When this episode goes live, I’ll be in the middle of my longest “unplugged” vacation yet. Unplugged for me means not traveling with a laptop or having to work more than a few check-ins here & there. While I do keep an eye on emails, I don’t feel the need to respond to anything that is not urgent. Other than checking in with my team occasionally, I don’t have any obligations other than enjoying time with my family, resting, reading, and giving my mind space to freely think without an agenda. So, I suppose it’s not 100% unplugged, but I don’t really strive to have zero digital connection, more to limit any unnecessary connection.
It has taken me 8 years to take a 10-day unplugged vacation and I truly think I could have done it a lot sooner, but I was missing one crucial element— the absolute desire to just do it!
If I’m honest with myself, my ego and false belief that I “needed” to be working and my desire to be in control and constantly striving were probably holding me back most. Another element that needed to change was my personal digital attachment. What good is unplugging from work only to mindlessly scroll Instagram or refresh my apps multiple times an hour? I didn’t want the temptation to get ahead on work or to get too productive, so I deleted the apps off my phone & left my computer behind.
In today’s episode, I’m sharing three books that have helped me recognize my unhealthy habits and detox from social media (even when I was kidding myself that it was “all for work”), over-working, and under-resting!
I also talk a bit about how I’m managing to still stay visible online without doing much personal social media, including how I utilize a “social media phone” and have limited batched times when I go online.
I am always searching for ways to create more ease and freedom while juggling motherhood and business. What better time than a vacation to put some of these mindful strategies to the test? Be sure to check back as I’ll share next week more about what worked and what didn’t as I venture into this digital minimalism journey.
Resources Mentioned:
- Break the Twitch: A Practical Guide To Minimalism, Intentional Living & Doing More Of What Matters by Anthony Ongaro
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
- Hands Free Life: Nine Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better, and Loving More by Rachel Macy Stafford
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