One of the other unexpected {but not so wonderful} things we've experienced is being
With three young kids at home, I've found it really hard to balance blog and family... There was one day this week that I never left the house, another day that I was in my jammies until 3:00! {Besides the blog, I've had a big event or other craziness every night this week.}
So, when I got this text from Nat on Wednesday night, I was intrigued...
"I'm having an off-the-grid day tomorrow!! I'm a LITTLE attached to my phone and the Internet so I'm taking the day off and hanging out with the kiddies. Just so you know :) Love you!"
At first I thought, really?? Can she do that? No phone? No Email? No FB? No Pinterest??? Could I do that? And the more I thought about it, I realized it was exactly what I needed this week. So I decided to try it :)
When I first woke up in the morning, I grabbed my phone out of habit {the little green, blinking light was calling my name} and without even thinking, opened my email. I glanced at the first one or two messages and by then I was awake enough to remember that it was my OTG day. Crap. Ok, just put the phone down Holly. I can do this. I spent the next hour making breakfast for my kids, sending one off to school, getting everyone dressed, and then I turned on some music in the kitchen and danced with my one-year-old for about 20 minutes. She loved it!
On a normal morning, I would have been at my laptop {still in jammies}, checking email, linking to parties, or going through my daily blog reads. Instead I was enjoying some actual play time with my kids. Other highlights of my "Off The Grid" day....
I showered, dried my hair, and did my makeup before my baby was up from her nap. I snuggled on the couch with my 4-year-old. We read more than one book. We were on time for a weekly appointment. I took a nap! I was not rushed for an evening activity that I was decorating for. I was more patient with my kids. I worked on Project Life. I didn't open my laptop once all day!
The phone was a little harder for me... I checked email twice but only talked to/texted the person I was coordinating the event with and my husband. I didn't talk to Nat ALL DAY!!
Here is how Nat helped "remind" herself that she was OTG:
She changed her settings and PW protected her phone :) She used some of her extra time to make this homemade puffy paint with her 3-year-old:
After you paint your pictures, pop it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and it puffs up! It looks so cool {I'm totally trying this next week.} Check out this blog for the recipe & instructions.
Now that our 24 hours are up and we're back in our techno-gadget world, we have realized how nice it was to have a little break. We don't really NEED those things that fill up so much of our time. It is good to have a day to slow down. To let go. And focus on the things {and people} that are most important to us.
So, here's our challenge to you.... try it :) For one day. It is hard at first, but so worth it!
Nat and I will be doing this once a week now. {Probably not the same day this time!} If you want to join in, grab a button and proudly display it! We'd love to hear your experiences, and if you think it's something you'll try again :) Have a great weekend!
Linking to:
I can fully empathize with the "being chained attached to our computers more than usual" bit in regards to blogging. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting reading your comment about OTG....and found myself thinking about how often we put the really important things aside (our families to name one) to do other 'less important things' in our lives. When it comes down to it - our family should be who we spend the majority of the time with and our blogs, phones, Internet, laptops, etc....one day a week. Although, I do understand that blogs can be like jobs...where they pay money. Still though....one day the little family grows up and they are gone....and sometimes family members leave us for Heaven...and then....what do you have....all of that time you wished you could spend with your love ones and the only thing you have left is....your laptop, your phone, the Internet, Pinterest....etc.
ReplyDeleteYou made me think...thank you.
Oh and meant to add...good for you guys...for seeing the important things in this life. Good for you for going OTG. I think sometimes these kinds of things (blogs, Internet, etc) steal our precious time and we don't even realize it. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! We have participated in Earth Hour before and try to shut down at least one night a month. But this one would be a great challenge!
ReplyDeleteI would be thrilled if you stopped by linky party going on all weekend!
http://too-much-time.com/2012/03/get-schooled-saturday-12.html
Kim@ Too Much Time On My Hands
Great idea! I want to try this!
ReplyDeletegreat idea girls! glad you enjoyed your OTG day. :)
ReplyDeletejen
Great idea! I've been doing this for a couple weeks now (just one day) It is hard but soo worth it:)
ReplyDeleteI actually gave up Facebook for Lent, but for one week (because I gave up a few things and promised to do a few others in the process). I have a page for my blog and etsy shop that I update, and if I don't use my page, well, I may not sell as many items. So, I decided 1 week would be a good start. Well, I got a message from my old friend, and we had tornado warnings, and honestly I used those as excuses to sign in again. (Our local radio station post all weather updates on there fairly quickly.) So, I started over, and it hasn't been as difficult as I thought. In the process, I noticed I am not Pinning as much, which really does add up time-wise. I love to go OTG every once in a while. It is so refreshing. Funny though, how people tend to freak out when you're not responding to messages and texts.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when for example, my kids are off from school, and we'll go to the park or something like that, and I leave my cell phone out of reach, or on silent. I will check it of course, but not while I am spending that precious time with my kiddos. Our oldest is 14, next year he'll be in high school and 4 years after that he'll be in college....we really don't get THAT much time with them before they have their own families and lives.
So...GOOD FOR YOU to go off the grid!! It is amazing how much more "connected" I feel when I am not on the internet, or checking texts and e-mails. I think once a week is something very doable for me as well. Now if there were only a way to do those blog posts a little bit quicker...they DO take a long time!!
Have a great day!!
I just want to say that I love this! A couple days after you posted this I checked my emails and read your post. And it seems like I was OTG as you were. It would be great if you started an OTG link party, where others can post their posts on the great things they got to enjoy in LIFE when they went OTG! Just a thought :) I'm glad you posted the button too!! I'll be using it for my OTG posts.
ReplyDeletePS: I use that iPhone wallpaper as well!! That's a cute ko-ink-a-dink!
ReplyDelete