As many of you know, when I went to Arizona at the end of last month to visit my parents for ten days, I made the (for me) momentous decision to take a cyber break. After daily blogging for five years, reading more and more blogs, trying to control my email, and surviving FB, I thought it might be quite difficult. I love blogging and I love visiting and commenting on other people’s blogs.
It was, however, quite simple and SO relaxing! My parents don’t have internet, so although I made the trip to their library any number of times, it was only for stacks of books to read when we weren’t doing anything else. I responded to the blog comments that came in and resisted the email clips of blog posts that sounded interesting. I got rid of email as fast as I could and you know what? It was so freeing. It felt as if I’d gone back in time to a simpler way of life, which I had. I didn’t even take as many photos as usual, partly due to the not-so-good weather and even pouring rain the first few days (very un-Arizona-like.)
It felt good to shed the guilty feeling of getting behind on blogs visits on the days that I work. Add that to not having all the things in a house that beg to be done at all times and it was brilliantly restful.
Remember when we went out of the house without a phone in our pockets/purses and never once felt that we might be missing something? Now, the few times I’ve forgotten my phone, I’ve almost had to force myself to keep going, assuring myself that nothing bad is going to happen if I’m out of touch for a bit. Ditching our landline some years ago gave a similar sense of unease, followed by the delight of not coming home to an answering machine filled with message to erase from people to whom I didn’t want to talk.
I love being back, talking with friends most of whom I’ve never met in person, enjoying the sights and words they share as well. But I highly, highly, highly recommend that you schedule at least one cyber break for yourself in this upcoming year. As the famous Alka Seltzer ad said, “Try it. You’ll like it.”
P.S. For those of you of a certain age, here’s a trip into the past, with 11 ads containing tag lines that have become catch phrases. Try them; you’ll like them.
This, that and the other thing 
I know exactly what you mean! My blog has been going for a much shorter time than yours, and I do find it highly addictive. I love reading other blogs, and getting comments on my own posts.
BUT I think we all need a break now and then, it definitely frees the mind and puts things into perspective. Maybe I should adopt the 5-2 approach like my diet ….. eat relatively normally for five days, and on two intervening days eat only 500 calories, as a ‘fast’. I wonder if this would work with blogging?
I think it may work best to take a complete break, but even cutting back for a few days probably would help. For me, though, there would be the feeling that I’m only responding to some people and not to others, so it worked best just to be away, period.
janet
Totally agree…I take Cyber breaks now and again!
Good for you, Sue.
janet
We need to…
I completely agree and even to just stay off phones more during the day! It’s terrible to see people walking along, not even looking where they’re going, or a mom walking her baby in a stroller/pram and only paying attention to the phone, not the child or her surroundings.
Absolutely…and people jaywalk across the road, in front of traffic, glued to their phones,…..aargh….
🙂 With you all the way!
Wise words, Janet. Our time away in Wales at Christmas was all the better for the absence of computers. I knitted a jumper instead 🙂
I don’t knit, but that’s a great way to relax (at least if you’re good at it) and you came out with something to wear at the end of it.
janet
That’s always the crunch of course – re the finished item. Am fairly happy with the result this time, but makes one think how if you don’t practice something, it’s a bit like starting all over when you go back to it. Sometimes this is a good thing of course 🙂
Great advice, Janet. I tend to take mini-breaks, usually around travel. I used to worry about missing good posts or conversations, but there just isn’t time for everything. I think everyone understands how time and attention work. A little time off is a good thing.
It really is, Dan. I’ve always blogged during my vacations, as there are so many interesting things to blog about, but after this experience, I think I may blog about them afterwards instead or possibly set up some posts but actually post them when I’m back. Being in the moment is something that’s often lost these days and I think technology has quite a lot to do with it.
I usually prepare posts before I travel, but it’s hard to respond to comments. Still, I really enjoy writing, so…
I’ve done the posts in advance, too, but responding is the problem. I like responding, but it’s the time it takes from vacation. 🙂 At least it’s a good problem.
Sometimes, I look at my time off as a time when I can respond, without having to strictly monitor the time and slice and dice my attention. But I read less when I’m off, because I have so many other things I want to do.
I choose to blog 2-3 times a week because that’s all I can and want to handle. I feel I need to visit and read those who visit and that takes a lot of time as you well know. I gave up reading or commenting on FB except for maybe 10 minutes a week because I prefer the blogging community and spend my online time there. If you are going to ‘live’ life you have to unconnect in some manner or you’re staring at a screen 24/7. The 11 ads made me think of that old conversation about when you are on your death bed are you going to ‘regret not being on line more’? I don’t think so. 🙂
FB is a bit of a cesspool these days and I find staying away to be a much better choice. I’ve thought about blogging less days per week and may try that one of these days. I also like challenges, such as Thursday Doors, but if you do a challenge, you need to read and respond to others’ posts, and that’s time-consuming. I have plenty of things that need to be done around the house and yard, to say nothing of working part time. Achieving balance is more difficult now than ever!
janet
Thanks for this look back at the classic commercials and the reminder that we can change our pace anytime we choose to do it. The short break that I took in November had similar effects on me as yours did on you. Now if we can just get a certain someone to reign in his Twitter habit…
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I’m glad you enjoyed your break, Allan. I plan to do more. Thankfully, I’ve never been interested in Twitter and I’ve lost much interest in FB due to the current nastiness and bad language.
jannet
Every day is a challenge out here on the Left Coast. With the three hour time difference considered, I wake up wondering what happened on the East Coast while I was peacefully asleep.
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I love this post Janet! We all need breaks and the way technology takes a hold on us can be a little scary at times. I have slowed down a lot when posting and reading blogs and social media because I found it was stressing me out. I also too allow myself breaks and I’m much happier. I have never done ten days yet but the six days without wifi in Costa Rica was the first time and it was amazing.
Not having wi-fi makes the decision much easier, doesn’t it, Nicole? 🙂 We have to have plenty time to live real life and there are only so many hours in the day.
Great advise! If I’m out shooting over the week-end I don’t read emails and by Monday I’m pretty backed up. Like today I’m trying to catch up. 🙂
I often forget my cell phone. I rarely return home to get it. I figure if I really a phone someone will have one I can borrow.
I have the same problem on the two days I work, leaving early and coming home when it’s time to fix dinner and then relax for a bit. I’m always trying to figure out the best way to do it. 🙂 But I’ll be taking more cyber breaks.
janet
Welcome back and glad to hear you found being unplugged relaxing. Whenever I’ve been unplugged for any length of time, I didn’t necessarily find it relaxing but I sure got a lot done!! 🙂
Being on vacation, I didn’t get much done other than having fun, relaxing, and reading. At home, where getting things done is more of a priority, I need to be in control of my time, whether blogging, reading (my biggest addiction), or whatever else.
janet
yeah we need to take a break once in a while because its tiring being on social networks everyday
That it is. I’m reading a fascinating but very disturbing book called “The Circle”, by Dave Eggers. It’s about many things, including the use of technology, privacy, and the over-use of technology/social media. Well worth the read!
janet