Hi friends,
So happy to be back with you this week. I spent three weeks unplugging from everything online. I only checked my starred emails (which includes family, editor, and agent). I pre-scheduled my posts for social media and let them go. I turned off notifications for my apps. Stayed off Voxer. If it was related to technology, I avoided it.
Why? You may ask. Because I was working on finishing up the current draft of my work-in-progress. I’m currently writing the second book in my Coastal Guardians series—The Crushing Depths. To get my mind and time focused, I announced that I was unplugging and then just stopped. Do you know what happened?
Nothing. Yes. The beautiful sound of silence when you’ve just left a large stadium event. The feeling of blissful solitary when you leave an overcrowded mall and sink into your own space. It was fabulous for about half a day and then do you know what? I started having withdrawals. I missed connecting my FB and Twitter and Instagram reader friends, along with my writing friends I vox with pretty much daily.
I felt this niggling. You know, like when you think you left the stove on back at home? That feeling like something wasn’t taken care of, but you couldn’t remember what? That’s what it felt like. I missed interacting with friends, but I also couldn’t help but think I was dropping the ball on something. It was…unsettling.
But then, after a day or two, I sunk into the unsettling and I got my fingers sticky in it. I soaked it up. I sat and wrote on the deck in the sunshine without…wait for it….my phone! I didn’t worry about when I’d posted or commented or liked anything last. I didn’t have any clue who was doing what when. I just knew God would keep the world spinning while I took my break.
It’s funny. I didn’t realize that was what I was doing. Thinking I had to be ‘in’ everything, on top of ‘everything’ or somehow a ball would get dropped. Who was I trying to kid? I drop more balls than anyone. I don’t know how to juggle. My sweet spot is on a beach somewhere wild with my toes in the sand and the sun on my face. I pulled out of the constant flow of information and just spent time with God, my family, and the writing God has entrusted to me.
It was blissful.
Don’t get me wrong. I missed friends. It’s not something I’d do permanently, but it definitely is something I will do again. Try unplugging for a bit—a week, a month, a day. You might just be thrilled you did.
After I returned to the world of social media, I was so excited to catch up with friends to chat with readers, to hear what was happening in everyone’s lives, but I came back refreshed and ready to engage. It was a fresh start and a fresh perspective. One I’m extremely thankful for.
Question for you:
Have you taken an unplug break from social media? If so, how was your experience? If not, is that something that would interest you?
I always look forward to hearing your answers! Let’s chat!
Have a blessed day!
Dani
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When I visit my parents in Tennessee, I have limited access since their connection is a sad step above dial-up and they live in a dead zone. I’m basically unplugged. It’s beautiful there.
That sounds beautiful, Denise. The kids (daughter, son-in-law and grand babies–I’m sure they love that moniker :D) just spent some time in TN and they said it was breathtaking their. They were near Gatlinburg and the Tail of the Dragon.
When we travel to some of the national parks, there is no service (cell, internet or TV) and it’s wonderful!
That does sound wonderful, Kay! Have a favorite national park? We’ve been to a few and so far my favorite is the Grand Canyon.
Dani, I’m so intrigued by what you did, and mildly disturbed that such a concept would be so fascinating! What does that say about where I am right now with HAVING to be connected! But with a fast-approaching deadline, I wonder if that’s just what I need to try! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. And I’m sure your novel will be even the better for having had your full concentration!
Hi Deb,
LOL. I know what you’re saying. It was new for me. I’m always connected and it was strange for a bit not reaching for my phone to check FB or email, but it ended up feeling like I was away at a cabin somewhere peaceful. Really interesting how your brain focuses more when you take a break. Let me know if you try it out. Good luck with deadline.
Yes, I did this just last week. My Bible study gals went to a cottage on a lake for 4 days. I don’t go on facebook or check my email when I’m not at home. I did get a couple texts, but that was the extent of my social media interaction. It was great!!
How fun. Sounds like a beautiful getaway. Hope you all had an amazing, blessed time.
I unplug once a month for a weekend when I visit my parents.
Oh. I like that. A regular time of unplugging. Hmmm. Might have to adopt that on weekends.
Fortunately, I’m not one of those people who needs to plugged into everything at every moment, and my son thinks the lack of apps on my phone is ridiculous. I also often leave my phone in another room! Silence is bliss.
That is so true. It’s amazing how peaceful silence can be.
I just did that this week with my husband as we celebrated our 25th anniversary and it was great. I’m a website/technical manager so I’m always online. I feel so refreshed now. I need to figure out some way to do this more regularly. I do wish my time off this weekend included some beach time, that’s the one thing I missed. 🙂
Oh. Congratulations on 25 years. That’s awesome. I’m so glad you feel refreshed. I always miss beach time 🙂