262804066 141. From Doom Scrolling to Present Parenting: Journaling Prompts for Busy Moms - Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing

Episode 141

full
Published on:

8th May 2025

141. From Doom Scrolling to Present Parenting: Journaling Prompts for Busy Moms

Ever catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through your phone when you could be fully present with your kids? OR getting some "me time" in the morning before they're awake?

In this episode, I share the eye-opening conversation I had with an overwhelmed working mom who confessed that a "quick win" she'd LOVE to experience: to use her phone less and be more present in her life.

As busy moms juggling careers, households, and relationships, our phones often become both our escape and our secret saboteur. That quick dopamine hit of checking social media or emails might feel good in the moment, but it's stealing precious time you'll never get back with your family—and with yourself.

🎯 In this episode, we explore:

  • How creating a simple 5-second pause between urge and action can transform your relationship with technology
  • Which self-sabotage patterns might be driving your phone habits (whether you're a restless type, hyperachiever, avoider, or overthinker)
  • A powerful visualization technique that dramatically increases your chances of making different choices

I guide you through specific journaling prompts designed to help you identify your phone habits, understand what's really going on beneath the surface, and create intentional pauses that allow your inner wisdom to emerge instead of drowning it out with digital noise.

Journal Prompt Flow:

  1. What moments do you reach for your phone without realizing it, and how does it feel?
  2. What are you avoiding in those moments? (Then go deeper—what are you REALLY avoiding?)
  3. Imagine creating a 5-second pause before grabbing your phone—what might arise in that space?
  4. Pick one time you mindlessly grab your phone and visualize choosing differently

Resources Mentioned:

  • Calm Mind Blueprint: Work through overwhelming emotions in just 10-15 minutes or treat it as a 2 minute/day, 5 day challenge (with daily email reminders!)
  • Coming next week: Special three-part series on applying Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory" to your life. SUBSCRIBE to Journal Entries to make sure you tune in!

Support Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing

A huge thank you to our supporters, it means a lot that you support our podcast.

If you like the podcast and want to support it, too, you can leave us a tip using the button below. We really appreciate it and it only takes a moment!
Support Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
A
We haven’t had any Tips yet :( Maybe you could be the first!
Show artwork for Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing

About the Podcast

Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing
Beyond Awareness (formerly Journal Entries) is for successful women in leadership and business who know exactly what they need to do but can't make themselves do it.

You know you need to prioritize yourself, delegate more, set boundaries, stop bringing work home. You've tried therapy, coaching, retreats. You know the solution - but you either can't follow through, or when you DO, it doesn't stick.

Host Samantha Hawley helps business owners and executives earning $100k+ excavate the root beliefs underneath the execution gap. Why do you keep not doing the thing? Why doesn't it feel better when you do? Using strategic journaling and emotional excavation, we go beyond awareness into why you're actually stuck in the pattern.

This isn't about more tactics or tips. This is about understanding why awareness isn't enough and what actually needs to shift for you to change.

You'll hear about: decision fatigue, why you can't prioritize yourself, nervous system regulation, being present with your kids, root cause of overwhelm, why boundaries don't stick, self-sabotage patterns, and how your internal state impacts everything.

Perfect for: Female CFOs, VPs, directors, executives, business owners, and women in leadership who are tired of knowing what's wrong but not being able to change it.
Support This Show

About your host

Profile picture for Samantha Hawley

Samantha Hawley