E106 | Rethinking Digital Wellbeing in Education with Dr. Kristy Goodwin

EdLeaders Australia

In this episode of the Ed Leaders podcast, Luke Callier sits down with Dr. Kristy Goodwin, a leading expert in digital well-being and productivity. Together, they explore the profound effects of technology on the brains, stress levels, and overall well-being of both children and adults. Dr. Goodwin shares her journey from teaching to researching the impact of digital habits on mental health, highlighting how unmanaged technology use can lead to burnout and stress, particularly in educational settings.

Dr. Goodwin advocates for intentional and healthy digital practices at individual and institutional levels, emphasizing the need for clear "digital guardrails" to create sustainable work environments, especially in schools. She introduces the concept of "microhabits" for optimizing human performance and discusses three key pillars of well-being: reframing rest, understanding brain rhythms, and cultivating focus.

Gain practical tips for enhancing well-being and performance, such as harnessing morning sunlight, engaging in deliberate cold exposure, and practicing Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR). Dr. Goodwin also shares her personal experiences with health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and her exploration of wearable technology like the Whoop and Aura Ring as tools for well-being enhancement.

Tune in now!

Highlights:

• (01:36) How digital technologies impact children’s neurobiology.

• (02:24) r. Goodwin's book "Raising Your Child in a Digital World" was inspired by advice on screen time for her baby.

• (05:07) Research indicates technology affects both children and adults, influencing distraction and productivity.

• (09:58) Digital habits contribute to teacher burnout and add micro-stresses.

• (12:12) Digital overuse impacts stress levels, worsening burnout.

• (18:07) Schools should set digital boundaries to foster a healthier work environment.

• (19:51) Importance of microhabits: small changes, like 1% adjustments, can yield big results.

• (20:40) Reframe recovery as essential for peak performance, comparing it to race car pit stops.

• (21:25) Prioritize breaks and sleep to boost productivity and focus.

• (22:04) Work with your human operating system.

• (24:22) Focus quotient (FQ) is the key 21st-century skill, surpassing IQ and EQ.

• (25:59) Morning sunlight helps alertness and sleep by activating the hypothalamus and boosting melatonin.

• (29:34) Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) is a 10-minute technique that enhances focus and mood without disrupting sleep.

• (32:21) Dr. Goodwin's COVID experience and how it motivated her to use wearable tech.

• (35:09) The use of Whoop to track lifestyle changes' impact on health.

• (37:17) The potential of using wearables in schools to monitor staff and student wellbeing.

• (37:52) Stress can be beneficial if viewed positively.

• (40:32) Clear digital boundaries in education and purposeful data collection using AI.

• (41:32) Dr. Goodwin recommends the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown

You can also connect with us personally at LinkedIn:

Luke Callier -⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljcallier/⁠⁠

Mathew Irving -⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-irving-b6b91430/⁠
Guest Links:

Website: https://drkristygoodwin.com/about/

Instagram: @drkristy

Special thanks to our partners:

People Bench - https://peoplebench.com.au/

Paperly - https://paperly.education/

Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

As always if you have questions, feedback, or a suggestion from a leader you'd like to hear from - send us a message! Please remember if you have a spare minute, please leave us a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player which will help more like-minded school leaders discover us.

Go Well.