Unplugged

Over the past few weeks I've been been relatively off the grid when it comes to social media. This comes as just as much (if not more!) of a shock to me as it may to you. I am usually glued to my phone, constantly on some app or another. I used to receive approximately 42137 alerts a day - between emails (work, personal, and blog), calendar appointments (work and personal), birthday reminders, text messages, facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, the list goes on! It drove Bo absolutely insane, because I would typically respond to each one almost immediately. And then I would end up perusing whatever app I got an alert from for the next 15 minutes. And then I'd get some other alert. I knew it was getting out of hand, but I just couldn't stop.

Well, that changed quite a bit when we left for our trip a few weeks ago. Every other time we've traveled internationally, we've gotten a data package on my phone - so I've never really been without it - but Bo really wanted the plan on his phone instead this time. So while we were gone, I only turned on my phone once or twice a day when we had free wi-fi. I disconnected my work email and didn't bother checking in with most other things while we were away. I did keep up with my gmail account - mostly to check up on Molly! and to keep up with a few plans over the upcoming weeks. Other than that, I kinda checked into a few apps here and there for the first day or two, but after that I just didn't really care to, and I figured I'd just start fresh with everything once we got back.

But...I haven't! And people have been asking where I am and where are all my pictures?! haha :) Honestly? I really haven't missed it, and I don't even know where to start, so I've stayed pretty unplugged even after we got back over a week ago. I decided to keep my work email disconnected from my phone - they don't pay for our phones so it's not required or expected anyway.  I haven't turned on any of my push alerts since we got back either. And it's been shockingly awesome. I am so much less distracted at work and at home, and though it comes as no surprise, I've realized that of all those alerts I am constantly checking?? 99% of them are nowhere close to being urgent or needing an immediate response. And all of that useless info I am reading after I check an alert? Well most of it I just don't even care about. So lately, I've only been checking apps when I think of it (or when I'm bored) and that's it. I don't wake up to a hundred junk emails and my phone isn't constantly beeping all day long. I love it. Who knows how long it will actually last. But for now I'm enjoying my phone being practically on silent mode.

Now don't get me wrong, I still love all the social media apps out there, I just like doing it on my own time and not when Siri tells me to do it now. Ha. And I do miss blogging! I haven't been intentionally avoiding my tiny corner of the internet - I just haven't had any time yet to go through the thousands of pictures I've taken recently in order to post anything. 2013 has been off to a crazy-insane-awesome start (how is it already March?!) - so don't worry, I'm still alive and kicking and hopefully I'll be back here soon :)