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I would say the best way to give yourself a break is to disconnect.
It is the one thing I do to get out of my head. Removing yourself from social media, your phone, and watching the news might even help you relax a little. After all, are we wearing masks now or leaving them behind?
To disconnect. This might sound easy to some of you. I mean how hard is it to simply turn off the TV and your phone?
But, let’s be honest for a moment, when is the last time you disconnected?
For many, it’s not as easy as it sounds. We are so used to being in the NOW. We always know what is going on and are continuously being updated.
For a quick example, when was the last time you check social media? Or better yet, when is the last time you thought about something and got the answer within a few seconds? I mean, you got to love Google, right?
What did we do before Google?
Disconnecting From The World
I like to get lost. Or how I want to say it, temporarily misplaced.
More often than not, it’s in an area with no cell reception. That might sound a bit strange for some, but there is something about not having cell phone reception that is nice. Being disconnected also happens to be on my list of things that make me happy.
When you go to an area that you do not have phone service, you don’t have a choice but to disconnect. It also helps you to be present at the moment, listening to what is going on around you, and taking in the sights.
Side note: I’ve started using AllTrails, which I am able to download maps on where I am going. I do this for new hikes mainly. If you don’t have an app like this, I would suggest downloading the offline Google maps of where you are heading. That way, you have a backup plan, something we all should remember to do.
Another option for you to try is to go for a hike but put your phone in airplane mode. Doing this allows you to ease yourself into removing yourself from the outside world (and news, social media, and so on), but also giving you a safety net if needed.
Reading, watching, or hearing about the world can be overwhelming. I think removing the distractions around us (the neverending over panicking news) might be something we should all give a try even if it’s only for a few hours or a day. And guess what you will realize? The world doesn’t stop and it keeps moving forward!
Removing Distractions
Removing the distractions around you is something you need to try. It’s a way to find your small slice of peace in this crazy world we are currently living in.
For me, that is going on a bike ride or a hike.
You could also simply put on some music to get lost in your thoughts. I recently wrote about another app I use, called Focus At Will. I’m listening to it right now while I’m typing this.
We all have distractions in our lives. I am mainly focusing on digital things, but in all honesty, it could be anything. The main thing I’m trying to say here is that you deserve to take time out for yourself.
Not only will you feel better when you return to the “Real World,” but I think you will discover that you genuinely feel better.
Removing the distractions around you, even for a short period, you will feel ready to tackle the world. At least that is what I have found. Even just taking out a few minutes to lay on the ground, and focus on my breathing, makes me feel a ton better.
You might say that you don’t have the time to do any of this. To that, I would say that you are not making it a priority. When you are feeling overwhelmed and have a neverending list of things to do, that is the best time to start!
The texts, emails, phone calls, social media, news, and all other “things” will still be there when you return. You might even find that you enjoy taking a side step and might find what makes you happy.
And when that happens, you NEED to let me know, and I have enjoyed reading about what makes people happy and you should read my post on it if you haven’t yet!
Have you ever forgot your phone at home, or left it on the kitchen counter, and felt it vibrate in your pocket? Only to find out it wasn’t on you. This has happened to me a lot and goes to show it’s something that we are so used to having now. Even my friend’s kids have cellphones now, and they know how to work them better than me!
When you don’t have your lifeline, cell phone, or reception, there are a lot of things that will go through your head. But guess what? When you get back into service, the world will be waiting for you.
Is It Worth It?
That’s a silly question, and the answer is simply YES!
We are a society that is so used to getting information quickly. You will feel strange at first, what if someone needs to get ahold of you, what if there is some important news you need to know about, and what if someone posted something on social media that you need to read now?
The excuse list will go on and on, but you know what excuses are right. Yeah, everyone has one.
I mentioned above that one way I disconnect is going into nature. The one thing I do to help alleviate these questions that go into my head is to advise someone where I’m going. Most of the time, that’s my Mum, because she worries. Not only that, but it’s nice to know that if I’m off the radar for more than a few days at a time, someone knows the general area I am.
And, just for a plug to another article, I also keep my RoadID on me at all times. Especially if I’m out and about, you never know what might happen.
I remember the first time I didn’t have cell reception. It felt like I was missing out on stuff. I later found out that nothing crazy happened, and the world was waiting for when I got back.
The world will always be moving forward, with or without you. That might sound a little dark, but my point is that the world continues to move forward. It doesn’t matter if you check out for a few days or even weeks. Everything will be there when you return.
When you do return to the craziness of the world, you might have to plan some extra time to get caught up (if that is something you want to do).
If you are worried about that important work email or something similar, you could try setting up an auto email responder. I like something similar to: “I’m having fun outside and will get back to you when I can.” Not only will this tell people that you will not respond for a few days, but it will be a fun way to start a conversation on what you did.
You never know what might happen!
When Was The Last Time You Disconnected?
Not only when, but how do you disconnect? As I said, we all have different ways of doing this. If this is new for you and wants suggestions, read the comments below to find out what others do!
During my last road trip, I was out of phone service for a few days at a time. This made some things difficult, but I managed. In case you didn’t know, my last road trip was during the start of COVID in the US.
Everything started shutting down, and that included camping locations I planned on going to. This was one of the issues, as even coffee shops and libraries were closing (an area I frequent for WiFi).
There were a few days that I didn’t know what was going on in the world of COVID. My solution, go to a National Park (which didn’t have anyone working there). I went on a few hikes and enjoyed nature. It was fantastic!
What happened when I got back into cell range? It got overwhelming! My phone was blowing up with alerts, but then I just turned my sound off, and it was all good.
Take Time Out For You
Starting out small, like only a few hours a day, will help ease you into this disconnecting concept. Once you realize that it’s not that bad you can increase your time.
Disconnecting might not be easy for most of us, but it’s worth it, and we owe it to ourselves.
I want to know how you plan on disconnecting. I’m interested in how it made you feel. Were you stressed out, got a sense of peace, maybe a weight was lifted off your shoulders and free. Let me know in the comments below!