Hey you. Put down the phone {well, after you read this!}.

Late last year I reached a point of total burnout. I was stressed, I wasn’t feeling well, and I just couldn’t go on any further. It wasn’t nice.

I’m lucky to do the work I do, and I count my blessings every day that I get to do what I do, and have the flexibility to be with my girls so much of the time. One of the problems I face is that there’s never an end to work. There’s no clocking off, and driving home… leaving it all behind me. I struggle with that.

Yes, bring out the violins. ?

That moment last year when I totally burnt out and stressed up to my eyeballs, I had to take a break. So I switched off. I didn’t touch my computer, or phone for a whole week. At first, it took a little bit to adjust… I was so used to filling spare moments with checking Facebook and Instagram, and checking up on emails. Over time I started to feel the stress leave me. I felt the tension leave my shoulders, the headaches stopped and I felt so much better. After the week I was excited about getting back into work. I needed the break.

I realised that going tech-free was something I needed to do more often, for my mental and physical health.

And that brings me to the challenge for the Make Life Good challenge this week: Go tech-free for a day.

Now, I know that there will be many of you that say, ‘Nah, I’ll sit this one out. It’s not for me.’

Tsk, my friend. Tsk.

Don’t knock it until you try it.

There’s something about disconnecting from everything, and connecting back into your life. There’s something about not filling moments with tech moments.

I encourage you to try it, if only for a day {or half a day} or even a week if you can.

This past weekend we spent time on an eco resort that had no TVs, no internet, no phone reception… and it was bliss. The kids got back to nature. Lulu found coral and created an ice cream shop. Lacey explored, and chatted away {to us and whoever would listen}. I love the connections that happened as we went tech-free.

So, will you try it? I’d love if you’d report back and let me know how you went.


What’s the Make Life Good Challenge?

It’s a collaboration between Fat Mum Slim and Bupa to make life better, healthier and happier. Over the year we’ll tackle 52 easy challenges to make life more awesome. Read more about the challenge here, and join us on Facebook here {we’ve got an amazing, inspiring and supportive group!}.

4 thoughts on “Hey you. Put down the phone {well, after you read this!}.”

  1. I love the idea. I am sadly quite addicted to my phone (as I found out recently when my iPhone died and I had to go without for 24 hours while waiting to get a replacement). I don’t know if I could completely go without for practical reasons, but I have noticed that since I moved my laptop into my new home office (instead of on the lounge room couch), I haven’t reached for it as much. Sure, this makes me a bit slack with blogging or catching up on my fave blogs, but I think it probably keeps me a lot more ‘present’ and in the moment during my down time. It also keeps me from trying to work when I should be relaxing.
    It can be liberating to take a break. I will try to cut down a lot this week, in the spirit of things x

  2. I went tech free on Saturday and absolutely loved it! It was a beautiful day here in Switzerland and I spend some time outside on a walk and did my stuff for uni – I think I never was this productive!
    Thank you for that idea!

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