Offline Is The New Luxury


With all this talk about FOMO (fear of missing out), there should be more talk about how people are missing out on living rich and fulfilled lives because they’re constantly staring at their phones. Our phones can hold a world of possibilities; they inform us, they help us to get things done and they reward us just for looking at them. While that's all well and good some people are so dependent on their phones that they have a hard time even going a few minutes without checking them and studies have shown that heavy technology users have a higher risk of sleep disturbances, depression and mental health issues.

Technological devices aren't the problem but rather how people use them. It’s not about getting rid of your phone but using it in a way that is functional rather than dependent. Being able to take a technology break even for just a few hours can go a long way to refresh, refocus and reduce stress.  Stress from excessive social media use is real since it often leads to social comparison. I always joke that I probably wouldn't be on social media at all of I didn't have a blog and I find my interest for it diminishes along with my interest in what other people are doing. While some people post genuinely helpful and interesting things, there are those who are just begging for attention with nothing but an endless stream of self promotion or selfies. Yeah no thanks. The only thing that makes me curious about is your level of self esteem and what you must be lacking in your real life.


To improve the quality of my life, I adhere to a limited schedule for social media and unplug regularly from my computer and the phone. I usually cut off usage of electronic a few hours before bed every night (this is crucial for good sleep) and my phone is not the first thing I pick up in the morning. I also impose a social media ban during the weekends. Being offline is a priority and something which I feel like my brain and my body really benefit from. There is just so much visual and aural stimulus in the world now but meaningful visceral experiences are still the most satisfying and the true luxury.

Do you make a point to unplug regularly?

21 comments

Doctor Anne said...

I make a point to unplug when I am around the kids, I don't want them to learn that it is the new normal being on the phone the whole time. Other than that I am unplugged from social media when I am at work, so my time there is pretty limited. My blog social media is mostly powered by scheduling apps, to be honest.

Anne - Linda, Libra, Loca

Jackie Harrison said...

I unplugged all the time I also cut down in blogging to take time for myself. I blog now Monday and Friday unless I change for collaboration purposes. I noticed when I was in hospital with the flu how much time I spend on phone it was a rude awakening I just started two days see I want to see if it works for me. Great post good to put it out there.

Emmylou said...

I so agree, Rowena. I myself am guilty of checking the phone as soon as I get up to check my e-mail, and I really gotta change that. It has made a world of a difference that I quit IG and FB though. Man....I didn't know how much of my day was being wasted seeing people's update of when they go to the washroom or go grocery shopping at Whole Foods until I quit using those apps:P

Lilli said...

Morning Rowena! So so agree with you! Is a thought I totally share and I was just thinking of in the last days. Its truly sad and I'm very worried about things are going. Especially the young people, teens, are missing many things to stay online, is so no sense! I cut my online time as well and as you, if I didnt have a blog, I probably havent have any socials!

Oh to Be a Muse said...

When I was a teen I had a lot of FOMO. It continued into college. After I graduated, my FOMO practically went away. With the increase of social media, it started to come back, but I've been pretty good about not allowing that to happen. I always remove myself from social media on the weekends, and I've limited my time online (blog and social) a lot in the last couple of months. So much better. More time to spend watching movies, reading books, and going out to eat, lol.

www.ohtobeamuse.com

Ivana Split said...

I do unplug. Whenever I'm around kids ( I don't have children of my own but I'm around kids a lot), I try not to use my phone at all because children learn by example and if they see adults spending all of their time surfing the web or checking their phone, that is what they will do as well.

Reading is always my unplug time, that is why I love audio-books and real books. That way I'm not tempted to check on my phone. I admit that I have a hard time concentrating if I'm reading a book on my laptop, I'm always tempted to check my email, but if I read a regular book then it is much easier for me to forget about the phone.

Blogging is my favourite social media and it always has been. I'm not very active on Instagram, and with this new algorithm that I don't like, I'm guessing that I'll probably be less and less active there. I have a twitter account but I don't use it, I'm still trying to figure out Pinterest, I don't have fb and I don't plan to open it. But I do love blogging and I always miss it when I have to be away from it for some reason.

Unknown said...

Offline is the new luxury, I just posted my top 6 favorite ways to relax and Disconnecting form technology made the list. It’s excessive and intrusive and slightly addictive. Of course I’m making a living as a social media consultant so it feel like I’ll never get away from it. I’m making it a point to unplug at least once a week, no tv, no phone no computer just me myself and I :)

Pilar said...

I'm glad you posted this Rowena! I try to disconnect a few hours before I go to bed. Sometimes it's good to disconnect from social media.

R's Rue said...

Thank you.

Unknown said...

Great post!
Have a nice rest of the week!
Gil Zetbase

Amy Aed said...

I've been thinking about it recently, but I think this post has definitely made me think more about unplugging on the regular. Literally, checking my phone is the last thing I do before bed and the first thing I check int he morning. I would be awake for less than 30 seconds before opening my eyes just to reach for my phone, and it's really unhealthy. I plan on spending an hour reading, with all my devices far away from me, after finishing up this concept. I think having time offline is definitely a luxury I think we all have the potential to reach, if only we put down the phone.

Amy;
Wandering Everywhere

Paola Lauretano said...

Totally agree Rowena... I'm sure: if I didn't have a blog, I didn't have any socials!!!!
Kisses, Paola.

Expressyourself

little luxury list said...

I totally get it and try to limit phone / internet time around the kids though it's hard! I also only have the time after they sleep to actually check things. But I have definitely learned to let it be - life is busy and I may not be able to blog and go on social media as often, but I can't feel the pressure to do it constantly. It is nice to unplug and I have to be better about not doing it before bed (ahem writing this comment at 10 pm!)

Kasztanowy Domek said...

Great post!
kiss:)

xxBasia

Shireen L. Platt said...

Yes, I do unplug more these days, no more chasing the numbers and I feel so much better about it. My boy is almost 4 and I don't want to miss precious moments with him.

Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity

Midnight Cowgirl said...

Yes to unplugging! I feel that the expectation is that we need to be on our phones/computers all the time, and I don't want that. Sometimes it's hard to step away, but it's worth it in the end :)

Mica said...

I find it good to take time away from social media - I'm more productive that way!

A while back, after a technology detox over the weekend, I cut down my phone plan so I had less data and could only use it for essentials (like looking up directions/answering urgent emails I knew I'd be receiving). WHile I'm on a different phone plan with more data now, I do use my phone less. I'm not on it anywhere as much as I used to be, but that's mainly because I'm always with the boys. The phone comes out to snap a pic and then I tend to forget where I put it and it's forgotten about until I need it to take another picture, haha!

Hope you are having a great week and have a lovely weekend ahead!

Away From The Blue Blog

A Very Sweet Blog said...

I have cut back a lot! I'm on twitter a lot (I need to cut back on that LOL). I've totally neglected Instagram, but I think it's because I was seeing older posts and got frustrated. I think I read somewhere where they've fixed it. I don't respond to comments everyday. I haven't created a BALANCE. I need to work on that, but I've been very busy. Some people are just ALWAYS on social media.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Jenny said...

I really should do better with limiting my phone usage as I'm definitely on mine waaay too often. Usually I end up feeling burned out and have to take a mini break, so I do think it's better in the long to set a daily schedule. Thank you for the reminder!

Jenny // Geeky Posh

sonia // daring coco said...

I just wrote about something similar-ish. We are far too consumed with the online world. FOMO is something that gives me anxiety on days I log into social media accounts like Instagram. Even though I know the grass is not greener, it's hard to feel good about yourself when you're stuck at work watching someone else gallivanting across the globe. I struggle with Insta. I took a major break from it over a year ago because the stress was too much and since then it's been hard to get back into a routine. I'm not upset by this. I like that I'm not constantly checking the app but I do feel guilt over not continuously supporting all the other amazing bloggers who are constantly supporting me. It's easy to get sucked back in and it's definitely not healthy. At least not for me right now. Time away is vital.

Sxx
daringcoco.com

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