Hi Everyone! How was your week? Mine was not bad... not bad at all. I missed you guys and there were a couple of days last week where I had to force myself to stay offline, but I did it. It got easier, though I did find myself wondering what everyone was up to. As for me, the most significant thing I noticed about being unplugged was that I was able to focus on one thing at a time, which I almost never do. I know I've listed 'multi-tasking' as an attribute on many resumes, and maybe it is a positive in some industries, but I found out that although it's become routine for me to do several things at once, being a multi-tasker is not good for me. I felt much more clear-headed last week than I have in a long time...
I worked without stopping every 15 minutes to check email (and I actually got caught up!)... I read 3 books (which is easy to do when you devote 2-3 whole hours at a time to reading something other than blogs!)... I gave Ryan my undivided attention (i.e. without the laptop open) and read to her every night... I worked out... I went to bed early nearly every night... it was good.
I learned this week that while I love being connected - and even need it - I also need to disconnect sometimes. So my goal is to allot a certain period of time every day for blogging/emailing/IMing... and that's it. It means cutting back... but I'm finding it necessary to cut back in a lot of areas of my life in order to improve the quality of the life I'm living. It's all about balance, which has never been one of my strong points... but I'm going to keep working on it.
I hope your week was wonderful! I look forward to seeing what you've been up to... it might take me a while, though...
25 comments:
welcome back! i missed you! i'm glad you got caught up!
Welcome back! I'm glad you had a good and productive break! I know what you mean ... I've been trying to scale back on my blogging too -- try to post less, read fewer blogs and so forth. Taking a step away helps put it in perspective -- should be FUN, not a chore, and it shouldn't ever get in the way of a balanced life. : )
YAY Diane welcome home!!! Ooops i mean back!!
I missed you too!! BUT, I think what you did is greatness!!! I so need to do that! Honestly I don't know if I could!
Have a great week girlie!!!!
Welcome Back Diane!
You've inspired me. I need to do the same!
Yours is the only blog site I've checked today. I'm also enjoying being unplugged.
I'm also layin' low and surprisingly, I'm enjoying it.
But it is so good to know you're behind that laptop somewhere!
You were missed.
Welcome back - I've missed you too. I feel like you've been gone forever and I didn't realize how much I had come to look forward to your e-presence around my blog and email! ((Big Hug!)) Glad you're back!
I'm glad you had a good unplugged week. I have really cut back and it has made a tremendous difference. It's good to be able to focus on real life sometimes.
Nerd!
Welcome back to your Blog. I have missed reading "live" posts the repeats felt a little different. Breaking your time up into chunks or zones can be a really good way of effectivly using your time. I do limit my time at the laptop in the week with a kitchen timer!!
Good to have you back.
Well done for going offline, I would love to do that but dang it is hard!
Welcome back Diane; happy to hear that your break was as you wanted it to be.
Yes, sometimes it is nice to just "be".
I have missed you and and I am sure I speak for everyone when I say it is good to have you back, dear friend.;))
Balance, quality of life - Something we all strive for. I am so glad you have found a way to retain your 'zing'! We need to take all the steps we can in life to preserve our sanity and our 'sacred space', Diane, you are always so good and so wise.
Glad to have you back among us, in whatever capacity you wish, we will be here, rapt, intent, loving... xox
lovely to have you back sweetie.
YES to keeping blogging and bogger activities under control.
I use the computer of a morning and late at night- if i am home during the day, i TURN IT OFF- its the only way i can stay away- i do most of my reading late at night ( like now).
Moderation is good, glad youa re back with us xx
Glad to have you back. As you say, balance is key. A lot of us have the same need to be a little more unplugged just now and a little more focused elsewhere. Yesterday, the thought of giving up blogging for Lent actually crossed my mind. 40 days of blog-free existence sort of boggles the mind, but might bolster the soul as it were. Something to think about for next year...
coming here to read is like making a daily visit to good friend - you dash in, say hi, catch up quickly and dash back out and what you've talked about goes in and out of your mind during the day...
I like your idea of cutting back and finding balance though. I find once summer comes and the days are warm and beguiling, I seldom even turn the computer on, and because I work out of the home, I am gone a good deal of the day. I haven't felt too plugged in so far...
Your idea of recycling posts to keep your regular readers from cold turkey syndrome was a good one. How did you do that?
I know everyone's saying it, but I am so glad you're back!! I missed a lot of last week, so it wasn't as painful as I thought it'd be, although I still missed you - OF COURSE!
OOH, and guess what? This time next week, I'll be headed to the airport... which means it's almost time for those beers, right? If that's not something to look forward to, then I don't know what is!
Welcome back!
That's sort of like me, I have to force myself not to do things because I tend to get obsessed by new things and fall headfirst into them to the exclusion of everything else. Balance is very important.
Also, undivided attention for your daughter is absolutely key. As a daughter of a single mom I urge you to keep that one up.
Glad you had a great week. My advice...don't go back and read everything - you'll be right back where you started from. You know we're consitantly crazy, and kind of like a soap opera, so you can pick up after a week without missing too much. ;)
Glad you had a great week, I have taken some time off to finish up some important projects! busy...busy!
HEY Girl!
Glad you're back. But glad you took that time for yourself, as well. Looking forward to your brilliant observations again
Welcome back Diane....
When you unplugged, it really got me thinking that I need to do the same thing. Jenners and I are doing an experiment next week with how we blog and I'm so interested in seeing how it goes and if it helps reduce stress for each of us. It's not unplugging, but rather cutting back in a big way! I'm really looking forward to it actually.
Glad you came back. Sorry I was away when you did it.
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