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This is so timely that I've just read this post, I've had to take a few weeks off my socials due to work commitments and I've actually been stressed about hopping back in because I feel so overwhelmed!
I really enjoyed reading this and it reminded me that I DONT have to be up to date the whole time and that I'm letting no-one down!
I'm sorry you're feeling so overwhelmed at the moment. I hope this post has helped in some way to take the pressure off. You certainly don't need to be up to date the whole time!
I think most of us would love this idea. I grew up without internet and mobile phones and, although most generations look back and think their childhood was better, I am truly grateful I didn't have these things growing up. As a parent now, I can see the cause and effect of the 'always open' 'always on' generation. And, it is changing us. Not for the better. If only we could do this as a collective.
I completely agree! What a gift it was to grow up with the internet! 🙌🏻
My eldest still thinks it’s crazy that I didn’t have a mobile phone until I was 14.
I’d love to do this as a collective. I don’t think I’d hold myself accountable or stick to it on my own. It’s too easy not to, but if it was enforced, it’d be much easier and I’d embrace it 🤩
14! I didn't get one until I was 20/21 and in college and it was a Big Deal flip phone! I was regularly putting quarters into a payphone at 14 to call my parents after school. How times have changed!
Love the idea and of course we can choose to do this ourselves although to get the most benefit we'd need everyone to live this way. No reason not to try though!
I love this idea! I could really feel the truth in what you say as you talk about what it would be like, what would we do instead. When we have electrcity outages my adult sons actually hang around and talk to us and each other. :-)
I just had a whole eight days without internet. The first few I felt the pull of it. Should I pay for internet access while on holiday? Could I live without it? But after 2 or 3 days I just settled down into a new routine and didn't think about it.
I am very grateful I grew up without it. the younger generations today have no idea what that was like, how liberating it was and how it impacts wellbeing.
I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of 'opening hours'... I would probably have to think about when are the most productive times of the day for me though. My 8am - 6pm might be more like: 10am - 12 noon then 4pm - 8pm :)
Yes! Power cuts or Christmas seem to be the only time my eldest two children want to play board games with us. I love board games! They were our entertainment as kids, we didn’t have iPads.
Eight days without the internet sounds amazing!
Yeah, I completely agree! What a treat it was to grow up without the internet! 🙌🏻
Oh gosh, me too! I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have your entire life open to ridicule for the things you do as a child 🤯. I'm pleased my childhood, and my innocence was protected from the internet.
Me too! I try and fail because I run my business online, so I feel like I can't 100% switch off from it. I still have emails on my phone, but I have removed social media (only accessing it via my laptop if I need/want to), and I can't tell you how much better I feel for it! 🙌🏻
I haven't had social media on my phone for some years. It's liberating.
When I set boundaries it always fails. Like when I try to discipline myself to do certain things at certain times, it doesn't work. Ever. So I have found a softer way of allowing myself to feel into each day. Some days I spend hours on my business online and other days no time at all and t seems to be working. The only time it doesn't is if I haven't noticed I am pushing through to get something completed or tie up some loose ends but that's about being aware of my body more. ;-)
This is absolutely beautiful ❤️ I have set many boundaries around screens in the past year, but having a universal off time would make it so much easier for us to experience community in offline time. My daughters and I are leaving for a camping adventure tomorrow on which we will be on an island with no cell service or internet for the entire time and I realized this is one of the things I am most looking forward to about the trip!
I think if it was something we all HAD to experience, then it would make it so much easier to stick to. It's hard to step away and set boundaries when other people aren't doing it too.
Oh, that sounds incredible! What a treat! I hope you and your daughters have the most wonderful time camping 🤍
As I taught in my Masterclass today (which didn’t record properly gahhhh) I spoke about my phone detoxes and what they have brought to my sense of self, mindfulness and creative voice. I am thinking lots about your words ahead of summer... 🌞
That would be delightful. I do tend to spend my mornings first thing tending to myself. Breathwork, journalling. No kids so I get to read and write before work but I imagine family mornings would be chattery around the breakfast table. I definitely think reassessing our screen time would not hurt us. Thank you for this vision. ❤️
I'm getting better at setting boundaries with social media (I only have it on my laptop, not my phone anymore), but my screen time is still high on my phone because I just love reading posts on Substack now 🤣. At least those posts are good for my mind and soul, unlike social media 🤍
I really love this idea but the funny thing is when I started reading I never thought of it including things like Netflix but, of course it does!
I am in the process of trying to set boundaries on things like checking email and social media but I do find it hard sometimes because it is so much easier to just keep doing the same old thing but, like you, I didn’t grow up with internet and I am really glad.
Yeah! Just think about how much of our lives are controlled by the internet. Our Spotify playlists, our TV streaming, social media, work, reading right now on Substack. I can't believe just how much I rely on the internet! 🤯
It's hard for me because my business is all online, and I really enjoy spending time reading through the posts I subscribe to here on Substack. So, the internet can bring lots of happiness and enjoyment, but it's when it gets obsessive that's the issue. I used to constantly scroll Instagram, or check emails, and then flick to Facebook, and it'd be a constant cycle. I've gotten rid of Facebook and Instagram from my phone for now, and I'm getting better at checking my emails less often. After all, nothing drastic will happen if I don't check them for a while, right?!
P.s, I'm SO glad my childhood didn't have internet! What a gift that was! 🙌🏻
I totally agree. I have had to set some strict boundaries around the time I am online. Its all crept up on us so quickly I don't think many of us have really noticed the effects on our wellbeing as it's has become the norm.
You're totally right. It has become the norm, but I think we should rebel! I've tried setting strict boundaries with my internet use, but I find it so difficult, especially when running a business online. I just can't seem to fully switch off. I need to work harder on this though! 🤍
it's a great idea and one we ought to just impose on ourselves! I sometimes have strict boundaries, curfews with myself but they can be difficult to stick to. I have already warned by 13 year old that he's not having unfettered access to screens during the summer holidays - we've so far come up with 34 things that he could do instead. It feels like a good start!
YES! I struggle to stick to boundaries, especially when it comes to the internet. It's just always... there. There's really no escaping it, is there?
Oh, I agree! My 8 year old attends a football camp during the school holidays, because he would absolutely be on the Xbox from morning until night if I let him. I really love your idea! I might do the same with my children throughout the holidays too! 🥰
I have a Do Not Distrurb notice on my door and the whole family repsect it. I don't have a regular time I need to be on my own but can go there whenever I feel like it which is several times a day. :-)
This sounds absolutely beautiful! 🥰 I love that your family know and respect this about you too. My family know that I need a lot of time to myself and lots of silence. My children are very similar to me too, so they just get it 😊
EXACTLY! It would be so difficult, but I really think at the end of the experiment, we'd love it! I read your comment and immediately thought of excuses as to why I wouldn't be able to be away from the internet. I mean WHAT?! 🤯 It's so ingrained in us to NEED it, isn't it?! But, I agree. An experiment into this would be incredible! 🤩
This is so timely that I've just read this post, I've had to take a few weeks off my socials due to work commitments and I've actually been stressed about hopping back in because I feel so overwhelmed!
I really enjoyed reading this and it reminded me that I DONT have to be up to date the whole time and that I'm letting no-one down!
Many thanks!
I'm sorry you're feeling so overwhelmed at the moment. I hope this post has helped in some way to take the pressure off. You certainly don't need to be up to date the whole time!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting 😊
I think most of us would love this idea. I grew up without internet and mobile phones and, although most generations look back and think their childhood was better, I am truly grateful I didn't have these things growing up. As a parent now, I can see the cause and effect of the 'always open' 'always on' generation. And, it is changing us. Not for the better. If only we could do this as a collective.
I completely agree! What a gift it was to grow up with the internet! 🙌🏻
My eldest still thinks it’s crazy that I didn’t have a mobile phone until I was 14.
I’d love to do this as a collective. I don’t think I’d hold myself accountable or stick to it on my own. It’s too easy not to, but if it was enforced, it’d be much easier and I’d embrace it 🤩
14! I didn't get one until I was 20/21 and in college and it was a Big Deal flip phone! I was regularly putting quarters into a payphone at 14 to call my parents after school. How times have changed!
Haha! That’s brilliant. I’m still super glad that my childhood didn’t involve a phone 🙌🏻
Love the idea and of course we can choose to do this ourselves although to get the most benefit we'd need everyone to live this way. No reason not to try though!
Absolutely, Julie! Completely agree we could do it now if we were serious enough about it. But would we? 😅
I would! But like Julie says it's the others... It has to be instant!
I love this idea! I could really feel the truth in what you say as you talk about what it would be like, what would we do instead. When we have electrcity outages my adult sons actually hang around and talk to us and each other. :-)
I just had a whole eight days without internet. The first few I felt the pull of it. Should I pay for internet access while on holiday? Could I live without it? But after 2 or 3 days I just settled down into a new routine and didn't think about it.
I am very grateful I grew up without it. the younger generations today have no idea what that was like, how liberating it was and how it impacts wellbeing.
I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of 'opening hours'... I would probably have to think about when are the most productive times of the day for me though. My 8am - 6pm might be more like: 10am - 12 noon then 4pm - 8pm :)
Yes! Power cuts or Christmas seem to be the only time my eldest two children want to play board games with us. I love board games! They were our entertainment as kids, we didn’t have iPads.
Eight days without the internet sounds amazing!
Yeah, I completely agree! What a treat it was to grow up without the internet! 🙌🏻
And to know how to entertain ourselves without it. Without the constant pull
Here's to a childhood with no internet and no social media 🥳🥳
I'm forever grateful that was the case for me.
Internet opening hours would be useful for sure. I try and set myself boundaries, and normally fail, so enforced closure would be helpful at times!
Oh gosh, me too! I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have your entire life open to ridicule for the things you do as a child 🤯. I'm pleased my childhood, and my innocence was protected from the internet.
Me too! I try and fail because I run my business online, so I feel like I can't 100% switch off from it. I still have emails on my phone, but I have removed social media (only accessing it via my laptop if I need/want to), and I can't tell you how much better I feel for it! 🙌🏻
I haven't had social media on my phone for some years. It's liberating.
When I set boundaries it always fails. Like when I try to discipline myself to do certain things at certain times, it doesn't work. Ever. So I have found a softer way of allowing myself to feel into each day. Some days I spend hours on my business online and other days no time at all and t seems to be working. The only time it doesn't is if I haven't noticed I am pushing through to get something completed or tie up some loose ends but that's about being aware of my body more. ;-)
This is absolutely beautiful ❤️ I have set many boundaries around screens in the past year, but having a universal off time would make it so much easier for us to experience community in offline time. My daughters and I are leaving for a camping adventure tomorrow on which we will be on an island with no cell service or internet for the entire time and I realized this is one of the things I am most looking forward to about the trip!
Thank you, Katy! 🥰
I think if it was something we all HAD to experience, then it would make it so much easier to stick to. It's hard to step away and set boundaries when other people aren't doing it too.
Oh, that sounds incredible! What a treat! I hope you and your daughters have the most wonderful time camping 🤍
What a glorious set of thoughts.
As I taught in my Masterclass today (which didn’t record properly gahhhh) I spoke about my phone detoxes and what they have brought to my sense of self, mindfulness and creative voice. I am thinking lots about your words ahead of summer... 🌞
Ah, don't you just love technology! 🤦🏼♀️ Sorry it didn't record properly for you!
YES! A summer detox sounds absolutely perfect! 🙌🏻
That would be delightful. I do tend to spend my mornings first thing tending to myself. Breathwork, journalling. No kids so I get to read and write before work but I imagine family mornings would be chattery around the breakfast table. I definitely think reassessing our screen time would not hurt us. Thank you for this vision. ❤️
This sounds incredible, Silvia! 🤩
I'm getting better at setting boundaries with social media (I only have it on my laptop, not my phone anymore), but my screen time is still high on my phone because I just love reading posts on Substack now 🤣. At least those posts are good for my mind and soul, unlike social media 🤍
I really love this idea but the funny thing is when I started reading I never thought of it including things like Netflix but, of course it does!
I am in the process of trying to set boundaries on things like checking email and social media but I do find it hard sometimes because it is so much easier to just keep doing the same old thing but, like you, I didn’t grow up with internet and I am really glad.
Yeah! Just think about how much of our lives are controlled by the internet. Our Spotify playlists, our TV streaming, social media, work, reading right now on Substack. I can't believe just how much I rely on the internet! 🤯
It's hard for me because my business is all online, and I really enjoy spending time reading through the posts I subscribe to here on Substack. So, the internet can bring lots of happiness and enjoyment, but it's when it gets obsessive that's the issue. I used to constantly scroll Instagram, or check emails, and then flick to Facebook, and it'd be a constant cycle. I've gotten rid of Facebook and Instagram from my phone for now, and I'm getting better at checking my emails less often. After all, nothing drastic will happen if I don't check them for a while, right?!
P.s, I'm SO glad my childhood didn't have internet! What a gift that was! 🙌🏻
I totally agree. I have had to set some strict boundaries around the time I am online. Its all crept up on us so quickly I don't think many of us have really noticed the effects on our wellbeing as it's has become the norm.
You're totally right. It has become the norm, but I think we should rebel! I've tried setting strict boundaries with my internet use, but I find it so difficult, especially when running a business online. I just can't seem to fully switch off. I need to work harder on this though! 🤍
Such a relevant topic, perhaps something to both discuss more about in the future
x
Absolutely! 🥰
it's a great idea and one we ought to just impose on ourselves! I sometimes have strict boundaries, curfews with myself but they can be difficult to stick to. I have already warned by 13 year old that he's not having unfettered access to screens during the summer holidays - we've so far come up with 34 things that he could do instead. It feels like a good start!
YES! I struggle to stick to boundaries, especially when it comes to the internet. It's just always... there. There's really no escaping it, is there?
Oh, I agree! My 8 year old attends a football camp during the school holidays, because he would absolutely be on the Xbox from morning until night if I let him. I really love your idea! I might do the same with my children throughout the holidays too! 🥰
I love this thought
It seems unfathomable, doesn't it? But IMAGINE what it'd be like! 🤩
I have a Do Not Distrurb notice on my door and the whole family repsect it. I don't have a regular time I need to be on my own but can go there whenever I feel like it which is several times a day. :-)
This sounds absolutely beautiful! 🥰 I love that your family know and respect this about you too. My family know that I need a lot of time to myself and lots of silence. My children are very similar to me too, so they just get it 😊
yes!
EXACTLY! It would be so difficult, but I really think at the end of the experiment, we'd love it! I read your comment and immediately thought of excuses as to why I wouldn't be able to be away from the internet. I mean WHAT?! 🤯 It's so ingrained in us to NEED it, isn't it?! But, I agree. An experiment into this would be incredible! 🤩
Me too! 🤍
Thanks so much for reading 🥰