Being Mary
Mary Johnson Van Den Berge is a "wear your heart on your sleeve" kind of woman, an unapologetic bookworm, and an online shopping champion. She devours murder mysteries in every form — whether in books or podcasts — with an enthusiasm that surprises even herself. Raised on a farm near St. Marys in Southwestern Ontario, she now calls Petrolia home, nestled in Ontario’s scenic “banana belt.”
Mary is a proud advocate for women’s rights and believes deeply in the power of honest conversation. On her podcast, she creates a safe and open space for women to explore the emotional layers of life—through candid conversations about relationships, identity, healing, motherhood, and more. It’s not just her story anymore—it’s all of ours.
Being Mary
3 Tiny Tweaks for a Younger, Energized You - Part 2 Phones
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Hi, it’s Mary—and welcome back to Being Mary.
Last week, we started with Habit #1: Move your body.
This week, Habit #2 might surprise you.
It’s simple. It’s powerful.
And it could completely change how you feel, how you connect, and even how you age.
Want to know what it is?
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Hi, it’s Mary—and welcome back to Being Mary.
Last week we talked about Habit #1: Move your body.
Today it’s time for Habit #2.
It’s simple, the benefits are immediate, and it might surprise you.
Put. The. Phone. Down.
Let’s Get Real:
It sounds obvious, right? But think about it:
What’s our phone really doing to our nervous system, our brains, our stress levels?
This isn’t just a tech issue—it’s a health issue.
We’re talking:
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Relationships
- Time
- Energy
And yes, I’m including myself here. My phone is glued to my hand more often than I’d like to admit.
The Shocking Numbers:
The average person spends 2.5 hours a day scrolling.
Over a lifetime, that adds up to 20 years.
Twenty years of your life… gone into TikTok, Meta, Instagram—other people’s highlight reels.
And here’s the truth: nobody gets to the end of life and says,
“I wish I’d spent more time on my phone.”
The Cost of Scrolling:
We wonder why we feel anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed.
It’s because we’re scrolling instead of living.
We nag our kids to get off their devices—but how often are we still glued to ours?
That was a wake-up call for me.
Why This Matters for Our Health:
Phones aren’t just stealing time—they’re affecting our:
- Sleep
- Posture
- Mood
- Memory
- Relationships
But when we put the phone down, we get:
- Better sleep
- More joy
- Real connection
- Energy and peace
What Can We Do?
Start small:
- No phones at the dinner table
- No scrolling before bed
- Use “Do Not Disturb”
- Swap one scroll session for a walk, call, or quiet moment
And remember—if you’ve got kids or grandkids, they’re watching what we model.
Final Thoughts:
Maybe burnout isn’t because life is too much.
Maybe it’s because we’re not fully present for our lives.
So Habit #2 is your reminder:
Stop scrolling through life—and start living it.
Thanks for being here.
And don’t forget—Habit #3 is coming next week.
Until then, keep being you.