Wellness in the Digital Age: How I Use Technology to Make Space for Myself
As an instructional designer and technology instructor, I spend a lot of my time thinking about how to make life and learning easier for others. But I’ve realized that if I’m not intentional about managing my own energy and focus, everything—including the things I love—can quickly become overwhelming. I'm a woman navigating entrepreneurship, adulthood with ADHD, and the constant hum of ambition. My wellness isn’t something I leave to chance—it’s something I design.
What might surprise people is that the biggest wellness tool I have isn't a yoga mat, a juice cleanse, or a weekend retreat. It's technology. Yes, the very thing that can feel like it's adding to the chaos can also be a lifeline, if I use it with intention.
The Overwhelm is Real
Let’s start with a truth many women I know can relate to: the overwhelm of trying to do everything. I want to grow my business, serve my clients, stay connected to my community, and somehow still have energy for a walk, a conversation, or a quiet moment with myself. I don’t always get it right. But I’ve learned that wellness, for me, isn’t about perfection, it’s about systems that give me back time and peace of mind.
As someone with ADHD, I live with a brain that’s always on. Ideas, to-dos, reminders, and dreams swirl around in a nonstop internal dialogue. I’ve come to accept that the way I work, rest, and stay well might look different—and that’s okay. What matters is that it works for me.
Emails, Calendars, Sanity
One of the simplest practices I’ve developed is turning emails into calendar events. I use Microsoft Outlook, and when an email comes in that requires action, I don’t let it sit. I drag it straight onto my calendar. Outlook automatically creates an appointment, and I can add a reminder, assign it to a time block, and move on with my day. It might not sound groundbreaking, but here’s the truth: the only tasks I miss are the ones I forget to schedule. That realization helped me embrace a “get it out of your head” philosophy. Technology isn’t just a time manager, it’s a brain-saver.
This system has freed up mental energy. I’m no longer trying to mentally juggle dozens of follow-ups or deadlines. And that freedom? That’s wellness.
Micro-Meditations with Dogs
Now, let’s talk about the other side of the equation: stillness.
Stillness didn’t come naturally to me. Meditation felt intimidating, but I gave myself permission to practice micro-meditations. I have two dogs, Gunther and Jaeger. They’ve unknowingly become my meditation guides. When I feel my thoughts spiraling or I need a reset, I sit beside one of them, place my hand gently on their body, and focus only on the rise and fall of their breath. Nothing else.
It’s simple. It’s grounding. And it works. That act of being completely present with another breathing being pulls me out of the mental clutter and back into the now. It's my favorite reset.
Organizing as Self-Care
Here’s another thing I’ve learned: sometimes, productivity is wellness. Not hustle, but those small, satisfying acts of organizing that give me a sense of control. Today, for example, I scanned about 50 receipts and then shredded them. That might sound mundane, but to me, it was a mental and physical decluttering session. The pile is gone. The paper trail is digital. My workspace feels clearer, and so does my mind. These little bursts of "busy work" give me a break without losing momentum. They offer the structure my ADHD brain craves, and they help me manage stress in a quiet, effective way. I’m not trying to control everything, I’m just clearing space so I can breathe a little easier.
Designing a Life That Works for Me
One of the benefits of working in technology is that I get to be both the student and the teacher. I learn tools that streamline tasks, then teach others how to do the same. But the most important lesson I’ve learned is that wellness isn’t something you wait for. You can design it, day by day, system by system. Here are a few takeaways I hope resonate with other women who are balancing ambition with the need for rest:
Use technology to create time, not fill it. Automate what you can. Let reminders do the remembering. If it can live on a calendar, it doesn’t need to live in your head.
Stillness doesn’t have to be silent or long. Find your version of meditation—even if it’s petting your dog or staring out a window for a minute. Any pause is progress.
Tiny tasks count. Decluttering a drawer, organizing files, or scanning paperwork may not look like wellness, but it can feel like it. Give yourself credit.
Accept your brain and work with it. For those of us with ADHD or other neurodivergent traits, self-compassion is non-negotiable. Find tools that fit how you think, not how you think you should think.
You don’t have to do it all today. I remind myself often: progress, not perfection. My life doesn’t need to be fully optimized. It just needs to feel a little more manageable than yesterday.
Final Thoughts
I don’t always feel balanced. I don’t always get everything done. But I do feel like I’m building a life that honors my mind, my values, and my energy.
Wellness, for me, lives in the quiet decisions. The calendar drag-and-drops. The hand on a sleeping dog. The paper in the shredder. The moment when I choose presence over pressure.
If there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this: wellness doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s version. It just needs to work for you.
And if it’s powered by Outlook reminders and a couple of good dogs, well, then so be it.
About the Author
Carrie Paxson is the founder of Accredentials Incorporated Company and a passionate instructional designer, technology instructor, and entrepreneur. With a background in creating innovative learning solutions, Carrie helps individuals and businesses leverage technology to simplify processes and enhance productivity.
Living with ADHD, she has developed systems and habits that support both her professional success and personal well-being. She is dedicated to empowering others—especially women in tech and business—to create space, balance, and focus in a fast-paced digital world.