are ready to trade, fear for freedom. 46 00:04:16,482.66666667 --> 00:04:17,892.66666667 You are in the right place, friend. 47 00:04:18,12.66666667 --> 00:04:18,882.66666667 Let's get to it. 48 00:04:19,559.63906122 --> 00:04:19,829.63906122 Hey. 49 00:04:19,829.63906122 --> 00:04:20,309.63906122 Hey friend. 50 00:04:20,309.63906122 --> 00:04:28,859.63906122 Welcome back to Gods Size Dreams, today we're talking about something you probably see a lot even when you are not looking for it. 51 00:04:28,909.63906122 --> 00:04:48,459.63906122 What did Thanksgiving or just this last week reveal about the screen time habits in your home? I know not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, so if that is you, let's just talk about what we notice in general, because it's not just during the holidays that this happens. 52 00:04:49,89.63906122 --> 00:04:53,859.63906122 All the time, right? We're talking about the screen time habits. 53 00:04:53,909.63906122 --> 00:05:01,589.63906122 We're gonna continue this conversation for a few weeks, so I hope you don't get tired of me talking about it, but it's something I'm super passionate about. 54 00:05:02,399.63906122 --> 00:05:13,184.63906122 So what did you notice when it came to the screen time habits in your home? Because if you're anything like me, the past couple of weeks have shown you things you cannot unsee. 55 00:05:13,234.63906122 --> 00:05:22,624.63906122 The holiday season is such a gift for awareness, rhythm shift routines, break, people gather. 56 00:05:22,954.63906122 --> 00:05:25,894.63906122 Life is supposed to slow down just a little and suddenly. 57 00:05:26,939.63906122 --> 00:05:30,29.63906122 You start noticing things you normally overlook. 58 00:05:30,239.63906122 --> 00:05:49,679.63906122 Do you see kids scrolling at the table? Do you catch yourself checking your phone in the middle of a conversation? Do you watch people at restaurants scrolling instead of connecting? Do you feel more distracted, more restless, more anxious? Not to judge, but just to observe because I think it's all of us. 59 00:05:50,831.30572789 --> 00:05:53,741.30572789 Over Thanksgiving weekend, I got curious. 60 00:05:53,741.30572789 --> 00:06:01,331.30572789 So I asked the people in my home to check their screen time data, and I wanna share with you what I found out. 61 00:06:01,601.30572789 --> 00:06:04,511.30572789 It's, it's not something we're proud of. 62 00:06:04,851.30572789 --> 00:06:08,691.30572789 But everyone spent about five hours a day on their phones. 63 00:06:08,691.30572789 --> 00:06:13,71.30572789 Their pickups were between a hundred and 168 times a day. 64 00:06:13,161.30572789 --> 00:06:17,631.30572789 And notifications ranged from 94 to. 65 00:06:17,631.30572789 --> 00:06:20,91.30572789 296. 66 00:06:20,571.30572789 --> 00:06:27,201.30572789 But I also want you to know that there was one day when, and this is before Black Friday for the record. 67 00:06:27,201.30572789 --> 00:06:37,11.30572789 This is not all like, this is before Thanksgiving, but that week my phone had 306 notifications. 68 00:06:37,11.30572789 --> 00:06:37,251.30572789 Y'all. 69 00:06:37,251.30572789 --> 00:06:43,551.30572789 This is why my phone is on Do Not Disturb almost all the time because every single one of those notifications. 70 00:06:43,851.30572789 --> 00:06:51,231.30572789 That buzz or the ding or vibration, whatever, I would've lost my focus. 71 00:06:51,531.30572789 --> 00:06:59,31.30572789 I have this little sticker in my office that reminds me that every interruption costs you productivity, focus and time. 72 00:06:59,331.30572789 --> 00:07:03,126.30572789 Is it worth it? And honestly, here's something else. 73 00:07:04,116.30572789 --> 00:07:07,56.30572789 Those interruptions don't just steal productivity. 74 00:07:07,86.30572789 --> 00:07:14,976.30572789 They also steal presence, peace, connection, mental clarity, and even our ability to hear God. 75 00:07:16,281.30572789 --> 00:07:19,71.30572789 And listen, I am not perfect in this. 76 00:07:19,221.30572789 --> 00:07:21,591.30572789 I'm not sharing this from a place of perfection. 77 00:07:21,591.30572789 --> 00:07:28,41.30572789 In fact, I'm struggling really hard right now with lack of focus and wanting to be on my phone. 78 00:07:28,321.30572789 --> 00:07:33,361.30572789 I pull out my phone during commercials, sometimes even during a show, my husband and I are watching. 79 00:07:34,216.30572789 --> 00:07:38,386.30572789 Sometimes it's necessary, but other times it's just a habit. 80 00:07:38,956.30572789 --> 00:07:45,196.30572789 Just like you and the holidays have a way of bringing those habits to the surface. 81 00:07:45,366.30572789 --> 00:07:46,776.30572789 Let's talk about this for a minute. 82 00:07:46,776.30572789 --> 00:07:47,766.30572789 The procrastination. 83 00:07:47,766.30572789 --> 00:07:53,406.30572789 One thing I noticed in myself the past few weeks is how sneaky procrastination becomes. 84 00:07:53,406.30572789 --> 00:08:11,466.30572789 For me lately on online shopping is seriously a problem, not because I need to, although I do need to, you know, we're in the holiday shopping mode, but because it's right there, I'm getting endless amounts of notification, all kinds of deals, and they wrote me in. 85 00:08:11,646.30572789 --> 00:08:14,826.30572789 It's why oftentimes I have to sit my phone. 86 00:08:14,881.30572789 --> 00:08:18,571.30572789 In the other room, I will check out this deal real quick. 87 00:08:18,571.30572789 --> 00:08:20,71.30572789 I'll compare prices. 88 00:08:20,251.30572789 --> 00:08:23,131.30572789 Let me see if this gift is still on sale. 89 00:08:23,461.30572789 --> 00:08:25,51.30572789 And 20 minutes disappear. 90 00:08:25,51.30572789 --> 00:08:29,431.30572789 Sometimes an hour disappears, and that's what distraction does. 91 00:08:29,431.30572789 --> 00:08:31,831.30572789 It's not always the big obvious things. 92 00:08:32,11.30572789 --> 00:08:37,531.30572789 It's the slow drift, the tiny ways your attention gets pulled in a hundred directions. 93 00:08:37,591.30572789 --> 00:08:39,361.30572789 It steals our time. 94 00:08:40,896.30572789 --> 00:08:48,606.30572789 But it also steals the mental space you need to do the things God is actually asking you to do. 95 00:08:48,606.30572789 --> 00:08:52,176.30572789 And before I go any further, you know I'm talking about this screen time reset. 96 00:08:52,206.30572789 --> 00:08:55,896.30572789 I want you to know like, again, here are my heart on this. 97 00:08:55,896.30572789 --> 00:08:59,46.30572789 This isn't about getting off your phone altogether. 98 00:08:59,196.30572789 --> 00:09:01,181.30572789 For most of us, that's gonna be impossible. 99 00:09:01,181.30572789 --> 00:09:03,251.30572789 And it's not always practical either. 100 00:09:03,251.30572789 --> 00:09:04,121.30572789 It's not practical. 101 00:09:04,121.30572789 --> 00:09:12,231.30572789 We have to be on our phones, like, looking up, you know, uh, the item that I need from the grocery store? I put notes in my phone. 102 00:09:12,531.30572789 --> 00:09:14,241.30572789 I mean, all kinds of different things. 103 00:09:14,241.30572789 --> 00:09:23,1.30572789 I'm using my phone, so it's not practical to be off of it altogether, but we can get specific, and that's what I'm going to do. 104 00:09:23,31.30572789 --> 00:09:28,191.30572789 This is about getting specific and asking where's the one place where a tiny change. 105 00:09:28,276.30572789 --> 00:09:30,286.30572789 Could make the biggest impact. 106 00:09:30,286.30572789 --> 00:09:32,566.30572789 Maybe it's the hour your kids get home from school. 107 00:09:32,716.30572789 --> 00:09:35,656.30572789 Maybe it's bedtime when you're reading one last story. 108 00:09:35,656.30572789 --> 00:09:37,66.30572789 Maybe it's the dinner table. 109 00:09:37,66.30572789 --> 00:09:38,776.30572789 Maybe it's Sunday afternoons. 110 00:09:39,16.30572789 --> 00:09:42,226.30572789 Maybe it's even the car waiting in the pickup line. 111 00:09:42,826.30572789 --> 00:09:46,126.30572789 For me, it's definitely bedtime. 112 00:09:47,466.30572789 --> 00:09:57,546.30572789 In time with my husband, I've realized how many conversations I could be having with my husband if neither of us had our phones out right before bed. 113 00:09:57,606.30572789 --> 00:10:09,646.30572789 And honestly, that's the only uninterrupted time we normally have as a couple without teenagers, right? So that space matters, and I don't want the last thing we see at night to be our phones. 114 00:10:09,856.30572789 --> 00:10:11,146.30572789 I want it to be each other. 115 00:10:11,146.30572789 --> 00:10:12,346.30572789 And I'm just realizing. 116 00:10:13,274.63906122 --> 00:10:14,924.63906122 We need to get better at this. 117 00:10:14,924.63906122 --> 00:10:21,674.63906122 Like, and this is where in the, in the screen time reset, we will talk about. 118 00:10:21,674.63906122 --> 00:10:27,794.63906122 So I have identified this is an area where I struggle. 119 00:10:27,944.63906122 --> 00:10:32,804.63906122 How can I get better? Part of the problem is we're going to bed. 120 00:10:33,389.63906122 --> 00:10:39,359.63906122 So late that we are so zoned out that we don't want to talk to each other. 121 00:10:39,359.63906122 --> 00:10:41,219.63906122 We are tired of talking. 122 00:10:41,459.63906122 --> 00:10:43,439.63906122 So again, we troubleshoot. 123 00:10:43,469.63906122 --> 00:10:47,369.63906122 That's what we do in the screen time reset with our weekly calls, we troubleshoot. 124 00:10:47,609.63906122 --> 00:10:49,619.63906122 I wanna get better at this, but this is an issue. 125 00:10:49,619.63906122 --> 00:10:53,999.63906122 And what I find is when I go to bed, I'm so dang tired, I don't wanna talk. 126 00:10:54,179.63906122 --> 00:10:57,564.63906122 And I remember there was a moment with my therapist I was. 127 00:10:58,244.63906122 --> 00:11:16,814.63906122 Wanting to be more intentional with spending time with my kids and my husband, but I also knew like I was exhausted and so tired of talking, just overwhelmed in every area that I, I didn't know how to show up for them. 128 00:11:18,149.63906122 --> 00:11:19,49.63906122 And not talk. 129 00:11:19,49.63906122 --> 00:11:24,59.63906122 And so we baby stepped our way into that, and that's what I want to challenge you to do as well. 130 00:11:24,59.63906122 --> 00:11:29,99.63906122 And so again, this is a specific thing that I am choosing to protect. 131 00:11:29,99.63906122 --> 00:11:33,29.63906122 This is the area that I want to focus on over the next 12 weeks. 132 00:11:33,29.63906122 --> 00:11:36,59.63906122 Just this one area of bedtime. 133 00:11:36,824.63906122 --> 00:11:43,304.63906122 Is it gonna be perfect? In a perfect world it would be, but girl, we don't live in a perfect world. 134 00:11:43,364.63906122 --> 00:11:48,704.63906122 We are doing the best that we can do and that's good enough. 135 00:11:51,524.63906122 --> 00:11:52,844.63906122 That's my baby step. 136 00:11:53,744.63906122 --> 00:11:59,624.63906122 That's the one small shift that is already changing the atmosphere of my home. 137 00:12:00,419.63906122 --> 00:12:02,429.63906122 And now I wanna challenge you. 138 00:12:02,819.63906122 --> 00:12:13,709.63906122 What is something you can do, first of all, like maybe, maybe it's not going to the extreme of, not taking your phone to bed. 139 00:12:14,219.63906122 --> 00:12:17,39.63906122 Maybe it's having all your notifications off. 140 00:12:17,39.63906122 --> 00:12:20,99.63906122 Maybe it's spending time with your phone on Do Not Disturb. 141 00:12:20,519.63906122 --> 00:12:21,689.63906122 Maybe it's. 142 00:12:22,429.63906122 --> 00:12:26,449.63906122 Unsubscribing from texts that you don't need. 143 00:12:26,659.63906122 --> 00:12:32,149.63906122 You know, there's all kinds of little things that you could be doing to help you. 144 00:12:32,149.63906122 --> 00:12:48,359.63906122 Leaving your phone in the other room is a great thing, but we've already talked about that, right? I think there's been two additional episodes before this one on this topic of screen time, and so I want to challenge you to, go look. 145 00:12:49,54.63906122 --> 00:12:53,744.63906122 At those episodes and, do those things as well. 146 00:12:53,794.63906122 --> 00:12:55,114.63906122 I will also tell you that. 147 00:12:55,709.63906122 --> 00:13:00,149.63906122 While everyone was on their phones at my home. 148 00:13:00,149.63906122 --> 00:13:09,179.63906122 Not everyone, 'cause I tried not to be, but a lot of people were on their phones during, um, our Thanksgiving break when we had all of our family here and y'all, it was beautiful. 149 00:13:09,359.63906122 --> 00:13:15,869.63906122 All of our family was here and this was the number one thing that I noticed when it came to. 150 00:13:17,39.63906122 --> 00:13:20,759.63906122 People being on their phone, they were overstimulated. 151 00:13:20,759.63906122 --> 00:13:32,999.63906122 Which is crazy because our phones make us more overstimulated, but because we are so dysregulated, it's like our phones help us. 152 00:13:34,289.63906122 --> 00:13:36,239.63906122 Not be overstimulated. 153 00:13:36,809.63906122 --> 00:13:43,169.63906122 Um, it's a stemming activity and I don't know the science for that, but I know it is definitely a thing. 154 00:13:43,169.63906122 --> 00:13:48,239.63906122 And I noticed that a lot of people that got on their phone, that's why they got on their phone, they were overstimulated. 155 00:13:48,429.63906122 --> 00:13:58,29.63906122 Also, the biggest thing I competed with for the love was football, which I love football, but I just wanted to play board games with my family and they all wanted to watch football. 156 00:13:58,179.63906122 --> 00:13:58,989.63906122 It's fine. 157 00:13:59,109.63906122 --> 00:13:59,859.63906122 It really is. 158 00:13:59,859.63906122 --> 00:14:00,459.63906122 It's fine. 159 00:14:00,709.63906122 --> 00:14:02,619.63906122 But, we did get to play some games. 160 00:14:02,619.63906122 --> 00:14:09,849.63906122 We had a gender reveal and it's a boy for those who know my family, um, know that boys weren in the family. 161 00:14:09,849.63906122 --> 00:14:11,859.63906122 I thought it was a boy all along. 162 00:14:12,129.63906122 --> 00:14:13,509.63906122 Uh, but they did try to. 163 00:14:13,879.63906122 --> 00:14:15,829.63906122 Tricked me into thinking it was a girl. 164 00:14:15,829.63906122 --> 00:14:19,849.63906122 So we have a grandson coming this May. 165 00:14:19,849.63906122 --> 00:14:21,439.63906122 Super excited about that. 166 00:14:21,769.63906122 --> 00:14:28,579.63906122 But more importantly, it was just nice to have all of our family in one house under the same roof all weekend. 167 00:14:28,579.63906122 --> 00:14:32,229.63906122 It was such a good time for me and I could cry just thinking about it. 168 00:14:32,229.63906122 --> 00:14:32,649.63906122 Okay. 169 00:14:32,949.63906122 --> 00:14:39,179.63906122 And if you are feeling the pole to be more present, more grounded, and more connected, especially as winter settles in. 170 00:14:39,179.63906122 --> 00:14:45,29.63906122 I'd love to help you with these tiny steps inside the screen. 171 00:14:45,29.63906122 --> 00:14:46,49.63906122 Time reset. 172 00:14:46,49.63906122 --> 00:14:47,759.63906122 Remember, this isn't about perfection. 173 00:14:48,119.63906122 --> 00:14:54,299.63906122 It's about finding the area that matters most and taking one small, tiny baby step at a time. 174 00:14:54,449.63906122 --> 00:14:59,99.63906122 You can join the screen time reset using the link in the show notes. 175 00:14:59,99.63906122 --> 00:15:00,599.63906122 And I hope to see you there. 176 00:15:00,599.63906122 --> 00:15:10,139.63906122 Remember, if you join in the month of December, you get some bonus calls on Mondays, but we officially start in January. 177 00:15:10,804.63906122 --> 00:15:15,249.63906122 And that's a wrap friend, if today's episode spoke to you, don't let this be the moment. 178 00:15:15,409.63906122 --> 00:15:18,259.63906122 You hit pause and go right back into that same cycle. 179 00:15:18,529.63906122 --> 00:15:30,529.63906122 Whether you're ready to go all in and commit to six months of breakthrough coaching, or you only want a single unstuck session right now, you'll find all the links in the show notes or on my website at Melissa bat. 180 00:15:31,39.63906122 --> 00:15:33,414.63906122 That's Melissa bat with two ts.com. 181 00:15:34,39.63906122 --> 00:15:36,649.63906122 Slash breakthrough dash coaching. 182 00:15:36,859.63906122 --> 00:15:39,199.63906122 Let's keep taking those baby steps together.
Okay, so I need you to know this about this episode.
(00:03):
I wanted to have it recorded last week before I left, my office for the holidays.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen The overachiever and perfectionist in you needs to hear this.
This episode in my opinion, is not good.
(00:28):
It would've been so much better last week if I could have gotten it done.
However, I ran out of time.
I was on a roll, full of excitement, full of energy, just the momentum was there, loving everything.
But I made a commitment to my family, to my home, to God that on a specific day, at a specific time, I was clocking out and I would be back this next week and it's next week, and I am struggling because.
(01:00):
The momentum isn't there.
It feels very foggy, and I feel like it seems muddy and it's like I'm trying to pick up the momentum and I just wanna be back where I was.
Last week I was having really good brain days and I have, like, most of my days are really, really good.
Like, I don't have bad brain days much anymore.
However, currently I am struggling.
(01:22):
There's a lot going on though I think, I'm processing a lot of things that I don't feel comfortable sharing.
And so it's kind of one of those things where I have to show up.
I have to do my best, and I have to let God do the rest.
And so I share that with you in hopes that you will give me grace.
But also that if you get nothing else from this episode, you take that away that some days you just have to do your best.
(01:49):
And that's all you can do.
And you surrender.
You just surrender.
Like, here it is Lord.
You know, the widow who only had pennies, gave what she had and it was honorable.
Sometimes when we know what wealth feels like or we know what good days feel like we, we discount when we only have pennies to give.
(02:17):
But God is gracious and he honors even when we only have pennies to give.
And so today when I'm struggling, I want you to know that.
These pennies that I have to give.
I, I just pray blesses you more and normally it does like that.
That's what I know, the days that I show up and I'm like, man, that was terrible.
(02:39):
God does so much more with it than I ever could imagine.
And so I just show up and I do my best.
I have a Spotify playlist that literally says God will provide, and this week when I'm trying to get the train moving again after being off enjoying my family.
(02:59):
I put this playlist on, I'm like, okay, God, like I just need you to provide, provide energy, momentum, stamina, clarity, and I'm gonna do my best, and that's all I can do.
And so I share that as you begin listening to this episode.
And again, friend, come join me in the screen.
Time reset.
(03:20):
I am.
So I think that's part of my struggle is I'm so passionate about the screen time reset, except that right now my brain feels like mush and like the passion I have, I don't feel like is exuded well in this episode.
But I want you to trust me and just come sign up, come sign up, be a part of the screen time reset because we all.
(03:44):
Can probably stand being away from screens just a little bit more than where we are currently. 41 00:03:51,797.66666667 --> 00:03:54,257.66666667 I am Alyssa Bat, and this is God-sized dreams. 42 00:03:54,257.66666667 --> 00:04:02,687.66666667 The Go-to podcast for Christian women who know they were made for more, but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and stuck in survival mode. 43 00:04:02,987.66666667 --> 00:04:04,727.66666667 I'm your Jesus Levin hype girl. 44 00:04:04,727.66666667 --> 00:04:13,187.66666667 Here to help you break free, build simple healthy rhythms, and take small baby steps towards the life God has for you. 45 00:04:13,547.66666667 --> 00:04:16,97.66666667 If you are ready to trade, fear for freedom. 46 00:04:16,482.66666667 --> 00:04:17,892.66666667 You are in the right place, friend. 47 00:04:18,12.66666667 --> 00:04:18,882.66666667 Let's get to it. 48 00:04:19,559.63906122 --> 00:04:19,829.63906122 Hey. 49 00:04:19,829.63906122 --> 00:04:20,309.63906122 Hey friend. 50 00:04:20,309.63906122 --> 00:04:28,859.63906122 Welcome back to Gods Size Dreams, today we're talking about something you probably see a lot even when you are not looking for it. 51 00:04:28,909.63906122 --> 00:04:48,459.63906122 What did Thanksgiving or just this last week reveal about the screen time habits in your home? I know not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, so if that is you, let's just talk about what we notice in general, because it's not just during the holidays that this happens. 52 00:04:49,89.63906122 --> 00:04:53,859.63906122 All the time, right? We're talking about the screen time habits. 53 00:04:53,909.63906122 --> 00:05:01,589.63906122 We're gonna continue this conversation for a few weeks, so I hope you don't get tired of me talking about it, but it's something I'm super passionate about. 54 00:05:02,399.63906122 --> 00:05:13,184.63906122 So what did you notice when it came to the screen time habits in your home? Because if you're anything like me, the past couple of weeks have shown you things you cannot unsee. 55 00:05:13,234.63906122 --> 00:05:22,624.63906122 The holiday season is such a gift for awareness, rhythm shift routines, break, people gather. 56 00:05:22,954.63906122 --> 00:05:25,894.63906122 Life is supposed to slow down just a little and suddenly. 57 00:05:26,939.63906122 --> 00:05:30,29.63906122 You start noticing things you normally overlook. 58 00:05:30,239.63906122 --> 00:05:49,679.63906122 Do you see kids scrolling at the table? Do you catch yourself checking your phone in the middle of a conversation? Do you watch people at restaurants scrolling instead of connecting? Do you feel more distracted, more restless, more anxious? Not to judge, but just to observe because I think it's all of us. 59 00:05:50,831.30572789 --> 00:05:53,741.30572789 Over Thanksgiving weekend, I got curious. 60 00:05:53,741.30572789 --> 00:06:01,331.30572789 So I asked the people in my home to check their screen time data, and I wanna share with you what I found out. 61 00:06:01,601.30572789 --> 00:06:04,511.30572789 It's, it's not something we're proud of. 62 00:06:04,851.30572789 --> 00:06:08,691.30572789 But everyone spent about five hours a day on their phones. 63 00:06:08,691.30572789 --> 00:06:13,71.30572789 Their pickups were between a hundred and 168 times a day. 64 00:06:13,161.30572789 --> 00:06:17,631.30572789 And notifications ranged from 94 to. 65 00:06:17,631.30572789 --> 00:06:20,91.30572789 296. 66 00:06:20,571.30572789 --> 00:06:27,201.30572789 But I also want you to know that there was one day when, and this is before Black Friday for the record. 67 00:06:27,201.30572789 --> 00:06:37,11.30572789 This is not all like, this is before Thanksgiving, but that week my phone had 306 notifications. 68 00:06:37,11.30572789 --> 00:06:37,251.30572789 Y'all. 69 00:06:37,251.30572789 --> 00:06:43,551.30572789 This is why my phone is on Do Not Disturb almost all the time because every single one of those notifications. 70 00:06:43,851.30572789 --> 00:06:51,231.30572789 That buzz or the ding or vibration, whatever, I would've lost my focus. 71 00:06:51,531.30572789 --> 00:06:59,31.30572789 I have this little sticker in my office that reminds me that every interruption costs you productivity, focus and time. 72 00:06:59,331.30572789 --> 00:07:03,126.30572789 Is it worth it? And honestly, here's something else. 73 00:07:04,116.30572789 --> 00:07:07,56.30572789 Those interruptions don't just steal productivity. 74 00:07:07,86.30572789 --> 00:07:14,976.30572789 They also steal presence, peace, connection, mental clarity, and even our ability to hear God. 75 00:07:16,281.30572789 --> 00:07:19,71.30572789 And listen, I am not perfect in this. 76 00:07:19,221.30572789 --> 00:07:21,591.30572789 I'm not sharing this from a place of perfection. 77 00:07:21,591.30572789 --> 00:07:28,41.30572789 In fact, I'm struggling really hard right now with lack of focus and wanting to be on my phone. 78 00:07:28,321.30572789 --> 00:07:33,361.30572789 I pull out my phone during commercials, sometimes even during a show, my husband and I are watching. 79 00:07:34,216.30572789 --> 00:07:38,386.30572789 Sometimes it's necessary, but other times it's just a habit. 80 00:07:38,956.30572789 --> 00:07:45,196.30572789 Just like you and the holidays have a way of bringing those habits to the surface. 81 00:07:45,366.30572789 --> 00:07:46,776.30572789 Let's talk about this for a minute. 82 00:07:46,776.30572789 --> 00:07:47,766.30572789 The procrastination. 83 00:07:47,766.30572789 --> 00:07:53,406.30572789 One thing I noticed in myself the past few weeks is how sneaky procrastination becomes. 84 00:07:53,406.30572789 --> 00:08:11,466.30572789 For me lately on online shopping is seriously a problem, not because I need to, although I do need to, you know, we're in the holiday shopping mode, but because it's right there, I'm getting endless amounts of notification, all kinds of deals, and they wrote me in. 85 00:08:11,646.30572789 --> 00:08:14,826.30572789 It's why oftentimes I have to sit my phone. 86 00:08:14,881.30572789 --> 00:08:18,571.30572789 In the other room, I will check out this deal real quick. 87 00:08:18,571.30572789 --> 00:08:20,71.30572789 I'll compare prices. 88 00:08:20,251.30572789 --> 00:08:23,131.30572789 Let me see if this gift is still on sale. 89 00:08:23,461.30572789 --> 00:08:25,51.30572789 And 20 minutes disappear. 90 00:08:25,51.30572789 --> 00:08:29,431.30572789 Sometimes an hour disappears, and that's what distraction does. 91 00:08:29,431.30572789 --> 00:08:31,831.30572789 It's not always the big obvious things. 92 00:08:32,11.30572789 --> 00:08:37,531.30572789 It's the slow drift, the tiny ways your attention gets pulled in a hundred directions. 93 00:08:37,591.30572789 --> 00:08:39,361.30572789 It steals our time. 94 00:08:40,896.30572789 --> 00:08:48,606.30572789 But it also steals the mental space you need to do the things God is actually asking you to do. 95 00:08:48,606.30572789 --> 00:08:52,176.30572789 And before I go any further, you know I'm talking about this screen time reset. 96 00:08:52,206.30572789 --> 00:08:55,896.30572789 I want you to know like, again, here are my heart on this. 97 00:08:55,896.30572789 --> 00:08:59,46.30572789 This isn't about getting off your phone altogether. 98 00:08:59,196.30572789 --> 00:09:01,181.30572789 For most of us, that's gonna be impossible. 99 00:09:01,181.30572789 --> 00:09:03,251.30572789 And it's not always practical either. 100 00:09:03,251.30572789 --> 00:09:04,121.30572789 It's not practical. 101 00:09:04,121.30572789 --> 00:09:12,231.30572789 We have to be on our phones, like, looking up, you know, uh, the item that I need from the grocery store? I put notes in my phone. 102 00:09:12,531.30572789 --> 00:09:14,241.30572789 I mean, all kinds of different things. 103 00:09:14,241.30572789 --> 00:09:23,1.30572789 I'm using my phone, so it's not practical to be off of it altogether, but we can get specific, and that's what I'm going to do. 104 00:09:23,31.30572789 --> 00:09:28,191.30572789 This is about getting specific and asking where's the one place where a tiny change. 105 00:09:28,276.30572789 --> 00:09:30,286.30572789 Could make the biggest impact. 106 00:09:30,286.30572789 --> 00:09:32,566.30572789 Maybe it's the hour your kids get home from school. 107 00:09:32,716.30572789 --> 00:09:35,656.30572789 Maybe it's bedtime when you're reading one last story. 108 00:09:35,656.30572789 --> 00:09:37,66.30572789 Maybe it's the dinner table. 109 00:09:37,66.30572789 --> 00:09:38,776.30572789 Maybe it's Sunday afternoons. 110 00:09:39,16.30572789 --> 00:09:42,226.30572789 Maybe it's even the car waiting in the pickup line. 111 00:09:42,826.30572789 --> 00:09:46,126.30572789 For me, it's definitely bedtime. 112 00:09:47,466.30572789 --> 00:09:57,546.30572789 In time with my husband, I've realized how many conversations I could be having with my husband if neither of us had our phones out right before bed. 113 00:09:57,606.30572789 --> 00:10:09,646.30572789 And honestly, that's the only uninterrupted time we normally have as a couple without teenagers, right? So that space matters, and I don't want the last thing we see at night to be our phones. 114 00:10:09,856.30572789 --> 00:10:11,146.30572789 I want it to be each other. 115 00:10:11,146.30572789 --> 00:10:12,346.30572789 And I'm just realizing. 116 00:10:13,274.63906122 --> 00:10:14,924.63906122 We need to get better at this. 117 00:10:14,924.63906122 --> 00:10:21,674.63906122 Like, and this is where in the, in the screen time reset, we will talk about. 118 00:10:21,674.63906122 --> 00:10:27,794.63906122 So I have identified this is an area where I struggle. 119 00:10:27,944.63906122 --> 00:10:32,804.63906122 How can I get better? Part of the problem is we're going to bed. 120 00:10:33,389.63906122 --> 00:10:39,359.63906122 So late that we are so zoned out that we don't want to talk to each other. 121 00:10:39,359.63906122 --> 00:10:41,219.63906122 We are tired of talking. 122 00:10:41,459.63906122 --> 00:10:43,439.63906122 So again, we troubleshoot. 123 00:10:43,469.63906122 --> 00:10:47,369.63906122 That's what we do in the screen time reset with our weekly calls, we troubleshoot. 124 00:10:47,609.63906122 --> 00:10:49,619.63906122 I wanna get better at this, but this is an issue. 125 00:10:49,619.63906122 --> 00:10:53,999.63906122 And what I find is when I go to bed, I'm so dang tired, I don't wanna talk. 126 00:10:54,179.63906122 --> 00:10:57,564.63906122 And I remember there was a moment with my therapist I was. 127 00:10:58,244.63906122 --> 00:11:16,814.63906122 Wanting to be more intentional with spending time with my kids and my husband, but I also knew like I was exhausted and so tired of talking, just overwhelmed in every area that I, I didn't know how to show up for them. 128 00:11:18,149.63906122 --> 00:11:19,49.63906122 And not talk. 129 00:11:19,49.63906122 --> 00:11:24,59.63906122 And so we baby stepped our way into that, and that's what I want to challenge you to do as well. 130 00:11:24,59.63906122 --> 00:11:29,99.63906122 And so again, this is a specific thing that I am choosing to protect. 131 00:11:29,99.63906122 --> 00:11:33,29.63906122 This is the area that I want to focus on over the next 12 weeks. 132 00:11:33,29.63906122 --> 00:11:36,59.63906122 Just this one area of bedtime. 133 00:11:36,824.63906122 --> 00:11:43,304.63906122 Is it gonna be perfect? In a perfect world it would be, but girl, we don't live in a perfect world. 134 00:11:43,364.63906122 --> 00:11:48,704.63906122 We are doing the best that we can do and that's good enough. 135 00:11:51,524.63906122 --> 00:11:52,844.63906122 That's my baby step. 136 00:11:53,744.63906122 --> 00:11:59,624.63906122 That's the one small shift that is already changing the atmosphere of my home. 137 00:12:00,419.63906122 --> 00:12:02,429.63906122 And now I wanna challenge you. 138 00:12:02,819.63906122 --> 00:12:13,709.63906122 What is something you can do, first of all, like maybe, maybe it's not going to the extreme of, not taking your phone to bed. 139 00:12:14,219.63906122 --> 00:12:17,39.63906122 Maybe it's having all your notifications off. 140 00:12:17,39.63906122 --> 00:12:20,99.63906122 Maybe it's spending time with your phone on Do Not Disturb. 141 00:12:20,519.63906122 --> 00:12:21,689.63906122 Maybe it's. 142 00:12:22,429.63906122 --> 00:12:26,449.63906122 Unsubscribing from texts that you don't need. 143 00:12:26,659.63906122 --> 00:12:32,149.63906122 You know, there's all kinds of little things that you could be doing to help you. 144 00:12:32,149.63906122 --> 00:12:48,359.63906122 Leaving your phone in the other room is a great thing, but we've already talked about that, right? I think there's been two additional episodes before this one on this topic of screen time, and so I want to challenge you to, go look. 145 00:12:49,54.63906122 --> 00:12:53,744.63906122 At those episodes and, do those things as well. 146 00:12:53,794.63906122 --> 00:12:55,114.63906122 I will also tell you that. 147 00:12:55,709.63906122 --> 00:13:00,149.63906122 While everyone was on their phones at my home. 148 00:13:00,149.63906122 --> 00:13:09,179.63906122 Not everyone, 'cause I tried not to be, but a lot of people were on their phones during, um, our Thanksgiving break when we had all of our family here and y'all, it was beautiful. 149 00:13:09,359.63906122 --> 00:13:15,869.63906122 All of our family was here and this was the number one thing that I noticed when it came to. 150 00:13:17,39.63906122 --> 00:13:20,759.63906122 People being on their phone, they were overstimulated. 151 00:13:20,759.63906122 --> 00:13:32,999.63906122 Which is crazy because our phones make us more overstimulated, but because we are so dysregulated, it's like our phones help us. 152 00:13:34,289.63906122 --> 00:13:36,239.63906122 Not be overstimulated. 153 00:13:36,809.63906122 --> 00:13:43,169.63906122 Um, it's a stemming activity and I don't know the science for that, but I know it is definitely a thing. 154 00:13:43,169.63906122 --> 00:13:48,239.63906122 And I noticed that a lot of people that got on their phone, that's why they got on their phone, they were overstimulated. 155 00:13:48,429.63906122 --> 00:13:58,29.63906122 Also, the biggest thing I competed with for the love was football, which I love football, but I just wanted to play board games with my family and they all wanted to watch football. 156 00:13:58,179.63906122 --> 00:13:58,989.63906122 It's fine. 157 00:13:59,109.63906122 --> 00:13:59,859.63906122 It really is. 158 00:13:59,859.63906122 --> 00:14:00,459.63906122 It's fine. 159 00:14:00,709.63906122 --> 00:14:02,619.63906122 But, we did get to play some games. 160 00:14:02,619.63906122 --> 00:14:09,849.63906122 We had a gender reveal and it's a boy for those who know my family, um, know that boys weren in the family. 161 00:14:09,849.63906122 --> 00:14:11,859.63906122 I thought it was a boy all along. 162 00:14:12,129.63906122 --> 00:14:13,509.63906122 Uh, but they did try to. 163 00:14:13,879.63906122 --> 00:14:15,829.63906122 Tricked me into thinking it was a girl. 164 00:14:15,829.63906122 --> 00:14:19,849.63906122 So we have a grandson coming this May. 165 00:14:19,849.63906122 --> 00:14:21,439.63906122 Super excited about that. 166 00:14:21,769.63906122 --> 00:14:28,579.63906122 But more importantly, it was just nice to have all of our family in one house under the same roof all weekend. 167 00:14:28,579.63906122 --> 00:14:32,229.63906122 It was such a good time for me and I could cry just thinking about it. 168 00:14:32,229.63906122 --> 00:14:32,649.63906122 Okay. 169 00:14:32,949.63906122 --> 00:14:39,179.63906122 And if you are feeling the pole to be more present, more grounded, and more connected, especially as winter settles in. 170 00:14:39,179.63906122 --> 00:14:45,29.63906122 I'd love to help you with these tiny steps inside the screen. 171 00:14:45,29.63906122 --> 00:14:46,49.63906122 Time reset. 172 00:14:46,49.63906122 --> 00:14:47,759.63906122 Remember, this isn't about perfection. 173 00:14:48,119.63906122 --> 00:14:54,299.63906122 It's about finding the area that matters most and taking one small, tiny baby step at a time. 174 00:14:54,449.63906122 --> 00:14:59,99.63906122 You can join the screen time reset using the link in the show notes. 175 00:14:59,99.63906122 --> 00:15:00,599.63906122 And I hope to see you there. 176 00:15:00,599.63906122 --> 00:15:10,139.63906122 Remember, if you join in the month of December, you get some bonus calls on Mondays, but we officially start in January. 177 00:15:10,804.63906122 --> 00:15:15,249.63906122 And that's a wrap friend, if today's episode spoke to you, don't let this be the moment. 178 00:15:15,409.63906122 --> 00:15:18,259.63906122 You hit pause and go right back into that same cycle. 179 00:15:18,529.63906122 --> 00:15:30,529.63906122 Whether you're ready to go all in and commit to six months of breakthrough coaching, or you only want a single unstuck session right now, you'll find all the links in the show notes or on my website at Melissa bat. 180 00:15:31,39.63906122 --> 00:15:33,414.63906122 That's Melissa bat with two ts.com. 181 00:15:34,39.63906122 --> 00:15:36,649.63906122 Slash breakthrough dash coaching. 182 00:15:36,859.63906122 --> 00:15:39,199.63906122 Let's keep taking those baby steps together.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.