Digital Detox Is Essential To Your Success, And Your Sanity.......

One of the hazards of working from home, being self-employed, and having a flexible schedule is the fact that it facilitates the potential for anyone to work too much! I admittedly work too much. It follows me everywhere! I can be waiting for a movie to start, bored with the previews and what am I doing? Checking email. Nice bubble bath and a glass of wine, phone in hand....checking email. Again. *sigh* Sunday morning isn't even off limits, although that will be changing as soon as possible!

I imagine this is what I look like occasionally!

Often when I am not working, I am still engaging in online activity. Be it Pinterest or YouTube, participating in hobby or business related forums, reading science and business blogs/articles, etc. I spend likely less than an hour on a normal day NOT online, with the exception of time spent sleeping.

After a particularly busy week, I took the plunge. Well, it was less of a jump and more of a prying motion. I shut down my computer *Gasp! The horror!* at 5:30pm, cooked dinner with the TV off and decided to listen to Louis Armstrong instead as my iPhone sat ignored locked in a desk drawer. Poor Siri....... My office door locked and avoided as if it held a black hole that would suck me in and dispense me into another world should I dare open it.

I chose to spend the rest of my evening paintbrush in hand, with the only sound audible being a snoring beagle and the air conditioning kicking on and off. It took great restraint but I did not even check email before bed *WooHoo! Go me!* Let me tell you something, I woke up the next morning absolutely refreshed and ready to take on the world! I was rapidly checking tasks off of my to do list like I owned the place (I do! Haha!)! Amazing. I was absolutely exhilarated!

The term "digital detox" has actually been added to the dictionary! And, believe it or not there is actually a website dedicated to and promoting digital detox. They even have an adult camp called CampGrounded where adults can go and unplug old school style! Love it! There's even an app for digital detoxing!

I know it's hard to do in this busy world, detach, shut down, turn off and interact with your surroundings but I highly recommend it. Start out in short bursts if you must, do whatever you have to do to implement this into your schedule. Your sanity will thank you for it and I guarantee you will be far more successful for it.

Ideas for things to do during a detox:

• Sit. Do nothing. I'm serious. Find somewhere comfy, and just sit. Stare at whatever interests you and try not to think about anything. It's okay to do this, I promise. The emails and Tweets will be fine until you get back.
• Pet your cat/dog. Remember them? Happily dozing at your feet while you are in a flurry of activity at your desk responding to emails, tracking down receipts, taking phone calls, furiously typing away. They love you and they miss you :) 
• Go for a walk. Anywhere (safe please!). Hike, wander, stroll, skip, frolic, whatever. Just move! No iPod, no phone, just go and take your beagle (or other just as awesome best friend) with you!
• Interact with people, face to face. Go have a cup of coffee with someone and leave your devices in the car, play with your kids, visit your aging neighbor. Volunteer. 
• Find a hobby! Puzzles, painting, gardening....something to keep you off your computer and interacting with tangible items. 

Here is a great video from Forbes interviewing the CTO of Cisco about digital detox:

As small business owners it is vital to the success of our company and our sanity that we detox regularly and take time for ourselves to enjoy life on a more natural level as well as enjoy those around us and the very planet that we live on! I know it's hard to do sometimes, especially when deadlines loom, the emails keep coming and the phone just won't stop ringing but remember to be your own best friend and remember that in order to be productive and efficient you must be rested and happy! 

Until next time, I am out of here, shutting everything down and shoving my phone into a drawer because my beagle and my son need "Mommy time" and the weather outside is absolutely amazing today!

Happy Detoxing!
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Blog created by Colleen Tapia - Owner and Manager of Innovative Administrative Services, LLC

Visit our website: http://www.innovativeadministrative.com