Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families Screen Time vs. Family Time | Mark Ostach (BEST OF MKM)
Do you ever feel like your phone gets more of your attention than your family? You’re not alone.
In this Best of MKM episode, we explore how to reclaim our focus, strengthen our relationships, and find balance in a world full of digital distractions.
Author and speaker Mark Ostach joins me to talk about digital wellness—what it means, why it matters, and how small shifts can make a huge difference in our marriages, parenting, and personal health. From setting boundaries with email to modeling good tech habits for our kids, Mark shares practical strategies to help us become more present at home and less consumed by screens.
This conversation originally aired in 2022, but it’s just as powerful today. As part of our Best of MKM series, I’m excited to bring back this timeless chat with Mark, the author of Courage to Connect.
Resources
Sponsors, Deals and Partners
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – What Digital Wellness Really Means
04:00 – The “Holy Trinity” of Checking & Digital Distraction
06:30 – Early Struggles That Sparked Mark’s Mission
07:50 – Impact of Screen Time on Marriage & Family Life
09:40 – Modeling Healthy Tech Habits for Kids
11:50 – Coping with Distraction & Digital Stress
13:30 – Small Steps Toward Digital Wellness
17:00 – Morning Routines & Phone Boundaries
18:00 – Healthy Ways to Use Social Media
20:00 – Managing Email & Avoiding Overwhelm
23:50 – When Should Kids Get Their First Devices?
25:00 – Parents as “Paparazzi” & Memory vs. Instagram
28:30 – Predictions for the Future of Digital Wellness
32:30 – One Simple Step You Can Take Today
34:00 – Where to Find Courage to Connect
MKM RESOURCES:
- Own Your Time: Pre-order my first book today!
- MKM Coaching: Want 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey? Book a time with me today.
- Coast FIRE Calculator: A free calculator to help you find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement.
- Mortgage Payoff Calculator: A free calculator to help you see how fast you can become mortgage free.
- YouTube: Subscribe for free to watch videos of these episodes and interviews.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES):
- Monarch Money - Best Budget App for Families & Couples
- Empower - Free Portfolio Tracker
- Crew - HYSA Banking Built for Families - Get an Extra 0.5% APY with my partner link
- Ethos - Affordable Term Life Insurance
- Trust & Will - Convenient Estate Planning
HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER:
This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products.
Opinions are the creators alone.
Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.
Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
CREDITS:
- Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa
- Editor: Johnny Sohl
- Podcast Support: Andy Hill
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices