Reclaim Your Brain: Breaking Free from the Algorithm Artwork

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Welcome to Small Business Casual, where we focus on designing sustainable, cozy, and thriving businesses tailored to your LIFE. Not the other way around!

From general business and marketing to making sense of the behind-the-scenes chaos, I’m Emily Aborn, your host and Small Business Copywriter!

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Small Business Casual

Reclaim Your Brain: Breaking Free from the Algorithm

December 23, 2025 • Emily Aborn

Text Emily!

“Our brains are sprinting while clocks stay still.” - Researcher, Helena Grieve

In 2024, a Cambridge physics team tracking circadian data noticed the average human day feels 8% shorter than ten years ago—even though atomic time hasn’t changed.

The cause: information velocity. The average person now consumes more data in a week than their grandparents did in a year. Each notification triggers a micro-adrenaline spike, speeding up neural clocks.

In this episode, we get into leaning more analog in an ever-digitalized world as we examine our habits with all the pings, dings, screens, and scrolling.

3 Ideas for a slower, more peaceful life
The myth of the dopamine detox and how to reset yours instead
The 24-Hour Screen Free Challenge
Small habits from digital to analog
And more!

Links & Resources Mentioned

👉🏻 EXTENDED SHOW NOTES

Facebook post with Cambridge Study on TIME.

Karen Kenney's Podcast Episode: Everything Old is New Again

Amy Bolduc's Episode with Kelsey Greene: Digital Minimalism

Harvard Health Article: Dopamine Fasting: Misunderstanding Science Spawns a Maladaptive Fad

Cleveland Health Article: Dopamine Detoxes Don’t Work: Here’s What To Do Instead

Kelsey Greene's Screen-Free Challenges

Kelsey Greene's Instagram Post

About Me!

I’m Emily Aborn, a Small Business Copywriter and host of Small Business Casual. I help small businesses grow with marketing that makes a distinct imprint. I take a big picture approach and genuine connection as I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Email: emily@emilyaborn.com