If you know me, you probably know that I’m pretty addicted to social media. I’m constantly checking my google reader, Twitter feed, and email and reading my favorite blogs and news websites.
But in all honesty, there’s nothing that beats face to face interaction. Social media is wonderful, but despite the connections and networking opportunities it has afforded me, it still doesn’t come close to spending time with family, friends, and loved ones.
This past week, I finished up a short internship with the ACLU, and took a week and a half to travel. Since last Thursday, I’ve been in Chicago, Wisconsin, and New Jersey, visiting people I love who are (unfortunately) scattered across the country and attending a wedding. I had the opportunity to catch up with so many friends – everyone from my best friends from college to old friends from elementary and middle school who I haven’t seen in years!
And through much of the trip I was largely unplugged from social media. I was fully relaxed, and I didn’t feel the need to tweet constantly, blog every few days, or even read everything in my google reader. Still, I somehow found the time to keep up with the news and even write a couple of blog posts. The difference was that I did it on my own time, at my own pace, and with a feeling of relaxation rather than stress. I blogged for pleasure, not because I felt like I had to. And it made all the difference – perhaps not in the quality of my posts, but in the enjoyment I gained from social media.
Now, I’m back on the blogosphere, and yet I don’t feel like I missed too much. In fact, because of my unplugged vacation, I now feel refreshed, rejuvenated and excited to get back into the social web. Needless to say, I’m an advocate of unplugging every so often – to clear your head, help you re-connect with human beings (not computers or online personas), and allow you to take a deeper look at your priorities. It’s good for the soul.
Take a day to unplug. Relax. Reflect. Come back refreshed and we’ll still be here waiting!
How do you unplug?
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