A Twist on the Traditional Digital Detox (Issue #18)
New year, new bingo card...how you can start 2025 right.
2025 Let’s Go!!
Hello brand new year that started 7 days ago!! Although it is always nice to have a fresh start, the odd mid-week holidays already have thrown off my schedule and I am ready to dive head first into 2025. How about you?
As many of you know January is the month for new habits, and often times February is the month for forgetting those habits.
But let me introduce you to our January Digital Detox challenge (more below) that I know can benefit you and your teams all year around, reminder it’s easier to make big changes by starting small.
Read more about micro-habits from our November 5th newsletter. 👇
📌Tip of the Week
Remembering the important dates of 2025
My work calendar is not only filled with meetings, it’s also filled with reminders about my teams’ birthdays, work anniversaries and other special occasions like International Fun at Work Day - coming up in 3 weeks, January 28th! 📅
The reason I keep these dates top of mind is so I can find small ways to celebrate with my team and add a little sunshine to our days.
To make it easy, I created an awesome (IMO) Canva calendar for all 12 months of 2025 with some of the most important days for us leaders to remember.
ps. If you want this calendar as a template so you can add your own important dates, just drop me a message re: calendar template please.
January’s Digital Detox Challenge and the real cost to digital overload
How many notifications have you already received today?
We live in an always-on culture where leaders are constantly “plugged in,” juggling endless emails, Slack messages, and meetings.
But here’s the problem: tech overuse is quietly draining your energy, focus, and decision-making power.
Burnout is on the rise. Research shows that 73% of leaders experience digital burnout, with 1 in 4 citing constant connectivity as a major stressor. This drains the energy you need to inspire and lead.
Decision fatigue is real. Constant emails, pings, and decisions add up. A Stanford study found that digital multitasking reduces decision-making effectiveness by over 20%.
Productivity paradox. While technology is designed to boost productivity, overuse often leads to fragmented focus and missed priorities.
Spotting the signs of overload
If you’re
Feeling “on edge” when you’re offline.
Teams are responding to emails late at night or working through weekends.
You’re noticing an increased in errors or missed deadlines.
So, how can balanced.boss help?
This month, we’re making it fun to unplug with our Digital Detox Bingo Card!
It’s full of small, actionable steps like muting social channels or hosting a tech free dinner and yes we’re encouraging you to play along!
See how many squares you can get before the end of January.
And, join us all month long to learn more about how you can find balance between work, life and your devices- for you, your families and your teams!
📰 Hello, AMA!
Q: “I just got promoted to a senior role on a different team, but I'm still handling my old job until the new hire starts next week. They're coming in from outside the company, and I’m worried about how to get them up to speed quickly so I can focus on my new role. What’s the best way to hand things off without feeling like I’m carrying both jobs for too long?”
A: Congratulations on your promotion! Transitioning between roles while onboarding someone new can feel like juggling flaming swords, but with a bit of planning, you can make it smooth for both of you.
Here’s how to set them up for success (and free yourself sooner):
Create a "Quick-Start Guide":
Write up a concise document covering key responsibilities, systems, important contacts, and any ongoing projects they'll need to take over. Focus on what’s essential for their first month, don’t overload them with everything at once.Identify Priorities for Week One:
Think about what they need to own by the end of their first week. Set clear goals for them to tackle right away. This will give them a sense of progress and reduce how much you need to oversee.Document Early and Pre-Record:
You’re going to be busy and not available to the new hire every hour of the week, document early with some cheat sheets and pre-record some walkthroughs of processes or commonly used tools. Bonus: these can help them long after you’ve moved on.Schedule Checkpoints (but not hand-holding):
Set up short daily check-ins for the first week. Frame them as opportunities for questions or feedback, but let them lead the conversation.Be Realistic and Delegate Early:
Avoid the trap of trying to do both roles perfectly. Give them tasks and responsibilities right away, even if it feels easier to do it yourself.Introduce Them Strategically:
Make sure you introduce them to key stakeholders early. Building those relationships will lighten the load on you sooner and help them feel more integrated.
And finally, give yourself grace. Even if things aren’t seamless right away, setting clear expectations and boundaries will help you fully transition into your new role while setting them up for long-term success.
Got more questions? We’re here for you, send them over!
Wellness Corner
Staying active during work hours
You would think back to back meetings don’t leave much time for keeping active; however here are five simple ways to add activity to your workday and your teams.
Encourage walking meetings, by replacing the traditional standing or sitting meeting with a phone call and a walk.
Implement a stand and stretch policy with your teams, a reminder to take breaks and stretch during longer meetings.
If possible invest in a standing or ergonomic friendly work area.
If you’re in a joined office space (hybrid) find a way to make space for a walking path or stretch zones in your building.
Create a step challenge with your team or across teams - winning team gets a reward!
ps. During my in-office days, we used to joke about using those 15-minute stand up meetings to do planks - let me tell you those meetings would have been QUICKER!
Community Insights
Get in on the Bingo fun!
Join us on Substack, @
and LinkedIn to share your digital detox progress! As a reminder, small habits can make a big difference.Learn About the Challenge
Tell us - what’s the first square you’ll be tackling on your bingo card?
Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎