Good morning from the margin! It’s been two weeks-ish of less: less scrolling, less typing, and less consuming. It’s been so good for me. It’s provided so much more: more time with family, more time to breathe through emotions, more time to organize and declutter, more time to read and think, more peace, more time for all those little things I never feel like I have time to do.
For example(s): I taught Hailey to create our family albums and she is a natural. Plus it takes a HUGE weight off my shoulders to know I’m finally on the path to catching up with current times (working on 2021 right now). I packed away all our homeschool stuff from last year, consigned what needed to be consigned, planned out our 6th and 4th grade curriculum and procured it all. I restocked the Battery Daddy. I organized our art supplies. I made simple food and read Wild and Free Family. I stretched more. We sat down as a family and learned to play Dominion, and now we are all hooked.
Unplugging gave me the time, and probably more importantly the mental space, to think and feel. I thought about the expectations I put on myself that don’t really need to be there and don’t serve me. They just contribute to my overwhelm of not feeling like I’m doing enough, when in reality I’m stretching myself too thin trying to do too much. Prioritize and simplify is my goal.
Sometimes I get caught up in wanting a plan as to what I should write about (a content calendar, as the industry lingo calls it), but I realized that no one probably cares what I share (in a nice way). I’m not sharing life saving tidbits; I’m just sharing life– the ups and downs, good meals, mess ups, family trips, and favorite finds. I want to embrace this space for what it is, a creative outlet for sharing and connection, without always trying to make it more.
Some things I scribbled down in notes to myself over the past two weeks:
- Keep creating new dreams and plans at every age and stage.
- Don’t focus on saying goodbye to the past, but instead, pour your energy into building the next chapter.
- Expand your circle; make friends that are in every stage of life. Learn from them.
- What are the joys of the season you’re in? Do more of those.
- Allow yourself to feel all the things, it’s part of life’s process, but don’t dwell too long in the negative spaces. Change the channel and a go do something.
- Take it easy when it gets too hard; make it hard if it don’t seem hard enough. (Name that tune)
I very much have enjoyed the time in the margin and am grateful to have the opportunity to begin this summer season in a peaceful and present way. I’m determined to hold onto that feeling and am figuring out how to create balance. I miss sharing on here and on IG but I know I need boundaries. I’ve set app time limits on my phone and am figuring out how to ensure I live my life first, and share second.
This post was a little all over the place wasn’t it? Today is going to be a good one- swim meet for the kids, cabinet contractors coming to look at the kitchen, and simple meatballs in the slow cooker for dinner! Thanks for stopping by; wishing you a peaceful and joyful day. 🤗
Monica says
Love it! I love hearing all about your family adventures and projects going on. They are very inspiring and give me good ideas, especially travel ideas/plans!
SHU says
I’m so glad things have been good and that the intentional tech disconnect was helpful! The more intentional I get about my content consumption (and to some extent, content production!), the better.
Kathy says
Good to hear from you today! and that you are re-energized. 🙂 Have a great week!!
sherry says
Making time for yourself is a must in order to be able to give of yourself to others—and you do that so often and so well! So happy you are reenergized, making plans, and enjoying the moments! It’s wonderful to see you back;)
Liz says
I loved this post 🙂 I deleted instagram and Facebook from my phone just last weekend, and it had been a hard but very eye opening adjustment. I was spending so much time looking at other people’s lives, or posting stuff from my life, that I wasn’t really being present and enjoying the day to day things any more. I decided that my kids deserve better, and I deserve better. Being away from social media feels isolating though! So I need to work on that. I appreciate you sharing how you feel in this space, and will continue to read whenever you do feel moved to post.
Caitlin says
This and only this for me!!!! “Don’t focus on saying goodbye to the past, but instead, pour your energy into building the next chapter.” Thank you for helping me refocus my emotional energy today.
Brittany Dixon says
I’m glad it spoke to you, as it did to me! The reframing has helped me refocus, too. <3
Brittany Dixon says
I understand! When I stepped away for that short time I felt like I started texting everyone- lol! I wanted connection and updates and it was so funny to see how I basically was finding a way to replace it.
Liz says
That’s a great way to replace it though! I need to work more on reaching out to friends. It’s not one of my strengths.
Daria says
A digital detoxer here. After the detox back in 2018, all social media was deleted and never went back. Feel so much better but I do feel out of the loop on some things. Do not miss the comparing, doom scrolling, and toxicity. Only blogging remains.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Brittany Dixon says
Wow! That is so inspiring to me. While I don’t think I’ll ever nix it completely (the instant connection is super cool to me), I do completely see how freeing it must feel. I hope my stronger boundaries help me maintain a similar peace. It’s also why blogging remains near and dear to me; it doesn’t drain me at all. I enjoy this space and feedback and connection so much. Thanks for sharing and for reading!
Sarah says
Wishing YOU a joyful and peaceful day!
Stephanie W says
I love hearing about this type of stuff. About 3 weeks ago I deleted Instagram and Facebook apps from my phone because I tend to be an all or nothing person and I found I was spending too much time on my phone versus being present with my kids. I like how you’ve named it – finding space in the margin. That’s exactly what it feels like.