Have you ever noticed how hard it is to step away from your phone… even when your mind and body is asking for a break?
The texts, notifications, social media scrolling, and constant pressure to respond to that email can leave you feeling wired, distracted, and disconnected from yourself. Your mind may say, “Just one more thing,” while your body is quietly tightening, bracing, or whispering that it needs space.
And if you’ve been pushing through for years — caring for everyone else, managing work, Family, Caregiving, and the invisible weight of modern life — you are not broken. Your body may simply be responding to a world that rarely rewards you how to pause.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mary Donohue, founder and CEO of the Digital Wellness Center, whose work blends neuroscience, behavior, and Technology. After living with chronic leukemia, caregiving stress, and surviving a heart attack, Mary began looking more closely at digital wellness and how constant connection affects the brain, body, and our ability to pause.
Together, we talk about digital overload, micro breaks, nervous system regulation, social media Anxiety, and stress-related illness. Mary shares why even a small pause can help your body settle and give you more space before you respond.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
This conversation is a gentle reminder that the pace of your life may be asking more of your body than it was ever meant to hold.
You don’t have to wait until you’re exhausted, anxious, or completely overwhelmed to give yourself a pause. Sometimes one small moment of space is enough to help you start hearing what your body and brain have been trying to tell you all along.
With Love and freedom,
Laurie
Click here to purchase my “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” it’s $29.99
Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go
Click here to watch the Barbie clip referenced in this podcast
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Connect with Dr. Mary Donohue:
Victoria on LinkedIn: Dr. Mary Donohue
Victoria's email: [email protected]
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Digital Wellness Center: Founded by Dr. Mary Donohue, this science-backed platform helps people manage digital stress, take healthier microbreaks, and build more balanced technology habits.
Message Received: A book written by Dr. Mary E. Donohue, offering a practical seven-step framework for breaking down communication barriers at work, especially across email, digital tools, video calls, remote teams, and generational communication styles.
The Happiness Lab: A podcast hosted by Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos that shares science-backed insights for improving well-being.
How to Win Friends and Influence People: A classic book by Dale Carnegie that shares practical principles for building stronger Relationships, improving communication, and positively influencing others.
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living: A book by Dale Carnegie that shares practical lessons and real-life stories for managing worry, finding purpose, and living with more peace.
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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND Entertainment PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.
