Disconnecting
I’ve been considering disconnecting myself from social media for several months now. I took a 5′ish day break from Facebook and Twitter (but couldn’t stay away from my beloved instagram) over Christmas and it was quite refreshing. Months ago, I starred this post by Ashley in my reader but I haven’t felt like the right time has come up for me to take a break. I use social media on a daily basis for my job so that makes it even harder to stay off my personal channels.
I also read something online at some point (I can’t remember where right now) that said something along the lines of if you don’t instagram/facebook/tweet it, it “didn’t really happen” – or at least that’s how many people approach social media these days, especially when we’re doing fun and exciting things. Now don’t get me wrong, I love social media and it is one of my very favourite things. Blogging, tweeting, facebooking, instagramming; these are things I use on a daily basis and love. Using them personally has also helped me develop skills that have helped me professionally. I have no plans of deleting any of my channels anytime remotely soon.
However, I’ve been feeling the need for a break lately. A break from life I guess. I’ve left a few vague comments on people’s blogs who have resonated with me lately but in a nutshell I’ve felt a little “lost” this year. Maybe that’s why I’ve been signing up for long-distance races left, right and centre. Ha.
Anyways, I think unplugging for a week is just what I need and it comes at the perfect opportunity to unwind, relax and hopefully get some focus back and get rid of this ‘lost’ feeling. So I will not be checking, or updating social media (even my beloved Instagram) as of tomorrow morning! We have a late night flight tonight so I may update/check a little bit at the airport until we leave Canada. Airports can be boring! 
I will be back next weekend to flood your instagram, twitter and facebook feeds with Mexico photos – until then I hope you all have a great week!
Have you ever unplugged before? If so for how long and why?
Good for you! I hope this will help you feel a little more like yourself
I think a trip to Mexico will definitely be the main helper 
and you won’t have to worry about finding a wireless connection and all that when you are in a different country.
I have never purposely disconnected, but I often go days without checking social media just because I’m busy and don’t think about it. It helps that I have a job where I have no spare time to look at anything except for the endless emails from parents haha. I think as a result social media always feels like a pleasure to check when I do have time. I can understand how it would be different for others though, who are on it more than me and/or use it for work.
I gave up social media on my phone, which I think is definitely helping. This way I don’t check it when I’m out and about and I can stay more focused on what I’m doing. I think a vacation is a perfect time to go social media free. I hope you enjoy your little vacation not just from work, but from social media too! Can’t wait to hear about it when you get back.
I’ve disconnected for travel and/or work before. When I tree planted I disconnected for 3 months at a time, occasionally checking email in town. Best time ever, I can’t even explain, I felt I valued time more, I felt more calm, and I did more things outside of hanging out on my computer.
Course I still obviously love the cyber world, and definitely enjoy every minute of too much time on it.
(Also PS – on feeling lost, I know what you mean, but I think it might be normal after having big years like the one you had right? Like going from planning a wedding, to not having any major events like that is a change, which might make you feel sort of lost…:) )
I disconnected for a whole month when I was feeling similar to you. I just felt… lost. Unsure of myself. And I think stepping away from all social media and blogging helps me SO MUCH and helped me put the focus back on myself. (And stop thinking in 140 characters!)
I also almost always disconnect when I’m on vacation because it just helps to be more present. I think this week away from work and social media will help you find that balance again.
Have the BEST time!
Enjoy your time away! I have taken 2-3 week breaks from blogging when I was going through tough things in life as it’s tough to write and pretend everything is ok when it’s not, and when you aren’t able/ready to share what is going on, it just seems best to take a step away. I also deactivated my facebook account for a couple of months after a break up as i had so many mutual friends and I didn’t really want to see what my ex boyfriend was up to!
I hope that you have a great trip to Mexico. I think a week of being unplugged will be really refreshing for you!! I will miss your online presence, but know you’ll be back with a fresh perspective after this week away!
Enjoy your much-needed break and trip to Mexico! I can’t wait to read about it.
I regularly unplug when I visit my family back in Germany… while I always plan to check in a few times, I usually end up not going online much at all and after the first couple of days of “withdrawal” (LOL) it is really nice to just be in there “here and now” with the people you love.
Enjoy your break! We’ll all still be here when you get back!
I hope you and Eric have a wonderful trip and can’t wait to see pictures!
I know that I am WAY too attached to my computer and social media in general. I’m sure people think my phone is glued to my hand. I think a week of being “unplugged” would be a great thing to do, especially since I’m on maternity leave.
Have fun in Mexico! It seems like you were JUST planning for this trip!
There’s a car commercial I’ve been seeing lately that says “you can like something” and it shows a girl liking something on facebook, “or you can like something” and she gets out of the house to go for a car ride to actually enjoy herself. Yes, it’s somewhat of a cheesy message, but shouldn’t it matter more that you actually enjoying your life instead of enjoying documenting your life. I know it’s something I’m guilty of as well, and that I’m trying to be better at. But it definitely it an interesting outlook.
And I hope you have a great trip in Mexico! If there’s ever a time to unplug, I think vacations are definitely it!
My main reason for giving up facebook for Lent was to show myself that I don’t need it in my life. I don’t post much as it is so I don’t see the point. I have been pretty good about staying off of it, except when needed as I do have some social invites through facebook i need to keep up on, but limiting myself to checking it once a day has really helped. I don’t like posting where I am going to be on facebook because then someone could come and break into my house if I am gone or some after me if they know where I am. I just think its safer to not post all that stuff. And plus I don’t like people knowing all the stuff I am doing. It kind of stinks you have to use social media for work,but I think its worth trying to give up outside of work because thats what you can control. Hope you had a good week away from social media!
I unplugged over Christmas and since then I’ve pulled back a little bit from reading tweets and blog posts. I realized I need to give myself space to breathe, think, and reflect.. without being bombarded by other people’s thoughts all the time. I think it’s perfectly normal to feel a little lost or stuck at this point in your life, and I’m sure it will take some time to work through things, but you’ll get there!
Hope you’re having a blast on vacation and getting some much needed time away!!
I’ve only “unplugged” when on vacation. I’m headed to Mexico in a few weeks and will be unplugging during that trip.
I think it’s great you’re in the middle of a social media fast. Hope you’re enjoying your time in Mexico! I limit the social media streams to which I subscribe and also limit the kind of time I spend on them. I generally take a break from them almost entirely whenever we travel. I don’t write blog posts or read blogs on the weekends. Lately, I’ve been leaving my phone in another room during family meals, so I don’t check it whenever I hear the chime. As wonderfully connected as I feel with social media, going without it allows me to connect with others in a very different and sometimes more important way.
Have a fantastic time and safe travels!
I can relate to the if you didn’t tweet it, it didn’t happen thing. i feel that way a lot, but I still don’t blog about everything that is going on! I hope Mexico has been nothing but amazing and restorative for you. xo
I am pretty disconnected most of the time. I don’t really use facebook or twitter very much. Actually, I don’t use Instagram very much either. My weakness is blog reading/writing, but lately I have been pretty slack on that as well. Sometimes life gets in the way, and usually that is a GOOD thing. You wouldn’t want the internet to get in the way of living life! Have fun in Mexico and I can’t wait to hear all about it!
I respect this so much. I feel like maybe I need to do something similar. I could see not giving up blogging but giving up twitter/Facebook for a little. I hope you are enjoying your break!