Unplugged.

Have you ever driven somewhere in pure silence? (Minus the few baby/kids noise in the back seat). Or took a day off from social media? Or left your phone home for the day?

Unplugged.

Something I am a HUGE advocate of.

Everyone’s life is busy, am I right? Find me one person who isn’t because I seriously can’t. We all are running everywhere, putting our kids in every extra curricular activity, trying out new hobbies, updating our phones to the latest and greatest, constantly scrolling through Instagram while we “wait” at the doctors because we don’t know what else to do with our minds to kill time.

Noise. There is just so much noise…and it’s taking over.

I currently have quite a lot on my plate as well, so my mind is going a hundred miles an hour and I feel like I’m on a freight train sometimes!

Here’s the thing. We have the chance to stop a lot of the noise around us. And you wanta know a secret?

It’s amazing when we do.

Here’s a few things I’ve done that have helped clear my mind and soul in unplugging:

1. Social media fasts. I don’t ever “announce” when I go on one but I do it where I will either not get on at all that day(s) or I’ll just delete the apps that my mind has spent way too much time on. I notice the days that I don’t get on, I’m actually pretty dang content with life and feel like I have it pretty good. I’m all about using social media for good, but sometimes it’s so great to unplug from it all and realize the good that’s right in front of you instead of comparing other’s “good” to your own “good”.
2. Check your tech. My little family has a “Check your tech jar” to put our phones in. No phones from 6-8 and although we aren’t super strict on the actual jar, it has been an amazing reminder to spend that time with each other. An average person spends 7 hours a DAY on technology. That’s insane to me. 2 hours to spend together is nothing, but has meant everything!
3. Drive without music sometimes. I say sometimes because I can’t live without music, but I’ve noticed on days that I’m super stressed, if I just turn off the music in the car, it helps my mind clear a little bit.
4. Find a substitute. By this I mean, find something in place of scrolling on social media. Have you ever been scrolling and all of a sudden you look up and a half hour has passed by? (I’m guilty!) And then you feel like you didn’t get anything done? Whether it be a new hobby you want to try or diving into a book, I love filling my time with these and feeling like I accomplished something.
5. Get outside. Studies have shown that those who spend time outside are more likely to feel happier and heal better. I think sunshine is good for the soul and allows us to teach our kids about nature and connect that to God. Have you ever seen a beautiful sunset, or an incredible rainstorm? If we put our phones down, we won’t miss as many and we allow ourselves to breathe.

I could go off about how much unplugging has helped my personal life, my relationship with the Lord, my relationship with my husband and family, and loving my own set of cards in my life by not trying to keep up with everything I see when I scroll.

Social media can be SUCH an amazing tool, but it can also become controlling if we allow it. It’s so easy to get sucked in! But I think there’s a whole lot of a life we can gain back if we unplug for a minute and just…be.