I am a Midwest girl who lives in beautiful sunny California. My family is all back east. I live in a beautiful location with beautiful people. I have formed beautiful friendships that are like my family away from home. I love having the ability to communicate with my friends and family (near and far) using the computer. However, sometimes I find that I become dependent upon social media, the computer, and online resources. I fail to really connect with what is right in front of me. My loud children fighting (literally) for my attention.
This past week I made a conscious choice to unplug and be in the moment. I still checked email and Facebook. However, when my children were awake and needing Mommy I shut down the computer and was present with my family/friends… life.
This is something I have really been trying to work on … for MONTHS (no joke). It is still a struggle for me. I have found that what works for me is to do my computer work when the house is quiet (sleeping, rest time, or busy playing independently). When I do find myself on the computer longer than I should and my kids are fighting with each other… I know take it as my cue to get off the computer and live life.
I am a huge advocate for the quote, “You make time for what is important to you.” I want to live out loud that my family, faith, friends and fitness are more important to me than my online commitments and checking email. Because… time has a way of showing us what really matters!
Living life away from the computer is freeing! Fantastic! Fun! And I need to remember to do it more often!
Continuing on with my goals this year… I have added one small healthy change to my daily routine. So far in 2012, I have made 13 healthy changes and have continued those changes the following week(s). I have made a commitment to eat a healthy breakfast upon waking (every day), drink more water (atleast half my body weight in ounces), take a daily multivitamin, eat more fiber (atleast 25g) , record my food in a food journal increase my protein ,eat five square meals a day, moving more , breathing deep ,get my sweat on, add strength training, working on my core strength and last week’s goal to unplug.
This week my healthy change focus will be:
Sleep More!! (Shoot for 7-8 hours of sleep a night)
As I type this I am trying not to laugh out loud. What am I thinking? I am a tired Mom to three little boys: 1 who is determined to sleep with me on me each night, 1 who sleep shouts each night, 1 who wakes before the sun THINKS of rising!! Yet, I know that if I commit to going to bed early… and doing my best (within my control) to get my sleep… it will all be worth it!
Baby steps. One small change at a time!
How do you manage to get your 7-8 hours of sleep each night?
Miz says
ahhhh 8 hours.
I MISS YE 🙂
Nanette Simmons says
Rachel,
I really like this article and the idea of unplugging! I have an online running moms magazine called This Mother Can Run. I would love to use this article in my upcoming issue if you are willing! Let me know your thoughts!
Nanette
http://www.thismothercanrun.com
Rachel says
Hi Nanatte. Please contact me via email and we can discuss this further. My email is: runningrachel AT hotmail DOT com
Thank you 🙂
Kane Close says
Im obliged for the blog.Thanks Again. Much obliged.