How I cut my screen time by 45% (and other January notes)
The Sidebar | Issue 01
Welcome to the first issue of The Sidebar—a monthly edit of the things I’ve chosen to keep. In a world that constantly pushes for “more,” will be a series on the practice of being selective. From the books on my nightstand to the links in my group chat, here is a peek at what actually made the cut in January.
It’s funny how leaning into a life that’s more selective and discerning actually comes with a desire to share more about what you’ve chosen to keep.
I’m always fascinated reading about how other women approach this. So, for this last post of January, I thought I’d share a peek into exactly what I’ve added in and enjoyed.
If I had to sum up how this month felt, it was compressed.
Most of my time and energy went into just keeping up with an unusually packed calendar. But I also had this drive to clean out the spaces that had been ignored for far too long (I’m looking at you, playroom) and review our spending from 2025 to adjust for the year ahead.
(Side note: I’ve used Copilot Money for 2 years now to do this. It is hands down the best app for it. And if you want to try it, use code NGQ3CY for 2 months free).
I didn’t get as far on my to-do list as I would’ve liked, but I was acutely aware of my limited capacity. When I had time, I dove into projects. When I didn’t, I chose to put every spare moment toward rest.
Here is exactly what filled those moments.
On My Nightstand—
I got through a wild number of books for me this month. I love listening to audiobooks while I work around the house, but I mixed in some print, too.
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Malcolm Gladwell is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely loved this. I couldn’t stop talking about it to anyone who would listen.
The Housemaid: I knocked this out on one incredibly lazy, low-key Saturday. Pure entertainment. (And so glad to know there are sequels!)
The Signs: The New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts: I’d been chipping away at this for a while and finally wrapped it up. Part memoire, part research; the whole focus is on how to learn to tune in to your intuition on a daily basis.
Loveable: Amber Rae’s memoir. It had a lot of relatable reflections that I really appreciated.
(Tip: I saw on my Audible account that they’re running a credit promo—earn a $15 reward when you spend 3 credits. If you’ve been sitting on those, now is a great time to use them!)
In My Earbuds—
I am pretty steady with the podcasts I listen to, but a few specific episodes stuck with me this month. Interestingly, both were political—which are usually outliers for me.
I am selective about how much political content I take in because it feels so tense right now. But it’s also important to stay informed. These two felt worth the listen because I trust the sources:
The Daily: A fascinating BTS of the interview with the President they at the NYT did earlier this month. It was so interesting to hear not only clips from the meeting but also the debrief with the reporters who were in the room.
We Can Do Hard Things: An episode on the rise of billionaire power in America. I had just heard Chani Nicholas talking about forces that make us feel powerless (like billionaire heads-of-tech), so this felt too kismet to ignore.
My Tech Reset—
Speaking of tech... I’ve been trying to curb the impulse to grab my phone constantly. Willpower wasn’t enough—these devices are literally designed to override it.
I tried the greyscale hack, which helped, but it’s easy to toggle off in a moment of dopamine deprivation. So, I finally pulled the trigger on a Brick.
It reduced my screen time by 45%.
Yes, you read that correctly. I am astonished at how well this tiny, customizable phone lock works. (If you want, I can break this all down in a more detailed post—just let me know in the comments).
The Receipts—
In the midst of my organizational frenzy, Stella and I decided her room is ready for a glow-up. We are doing it little by little, but I snagged a few things for the house (and myself).
Floral Percale Sheet: I grabbed these sheets for Stella’s bed and I cannot believe the quality for the price. I’m considering snagging a fresh set for our room, too.
The Perfect <$50 Denim: I’ve been struggling with my clothes fitting comfortably lately, so when these went on sale, I jumped. They are the perfect balance of cotton and stretch. I grabbed the “Tall” length (they come in 3 lengths). My wash is sold out, but the Ecru wash I also own is still available & so are these in denim.
Target Entryway Rug: I am BEYOND in love with this rug. It has texture, a subtle pattern, and looks much more expensive than it is. I might buy a backup for when this one eventually wears out—it’s that good.
On The Menu—
Crockpot Queso Dip: Everyone gets excited when the Crock-Pot of this queso dip comes out when we have friends over to watch football games. Keep this in your back pocket for the Super Bowl—it is foolproof.
Chorizo-Lentil Rice: This has proven to be a fantastic recipe to batch, freeze, and repurpose. I’ve had it for breakfast with eggs or on the side of avocado toast. It’s such a reliable option to keep on hand.
So how is it that we are at the end of the month, and I have so much to share?
I think it’s proof that the goal isn’t to avoid adding things to our lives. It’s to be selective about what we add. Writing this post was easy because my intention behind these choices set the tone for the month: I was excited about what I was bringing in, rather than overwhelmed by consuming without a filter.
What did you intentionally add into your life to start the new year?
I’d love to hear from you—comment below or hit reply to this email. 💕
Talk soon,
Erin