{"id":1853,"date":"2021-12-06T09:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T16:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/?p=1853"},"modified":"2025-02-11T05:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T12:12:07","slug":"sabbatical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bemorewithless.com\/sabbatical\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Sabbatical: 5 ways to unplug and recharge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last month, I took 8 glorious days away from most of the internet. No social media, email, or browsing around. Each day felt longer and I was more present and aware of my surroundings. It was delightful.<\/p>\n

If it’s been awhile since you closed your computer and ditched your phone or other digital devices for an extended period of time, consider a digital sabbatical.<\/p>\n

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Commit to unplugging for 24-48 hours.\u00a0Call it a sabbatical, digital detox, or a Sabbath.\u00a0Wayne Muller, the author of\u00a0Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives<\/a>\"\"\u00a0points out that while Sabbath may be a holy day for some, it can be anything that provides a visceral experience of life-giving nourishment and rest. He suggests that Sabbath time can be a refuge from our modern life which is designed to seduce our attention.<\/p>\n

Between hundreds of TV channels, calendar alerts, email, billboards and other cries for our attention, it\u2019s no wonder that we often feel overwhelmed with day-to-day life, and then some sense of guilt for wanting to retreat.<\/p>\n

The first few hours of your sabbatical might be challenging. You might feel the urge to check your email or see what’s happening on Facebook, but once you start connecting with everything around you, you’ll forget that you are disconnected.<\/p>\n

5 ways to unplug and recharge<\/h2>\n

These steps will help you prepare for your digital sabbatical.<\/p>\n

1. Tell your family.<\/strong>
\nAsk friends and family to unplug with you. If they don’t want to, ask them to support your digital sabbatical. Let them know what to expect and better ways to connect with you.<\/p>\n

2. Hide your devices.<\/strong>
\nIf your computers and phones are usually charging in your living room or bedroom, place them in a box or closet so that it isn’t easy to take a quick look or check in.<\/p>\n

3. Go analog.<\/strong>
\nPen on paper will provide the visceral experience that you sometimes miss typing and scrolling. Write about your experience and how you feel while you are unplugged. Notice how those feelings change from hour 1 to hour 24 or 48. Digital may be convenient but analog is delightful.<\/p>\n

4. Let it wait.<\/strong>
\nThe internet will be there when you get back. When you think about the things that have to get done, ask yourself what will really happen if they don’t get done right away. If you wait one day, what is the worst thing that will happen? If the worst isn’t as bad as you thought, let it wait. When you do come back, address the necessary and put an end to the endless game of catching up.<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Customize your experience.
\n<\/strong>Try to get completely disconnected for your digital sabbatical. That said, if there is something standing in your way, customize your experience. For instance, if you want to stay connected to your family through FaceTime, make an exception. Or, if you have a time sensitive email coming through, allow a 15-minute check for that email only.<\/p>\n

What to do on your digital sabbatical.<\/h2>\n