It’s been a month since I wrote my last blog post. The thing is… I just wasn’t motivated. I also took a 2 week, much-needed, vacation. Offline. I don’t think I’ve ever been “officially” offline since I discovered Facebook. The problem with being on a cruise ship out at sea that doesn’t have free wi-fi is that you simply can’t connect. I was also told that the ports we stopped at (Mexico, Honduras, Belize) would all have free wi-fi. Wrong. None of those areas would connect for me. I gave up trying. And it was bliss.
The thing is… I didn’t really miss anything. After coming home and checking the thousands of emails that piled up, there weren’t any of them that were so important they couldn’t wait until I got home. Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest moved along fine without my presence. There wasn’t anything important that I missed. And that told me one important thing…
I waste WAY too much time on social media.
Of course, we all know that we waste too much time. This just confirmed it for me. I used to tell myself that it was okay to be online all day because I work in social media. I read blog posts for a living. I have a blog network on Facebook. I plan a blog/social media conference every year so I have to know what is going on. But the truth is… all of the “work” takes only a few hours a day… not the 8 - 10 (or 12 - 16) hours that I tell myself it takes.
Seriously, what I have been doing with my time?
I don’t like resolutions. Hate them, in fact. I’m not too keen on goals either. Most of those resolutions and goals that are set don’t happen and you end up feeling disappointed in yourself. So this year I’m not setting goals or making resolutions. I’m focusing on living my life with less stress and more joy.
I always used to come up with a word of the year. This year, I’m not doing that. My philsophy this year is going to be:
If you are looking for something (anything) that is going to make 2017 a better year for you, my advice is this: stop looking. Open your heart to new experiences as they come. Be grateful for what you have and for those that love you. Stop obsessing over money and weight and family and all the other things that you want to change. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to say yes. Listen to your instincts and let them steer your path. Do what feels good and right. If you aren’t sure about something, take a pass.
Opportunities abound and as my brother (who is so eloquent with his minimalist words) wrote in his holiday card this year…
Viviana says
That was fantastic! I can imagine a better way to start the new year!
Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post. Hope you’re new year is starting off great.