What I learned from taking a break from the online world
I’m back. I’m alive and well and survived a week-long cruise disconnected from the real world.
I knew it would happen when boarding the boat.
Dodgy and expensive internet.
I scrambled for weeks before hand to prepare myself with written posts I could schedule and publish.
Of course with real life interruptions and demands that never happened.
So I did the only think anyone can do.
Let it go.
I tried not to think of all that could go wrong: plunging traffic, missed deals, becoming just another Lost City of Atlantis.
So be it.
Why fight things you can’t change?
Instead I thought I’d catch up on my writing with my laptop or pen and notebook like I am now lying in a padded lounge chair, an afternoon mai tai on the way, the Pacific Ocean stretched for miles in front of me.
Relaxation.
I made a deal with myself to enjoy the fruits of my labour.
I’ve loved it. I’ve played more than working plenty of time for that when I return.
Besides I have been learning more from the people I have interacted with here on the boat and those I met on the islands.
Enjoying the break
A couple of things I’ve discovered about my online world from being off it.
1. Too much of my time is wasted on flashing neon lights
A lot of people tell me how surprised they are with all I manage to do online. To be honest I feel really unproductive. There is so much more I want to do and could be doing. Working offline shows me just how much I am capable of doing in a short space of time (especially when mojitos and margaritas are involved!)
I’ve managed to write a few posts without even spending a lot of time doing them. I’m not nearly doing enough when I am connected because I am too easily distracted by pop up notifications and dinging bells.
From now on I intend on doing 2 hours of written work before I turn my internet world on.
2. Early starts are easy
I’ve been finding it so easy to get up out of bed with the rising sun because I know a walking track awaits me with a cool breeze and ocean on either side. I find too many excuses like being too tired and needing to sleep in in the real world.
Really it’s just that I am unmotivated and need to give myself more incentive. Now that Craig is home full-time it will be more manageable for me to follow the incentive of fresh air, exercise and relaxation before focusing on work.
3. Photo editing unmotivates me and is a drain on my time.
A task I can easily do offline is my photo editing. We use a lot of photos in our posts which is a bitch when it comes to taking the and editing. I don’t finish a lot of posts because I photo-edit procrastinate.
My solution is to now
1. Perfect the art of taking the perfect shot. 2. Delete all photos that are crap. 3. Focus on just a few of the BEST shots to edit.
4. Email is a drain
I’ve loved NOT attending to email. Mostly because my inbox is cluttered with crap which takes away the fun of receiving the good stuff if you ever find it in the mire.
I’m so tired of being inundated with requests to promote and help everyone without getting anything in return. I’m getting much stricter with what I reply to. I’m going to create a few ebooks with answers to FAQ’s and only taking on paid work. I value my time more.
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While I dread the work that awaits me when I reconnect, I have enjoyed taking time away to spend with my lovely family. I’m going to do more of it.
How often do you disconnect and how do you survive?
Comments
Vanessa
I am quite anti-photo editing. Probably because (despite being one of those evil Gen Y technology abusing people the media hates) I learned to take photos on a film SLR camera – so I was taught to get the photo right the first time. I may use a DSLR now but my principles haven’t changed. Plus I find photo editing fiddly and boring.
Caz Makepeace
Photo editing is the pits and I try to get my photos right so I don’t have to edit much. I don’t do a lot just the basic light touch ups and cropping. I really don’t like highly edited photos as I want to see it just as it was. The HDR photos, although look great, do drive me a little nuts as they aren’t real
Christine
I take A LOT of photos, but I don’t edit many. My general process is to go through all the photos and immediately delete any that I don’t like and choose ONE of each perspective–I don’t need 8 photos of the same thing! I need one. After that’s done–and I’m only left with photos that are worth sharing and only one of each shot–then I crop, etc. Saves so much time and energy!
Caz Makepeace
I like this approach Christine. I am trying to be more ruthless and am getting better at taking a shot that doesn’t require a lot of editing.
Lisa Wood
Snap! I wrote about the same thing – I am disconnecting to reconnect with my family and finding out what we are all about.
Its been the best thing ever. I let it all go and the pressure of trying to keep up (online) is no longer there. I love that I now have control of when I blog, what I blog about and why. No longer will my blog have control over me (and my family time)
Its so good to have a break – and gee you guys work so bloody hard so you should take more time away! Remember the book “Four Hours Work Week” by Tim? Well I reckon that his theory rocks 🙂 Work less, play more and thrive 🙂
Caz Makepeace
I read your post about disconnecting! I was nodding my head the whole way through. I have definitely relaxed more. I know I have all this work to do but I am just cruising along with it as I also know it is not going anywhere. I’ll get it all done…. eventually!
kirri
mmm, this is a very pertinent topic for me at the moment. I’m going for a holiday very soon and while I always take at least 1-2 days off-line each week, I am struggling with the thought of how I will manage a week or more….and not enjoying the feeling that I ‘need to be connected’ so much. It’s going to be interesting 🙂
Caz Makepeace
I think you’ll be okay. The first couple of day is a little challenging but you’ll soon start to remember how good life was before being connected and you won’t think much about it. I was amazed at how easily I let it go. It was fab. It’s really helped me to not feel so frantic now about our blogging. Try to schedule out whatever you can to keep you presence in your space.
jan
I spend a lot of each day on the internet – all the usual stuff. We usually travel for about 3 months each year, and then I usually forget about it all in the excitement of actually doing what I blog about. It is afterward that I sift through everything. I like taking a lot of photos as it is a visual diary of what we did every day. However, I only edit them if I want to use them later. I agree that to take the picture perfectly every time is the way to go. Now I just need some lessons. I am glad you got time out on the cruise. It sounds like bliss, especially that great walk in the fresh ocean air every morning.
Jan
Vicky
I’ve definitely noticed I’m much more productive when I don’t have access to the internet. It’s actually kind of a blessing in disguise to be away from it. Great idea to do work before you even connect to the internet – might try and implement that one 🙂
Caz Makepeace
I’m so much more relaxed about the internet now that we are home. I’m not as fanatical about being on it all the time. The work will get done when it gets done!