Unplug to Plug In

We are so plugged in these days by necessity.  Technology, phones, computers, social media, and Zoom sessions…have become our lifeline over this past year. 

And, thank goodness for them for so many reasons.  I have personally never appreciated having Zoom accessible to me for client sessions and catch-up calls with family and friends.  Voice texting has become a hugely important way for me to stay as personally connected as I possibly can with clients and friends…there is something about speaking, rather than typing, that feels a bit more personal.

And, social media, oh social media!  

What a love/hate relationship I know so many of us have.  I have gone through weeks during this pandemic (and well before!) of absolute disgust at what is being shared there, also many moments of gratitude for the platforms available to offer tangible support and inspiration for others to navigate these tumultuous times. 

They all have their purpose and have truly served so many well during these months of isolation and disconnect.  

However, with so much time spent in that blue light, with the external stimulation, the searching for outward approval or likes….it can take a toll on our entire state of being.  

We can lose sight of ourselves when we are always externally focused and, especially, when that external focus involves scrolling, typing, and staring at screens.  

By unplugging from our devices, for even short amounts of time (if you can do longer even better!), we are able to tun in to a whole new realm, connection, and state of being.  

I had attempted to take my son to Utah this past weekend for some time of unplugged connection with each other and internally with myself.  Although our plans did not actualize, I decided to commit to unplugging in as many moments as I possibly could.  To “pretend” we were away and to attempt to recreate what would have been if we were actually away in the desert together.

While it was definitely not a complete unplug, it is just not possible with a kid involved with friends and sports etc, even setting that intention brought so much awareness and possibility.  I did leave my phone home often, did not check my email for an entire day (!!), and overall brought much more presence to our life on the whole.  

It may not have been a lovely vacation in the desert, but it was a time of fun, play, and connection with each other and for me with myself (I hope for him too, but he is a tween so I cannot say for sure! )

There are countless benefits to unplugging, and, I truly honor and understand completely how challenging it can be to do so in midst of juggling children and jobs.  

My suggestion here in this letter is to carve out some time…an hour, 20 minutes, a day, a weekend…any amount that you can do.  Leave your phone at home, stay off email, get outside into nature and tune in to yourselves in this way.  

Some benefits of unplugging (some may be obvious and some perhaps not as so since many of us are on autopilot!):

·      Slows down your entire system.

·      Provides spaciousness and, therefore, perspective.

·      You are able to tune back into YOU.

·      Gain an appreciation for the present moment and your immediate surroundings.

·      Deepen in your connection to your body.

·      Deepen in your connections to others!

·      Attune to yourself on a soul level.

·      Gain insight and creative ideas in the empty space.

·      Tap into more joy and satisfaction for life on the whole.

·      Access your true voice, your true self, your true everything!

·      Align with the Universal energy flow without the interruption of technology.

·      Remember exactly who you are and how amazing you are without the need for outward validation.  

Balance is key in life.  Perhaps even gifting yourselves with micro-moments of unplugging we can indeed open up to beautiful new possibilities of plugging into ourselves in unimaginable ways??  

Give it a try!  Let me know how it goes if you are moved to. 

Take good care of yourselves and each other.