Yes, I run an online business. I connect to my clients and people I love through the virtual world. And I need to take a little break. My partner Michelle is encouraging our women over on Mamacoach Circle to schedule their time off. My husband knows his days off.
But the truth is, it scares me just a little bit to disconnect, fully, from the online world and be present fully in the offline world. (I’m being honest here.)
So when Tara Wagner was chatting it up with Erin Goodman and her tribe on FB the other day, I asked Tara (her post on this is here) if she thought she could fully take time away even from her business. And we started talking and made a little video of us throwing around some ideas, which turns into a challenge.
Are you willing to join the Holiday Reset Challenge and declare the days you will disconnect from your virtual world? Tara and I declare ours and we make a little fun of ourselves as well.
If you wish to declare your own time away from the screens and be fully present to the holidays and your celebrations and stillness, leave your specific time commitment in the comments for all of us to see. This is your own virtual support system. Let’s do this together.
If you would like to join our challenge and spread the word feel free to grab the code for that little picture up top and add it to your post or your blog.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this idea!! It scares me a bit, which is a sign that I need it.
I’ve posted my full intention on Facebook and dared my friends and family to consider taking the challenge as well. My committment is to only check online media once a day, for 30 minutes, from December 20-27. I play a game online with friends and will continue to do that, for a reasonable amount of time, because it doesn’t fall into that ‘timesuck with no purpose’ category for me like Facebook and the others do. I hope to spend my time with my kids and husband, connecting in whatever ways come up; gaming, reading, crafting, baking, talking, walking, exploring, etc. I’m both scared and excited to see how I get through the week and how I feel at the end of the challenge!
Shell recently posted..Time for Inner Work
Shell, I look forward to learning about your time away from the virtual world when you return. I am slowly easing my way into mine this week and feel as though I’ll need a slow re-entry as well. Enjoy your holidays, your family and all you learn about yourself.
Love it ladies. It’s an interesting idea to schedule my time off because I find myself working whenever I can. I love the freedom of meeting a friend for coffee any day and then catching up the following day…I feel like I am really flexible and if I schedule a day off it might be hard. However, when andy has a day off, usually Sundays, we take most of that day off and go and do fun things. Other than that I work here and there when I can. Things will probably change when the girls are both in school full time and I will definitely re work things then. You know…now that I think about it, I almost always take the evenings off…after I put the kids to bed I clock out (most days). Anyway, food for thought…thanks for the inspiration to you and Tara…2 of my favorite virtual friends!
Hip Mountain Mama recently posted..20% Off for Holiday Shoppers
Sounds like you have a pretty good thing going Suzy. And I love you too!
Alright, I’m diving into this double dog dare head first! You and Tara totally inspired me!
I declare that I’m going offline line from the 24th through the 2nd of the new year. I’ll only check email once a day, in the morning for 30 min max. No FB,Twitter,Blogging at all! Thank you so much for the fantastic challenge and “permission” to take some space for myself
Oh, permission to ourselves is amazing. Have a beautiful time in the disconnect.
Thank you for this. My life-partner and soulmate died on October 22, 2011, after I cared for her for 6 months here at home. We have 4 children together. Obviously, these holidays are proving to be very hard for me and I’m really just going through the motions (which I’m sure is very normal). But, I feel like I’m using facebook, etc., as an escape from the really hard feelings that I’m feeling and I don’t want to do that. My children are grieving, as well, and I feel that I’m not necessarily being as present as I should be to them right now. I’m doing the best I can, but I feel like I want to stop being busy, stop escaping into the online world, and be still and present to my family…especially right now. I watched your video and started to cry (again) and am having a hard time even typing this. I’m afraid to be still, I’m afraid to be quiet, because that’s when the feelings come….but I also know that if I don’t let them come I won’t get through them. So, thank you for your challenge. I’m going to join you and am going to go offline completely from December 24-January 2. I’m going to use that time to nurture myself and my children and to just be still and allow myself to feel. I’m going to use it to find joy in our pain and to honor my partner’s memory with laughter and togetherness. Love to you both.
Donna, I’m just holding space for all that you shared and the fact that you know exactly what you must do to continue your healing journey. Wishing you much love and connection, xo
(((Donna))) I’m wrapping you in so much love and strength right now. Words can’t express the rest, so know my heart is with you.
Tara Wagner recently posted..The Holiday Reset Challenge: I Double-Dog Dare You! (Video)
Oh this is a really hard one for me. I am not seeing clients this week but I am working on a cookbook, planning out my calendar for 2012, blogging, etc. My fear is if I walk away for a week, then I just have more to do after the holidays. Ok, I am going to say here that I am going to take off the 24th and 25th, New Years Eve and New years Day. I hope I can live up to this!
Betsy @ BMooreHealthy recently posted..The wind beneath my spicy, cajun “wings”
Glad you are going to give it a go Betsy. Let us know how it goes.
I’m glad to see so many people joining in (here and those on FB too!).
It IS a challenge to do, which is pretty much exactly why it’s something to consider.
Hannah, we’ll have to plan…maybe a Facebook chat?…after the New Year to talk about the experience! I’d love to host that and hear the big Aha moments and moments of connection we each had. <3
Tara Wagner recently posted..The Holiday Reset Challenge: I Double-Dog Dare You! (Video)
I love this idea! I just finished a really intense semester of graduate school and I was thinking about doing something like this anyway. I have been inspired by you guys and I am definitely taking a sabbatical for 1 week. From December 24th through December 31st, I going to try my hardest to disconnect from facebook, twitter, all other networking sites, and my email. I will spend minimal time surfing the web. I will take a break from watching television and I will not use the phone as often and definitely not after 8 pm. My goal out of this is to find my inner peace and calmness. I want to catch up on my hobbies (i.e. reading, meditation, exercise). I want to reflect on life and gain insight to everything going on around me. Mostly, I want to recharge my energy for the new year. Thank you for posting this fantastic idea and good luck to everyone in their challenge!
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