Spiders weave webs with purpose.
They are the master of their lives and are in control
of how they spend it!
When humans weave webs they usually trap us!
Do you weave your own digital web of trapsville?
Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Email & more
Is your mind constantly jumping from one thought to another?
Do you frequently multi-task? Not enough hours in the day?
You seem to work away all day but not really get anywhere?
Ever start doing one thing and hours later find yourself doing
another having never completed your original task?
Do you have trouble relaxing? At bed time do you have trouble
finding the OFF switch for your mind?
Are you still checking your phone when you go to bed and is it the first
thing you look at when you wake up?
Are you keeping up with ALL aspects of your life?
Are you living in the present? Are you noticing what is happening around
you each day? Do you know what is going on in the day-to-day lives of those you love?
If any of the above rings a bell for you
read on…
I recently took a two-week break away from the blog. Over the last couple of years, I have learnt to tune in and listen to my body, mind and spirit and know when I needed some self-care, alone time, some company, fresh air, etc. Recently, I knew I was not functioning at my best and that I needed to take action. I needed a Digital Detox and so I took some time out from my blog and all my usual blog related activities (except for a few pics I posted to Instagram). It may not have been the best move for the success of my blog, but it was the best move for the success of me. Also, my blog is all about health and well-being, whereby I encourage tuning in and getting to know ourselves in order to best achieve balance of mind, body and spirit and the ultimate goal of peace and happiness! Therefore, I believe that I should lead by example by walking my talk!
One major thing I have learnt recently is that whilst I love blogging, unless you make a schedule (or plan) and stick to it, the amount of screen time involved can easily become too much and unhealthy! Sitting at a computer and on the phone participating in social media can be super draining, very absorbing and very distracting! So much time can be wasted! You can be easily distracted from the task at hand and taken off on a tangent and before you know it hours have passed and little has been achieved!
I believe that this social media world that we live in these days consumes so much of us that we risk neglecting other aspects of our life that are important to our health and well-being. I also think that being constantly switched on and connected on-line means that our brains are constantly ON and CROWDED and NOISY and that we need to ensure that we give our minds time to be OFF, ALONE and QUIET. This is not only important for introverts but also extroverts. Yep – all of us!
Getting the amount of screen time and social media time right can be tricky as the distractions are left, right and centre and let’s face it, as bloggers we all want to do well and some of us even suffer with FOMO! 😉 All jokes aside, I think the key is to have a plan and stick to it. For example:
- Schedule time for writing blog posts and keep all other social media shut down for the duration (no distractions)
- Schedule time for editing and scheduling of blog posts and editing of images (no social media distractions)
- Choose your favourite social media’s and stick to them, discard the ones that don’t float your boat
- Schedule time for checking social media and/or posting to it
- Schedule time for reading blog posts and commenting
- Schedule time for responding to comments on your own blog posts
- Schedule time for checking and responding to emails, and
- MOST IMPORTANTLY – SCHEDULE REGULAR DIGITAL DETOX TIME – no computers, no checking social media on your phones, no technology!!
Why? Because life is for living and too much technology and screen time takes away from that. We need to get the balance right.
Below I have listed 10 good reasons to introduce regular Digital Detox time into your life – 10 suggested ways to spend your Digital Detox time that will assist in achieving a healthier you!
Do you have a Digital Detox strategy in place? I didn’t but now I will. I felt the benefits from my recent break away (even if I did still post a pic occasionally to Instagram). I broke free from my digital web of trapsville and a Digital Detox strategy will help keep me free!
How often should we have a Digital Detox? It will differ from person to person. You may like to have a part of each day that is technology free – like no computer or phone for at least 2 hours after getting up in the morning and 2 hours before bed at night etc. You may like a weekly technology free ‘Digital Detox’ day. You might like a whole ‘Digital Detox’ weekend now and then. It might be a case of trial and error until you find what works best for you. As well as having a regular Digital Detox strategy in place, I think we could all benefit from unplugging for a Digital Detox when we are away on holidays! I know that aside from the occasional photograph posted to Instagram, I will be having a fabulous Digital Detox when I am away in Tasmania. I want no distractions from fully feeling and experiencing my first time ever in Tasmania!
I think our modern world has become a wee bit dangerous with our addiction to technology and gadgets. I love them as much as the next person but they can take away from good old fashioned communication and time spent with family and friends – if we let them! We’re also not designed to spend so much time sitting, and excessive screen time is not good for our eyes and it interferes with our melatonin levels causing sleep problems. Just like food – all in moderation I say!
Let’s be masters of our digital lives by weaving balanced digital webs with purpose that are under our control! We can’t let those spider’s beat us! 😉
Ciao for now,
Postscript: Since this post was written, I went on to develop a series of posts based on the 10 points listed above. You can read those here:
- Declutter your mind
- Reconnect with the present
- Conduct a self-audit
- Get outdoors in nature
- Chip away at those extra elusive little chores
- Spend some time with your loved ones
- Read a book
- Move that body
9&10. Review, Plan, Do
[ Linking up with With Some Grace for #FYBF and with Kelly and Sonia for #WeekendRewind ]
32 Comments
I need to do this soon, just take a break!! It sounds hard but I think it will be refreshing
It’s easy to stay away from the computer. Much harder to not keep checking your phone! It IS refreshing 🙂
I answered “yes” to almost all those questions at the top of the post “hangs head in shame.” I’m definitely going to try some of your tips. I’m definitely going to plan some time to step away from the computer and not look at my phone and I’ve been trying for a while (without much success) to go screen free before bedtime. I think these two small things will make a big difference! I think you nailed it, everything in moderation!
Me too Sammie! Everything had got out of control – SO much time at the computer – TOO much time checking my phone. Even some minor tweaking to give yourself some screen free time will make an enormous difference – particularly around mornings and evenings! 🙂
I often schedule social media free stints. First it was a day, where I honestly struggled now I can go an entire weekend without breaking a sweat. Sometimes you really need to disconnect to reconnect.
Love what you’ve said Raychael – “sometimes you really need to disconnect to reconnect”. So true! 🙂
It’s like you are always inside my head Min! I know I need to get way more scheduled and organised with my blogging as I can seem to lose hours doing next to nothing! I also want to do some digital detoxing so thanks for the tips!
Ooo it must be uncomfortable with me inside your head Zita! lol I need to get way more organised and scheduled with my blogging too. I’ve started trying to put a schedule together but it is harder than I first thought. I will keep at it because I have been spending far too much time at the computer and other aspects of my life suffer because of it. Gotta get my shiz together 😉 x
Great tips! I totally agree that holidays away should be digital detox time so you can live in the moment and enjoy the experiences of the holiday fully! It’s amazing how blogging starts to gradually take up more and more time if you allow it to!
It sure can consume SO much time if you don’t be mindful about it!
I love this idea Min. I am in desperate need of a digital detox and I’m hoping my upcoming trip away will help me with that. I still plan to post to facebook, twitter and instagram each day but there will be no blogging and no constant checking of the phone while I’m out and about with the kids. Really looking forward to also not having to have that pressure on me, which is the other problem with our current obsession with the digital world. Great post – bookmarking this for my future reference x
Thanks Kirsty! It’s actually a relief to have the pressure off for a while. I love blogging but I do put such high expectations on myself and I need to give myself a break now and then. I love Instagram so that’s the one thing I usually still post to a bit while I’m on holidays. Sometimes I sync in FB and Twitter from Instagram, sometimes not. I’m not a Twitter fan – I’m more visual and don’t have time for conversations on there. FB is not very nice to deal with these days since it changed its algorithms (i.e. hardly anyone sees what I post!). 🙂 xo
#5! Such a good use of ‘blog break’ time.
And I actually sort of did that last year – I took a week off ‘everything’. And I used that week to do exactly that – all the little personal appointments and household jobs that had been stacking up – I knocked them off all in one week. Gosh it felt good. Like a ‘life spring clean’!
Ahhh yes – good ‘ol #5! We all seem to get the necessities done – washing, washing up, general tidy, preparing meals etc … but it’s things like messy cupboards, dirty windows, weedy gardens, dead pot plants, personal appointments etc that we often don’t get to but they annoy the heck out of us! Wow Kelly – if you knocked a whole heap of those off in a week you must have been flying! lol Feels so damn good to get these things done (it clears my head – I like order!) and I agree that it’s a good way to spend some Digital Detox time 🙂
Well said! I’ve been loving my digital detox time. I’ve been trying a few different timings, but the best one for me seems to be Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon x
Yep we all need it Bele! Great to hear you’ve got a system that is working for you! I’m still trying different timings to find a good fit with me but I’m on to it! 😉 x
Though I do have a plan, I do find that it seems to run out the window when we are busy, and then I let the pressure of ‘having’ to get it done, take the enjoyment away. Great post, with lots of great ideas to make me think, thank you xxx
Hi Nicole! Oh yes, I know that pressure of ‘having to get it done’ and when I start to feel that way I know I need a break and I need to re-examine how I’m spending my time etc. It’s actually the reason I took my recent blogging break. I still haven’t quite got myself sorted as to when I’ll do what but I’ll get there! 😉 xo
such a great post min. I am current on a 2 week break from the blog. I do it every school holidays and it is an important part of me loving blogging still. When I did not take breaks I burned out.
Thanks Deb! How wonderful to be away on holidays, and I’m so glad you take a blogging break while you’re away. I don’t have ‘school holidays’ anymore now my kids are older so time can slip away and before I realise it, it’s been months and months and I’ve had no real breaks. For that reason I’ve decided I need to organise myself a bit of a Digital Detox strategy for day to day and not let too much time pass before I take a proper longer term Digital Detox holiday. Like you, if I don’t put steps in place – I will burn out! Happy Easter! Have a fabulous break away! 🙂 xo
Ironically, I got a notification whilst reading this and then went on a 20 minute rabbit hole hunt then realised, ahh I am reading a post- I think I need some detox! Love the tips x
I often end up in rabbit hole hunts Bec! I’m still trying to get the balance right! 😉
Our recent weekend digital detox proved such a success for all of us we’re planning another soon!
Good to hear Aleney! 🙂
I do unintentional digital detoxes. They seem to be happening more so now that I’m working. But I do need to do a schedule one. Ranch hit the nail on the head with her comment: sometimes you need to disconnect to reconnect.
Yes – it’s a different situation now for you Grace now you’re back working. I can easily do a Digital Detox when I go away on holidays. It is when I am home that I need to have a strategy in place in order to get a healthy balance! Yep – you need to disconnect to reconnect – very true! 😉
Great suggestions and ones I need to try and do. I’m stuck in that place where I’ve only recently started my blog and am getting some traction, so I’m trying to find that balance between making connections, getting stuff written for when I just have no inspiration or the kids are feral and I don’t have time write, along with still making sure life is balanced. A struggle for many, I’m sure. I might have to print out your 10 good reasons list and put it next to my desk to remind me to step away 🙂
Hi Emma – I know exactly what you mean. I still feel new to blogging and I’m nearly 3 years down the track! I’ve always felt like there was so much to be done and have spent a lot of time working away at the computer etc but one thing I have learnt is that too much screen and social media time makes me a terrible blogger. I get burnt out, exhausted, drained … and cannot write good stuff to save myself. As bloggers we also need to ‘live’ so that we have stuff to write about. It’s hard to get the balance right but awareness is a good start and making sure we look after ourselves! 🙂
I took an unplanned 10 day gap in blogging recently – I didn’t even know it had been 10 days until I went to blog again. Much like you, it’s not the best strategy for your blog but it was much needed for me.
It’s so important that we do what we need to do to keep ourselves healthy and well! We are better bloggers that way anyway! 😉
Love this Min!
Love it …
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
So glad you do Leanne. I’ve decided to expand a little on it. Each Monday for the next 10 Mondays (including today) I will talk a little more on each of the 10 reasons given here! 🙂