I’ve decided to take a short break. For the next two weeks (give or take), I’ll be off the blog and Instagram.
(This is a longer-than-usual post, so grab your drink of choice and settle in.)
Let me explain…
Lately (starting last year), I’ve been feeling a bit off. I’ve been struggling with comparisonitis, feeling “not good enough,” poor time management, lack of motivation, fear of failure, procrastination, and the like. If you’ve been following Inspired by Charm for a while now, you know that these aren’t new struggles for me. – I assume some of these things are just part of my makeup. (Lovely, right? Haha.)
However, these struggles have been more intense lately (maybe because of our current world situation), and a reset is in order. I need to take a little time off to look at how I currently spend my days and how I want to spend my days. (This involves less time on my phone and more time creating!) I want to make and do without the fear of failing or disappointing someone. I want to journal and reflect. I want to get a better grasp on my time management and my schedule. I want to rediscover what brings me joy for its own sake.
I write this from a good place. There’s no need to worry. I’m fine. I will be back in a week or two, hopefully, better than ever. It’s been years since I took an intentional break from it all, and I need one. If you’re someone who spends a lot of your day online, I’m certain you know what I mean and how I’m feeling.
Instagram, in particular, has become a challenging place for me these past few months. (I think it’s been worse because most of us are spending more time at home and doing a lot of aimless scrolling. Do you know what I mean?) Recently, I looked at how much time I spend on the app. It averages 2.5 hours a day. That’s 912.5 hours or 38 days per year! (And you don’t even want to know about the time I’m on my phone every day. It’s scary!) I am so thankful for the app because it allows me to connect and share, but I don’t want to spend 38 days of my year on an app, especially when it is time just scrolling and feeling bad, guilty, and not good enough.
I plan to step away for about two weeks. When I was thinking about doing this, one week didn’t feel like long enough. I’m not sure two weeks is enough time either, but that’s the plan for now. (In some ways, I want a month-long or even a year-long hiatus.)
The Plan for My Time Off:
I’m still figuring out my plan for this time. I want to keep it flexible, but here are my thoughts at present:
- I’m deleting social media (Instagram and Facebook) from my phone. I plan to avoid both for two weeks. And as I continue to think about this plan, it’s making me crazy nervous because there is a part of Instagram that brings me SO MUCH JOY, and I’m going to miss it. Sharing, inspiring, and connecting in positive ways is fuel for me. For example, it was so much fun the other day when I gave folks a tour of my landscaping. I loved all of our conversations in my messages. BUT, I realize I do need better boundaries, and even though it may be difficult, it’s a necessary step. I will probably also be sharing my plans for less phone time once this is all done. The goal is to create steps and a plan to limit how much time I’m staring at my screen.
- I have a list of projects, recipes, and other things I want to do during this time so I’ll probably continue to “work” (photographing, writing, etc.). However, I want to approach this as a creative time rather than work time. I know that sounds confusing, but I haven’t quite figured out how to manage that yet, so we’ll see.
- Part of that work will include updating some old blog posts so you might see an old post reemerge on IBC. However, nothing new will be posted.
- Other things I want to do: clean and organize spaces in my home, paint a room (My office! Stay tuned for that!), spend time outdoors, journal, read, get back in an exercise routine or just move, listen to music (My new Ultimate Folk playlist is coming together beautifully by the way. I’m obsessed!),…The list goes on. Generally speaking, I just want to do things that fuel my soul and fill my heart. It’s not that I haven’t been doing those things; I’ve just forgotten how to do them with intention and focus.
How to Get Your IBC Fix While I Take a Break:
If you’re looking to stay connected in my absence, you have a couple of options:
- First, I started a new email series where I share some decorating secrets. If you haven’t yet joined that series, you can do so HERE. You’ll get a new email every day for 6 days, so that should give you your IBC fix.
- Second, I will continue to send out my weekly emails. If you’re not on the IBC Mailing List, you can join HERE.
- Finally, I post on the IBC Facebook page several times a day. It’s a smattering of both current and past posts. So if you want to follow along with some older posts and maybe catch things you missed, join me there.
Ultimately, I hope to be able to set new goals and new boundaries for myself regarding social media, work, and phone use by the end of these two weeks. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but I know that I will be taking more time off Instagram. Perhaps I won’t post on weekends or maybe I’ll just limit my scrolling time. We’ll see.
I will also be adjusting my work and personal schedule. I’ve decided to add more me-time. I want to schedule time to paint or draw, to read, to visit interesting local places, museums, and restaurants (when they open) that have been on my “To-Visit” List. There’s just so much I’d rather be doing that’s more life-giving than staring at my phone. I’m on a mission to bring more joy into my days and contentment into my life. I want to fall back in love with my work and how I spend my time.
Want To Know How This Hiatus Goes?
If you want to hear more about this, it’s likely that when I return I will share a bit about my experience and time away. It might be a disaster and I’ll fail miserably, or it might (hopefully) be a wild success and I’ll walk away with a fresh perspective, a clearer mind, better habits, and more tools and ideas to share with all of you.
Until then, you will be missed. Please take care of yourself. Be safe and stay healthy. I will see you soon!
Sending you lots of e-love!
Michael,
Hopefully you’ll come back feeling as fresh as the flowers in the pictures you posted! As someone who has been working from home only 6 weeks, I have found that it is hard to separate “work” from “home,” and it must be doubly hard for you since your work often involves your home, and vice versa.This time has provided all of us, I think, time to reflect on what is important to us and how we spend our time, and we should take advantage of this “thinking time” to improve our outlook. Wishing you the best 2 weeks-and more if that is what it takes!
Enjoy your time away! Perhaps we can all get some in-person retail shopping therapy soon! I think that will make a big difference to many of us who need and enjoy eye candy and the thrill of the hunt. Love the bouquet, by the way. It gave me a huge boost. See you soon!
I have NEVER been on Facebook, Instagram, or whatever social media there is out there. I hear that people detail every bit of minutia of their lives on it – I don’t know if it’s for self promotion – all their trips, clothing, etc., etc., or their own insecurities. I limit my time to viewing a very select few design blogs – and your’s is one of them! I have a neighbor that spends every waking hour on Facebook, shopping on line, or whatever. He is now 265 lbs. He never gets outdoors, looks anemic and tired all the time – he is younger than I am. He needs to get off the darn computer and his phone and start living his life – not someone else’s. He tries to tell me all about whatever he sees on Facebook, and I try to brush it off. I am hoping that others, like you, will decide to take the pressure off themselves – don’t compare themselves to others and live an authentic life of their own, I think you need to sit back and pat yourself on your back and enjoy what you have already accomplished in your Bayberry house. I think people need to use this time to sit down and create a “plan for living” for their lives, It could be financial, health and fitness, professional – or whatever. Best wishes!
Michael I pray you will find your peace.
I too have been struggling with this as well this year. I find my time being sucked up by my phone/iPad and not achieving what I want to do with regard to my relationships, home and my relationship with God.
So thank you for your honesty and vulnerability and I may take a couple weeks break as well.
And one more thing you most certainly do not have any competition with your creativity, talent and what you offer.
God bless you
Good for you! Take as much time as you feel is needed. Everyone needs a break and self-reflection, (especially creative people)! We will all be here, looking forward to your return!
Lovely idea. As a teacher, that’s how I kept the love and enthusiasm for the profession in my 36 years. Enjoy your time away!
Just to say—there is no comparison. You’re an inspiration and a breath of fresh air.
We’ll be waiting for you!
Enjoy your time away, Michael.
Peace be with you.
I just discovered your blog and thoroughly enjoy everything you post! It is so great to take time for yourself, breathe it in, and remember you can’t please everyone (I tried), but it is great to do what you love most and share that with others. I look forward to learning what you discover while you are away. Inspiration is everywhere!
Michael- I commend you on taking time for yourself. We don’t do it enough. You-WE all deserve to. I understand your reasons and the comparison thing. Its so hard not to sometimes. But- I want you to know that I and thousands of others think you are freaking amazing!! I look forward to your posts every day. In fact you are on my short list of absolute faves!! As an organizing specialist and seasonal decorator its hard not to spend aimless time on social media although I have set boundaries for myself. I had to. I pray and hope you can find that better way for yourself and look forward to you coming back. And I will enjoy all of your old posts. God Bless you and stay safe!! Hugs!
YES!! Excited for you and your “experiment”. 🙂
Sending love and peace to you. What better time to take a break and count all your blessings. May you feel refreshed and newly inspired during this pause. Your fans will be patiently waiting!
Take care my friend!
Take care of yourself, Michael! Hugs and prayers…
Enjoy your time Everyone needs a break. And I’m glad you’ll restructure your time around your priorities going forward. Because YOU are a priority. Be well!
Take all the time you need for yourself. While you will be greatly missed, YOU are most important.
I hope you also know that you are not alone in feeling how you do and I admire you for recognizing that you need a change and being brave enough to do it! That being said, you are wonderful, caring, giving and incredibly talented and I thank you for sharing all that. And remember, to quote a smart lady,
“You is kind, You is Smart, You is important.”
Much love and the best to you on this journey. We’ll all be looking forward to your return.
Good Luck Michael! The days are long but the years are short! I hope you rejuevenate and enjoy your time off! Good Luck. I love your blog! You are very talented!
Seems like what you posted that are your suggestions of what you will do for your time away, seem like a long list that might not (probably not) be accomplished in such a short amount of time. I thought you might be taking 6 months or 1 year away, because it seems to me that it’d take me that long to work through all that you have talked about. Especially with all that is happening in our world today, I wouldn’t (and you too) probably won’t be able to focus 100% on your list of things to do. So, I’d say: take more time, forget about all of your should-a’s, and just live in the moment. I’d even “Let Go” and not do anything, other than just think about things and do some personal writing. Trust me. I’ve been there.
And, about so many social communities — like Facebook and Instagram, they are just big time-wasters that seldom lead to any jobs / contract-work for me. So, I just dumped them and talk to people face-to-face. Yes, you need it in your endeavor, but you have to set boundaries where you only spend so much time. For me, if I get onto Facebook, I set 30 minutes or so, then that’s it. Or, more like saying hi to an old friend, then leave it. Otherwise, I’ll want to waste so much time. So, those are my lessons from years of thought about these things.
I barely know you, but I wish you my best.
Proud of you for prioritizing your self care and mental/ emotional health! Your efforts and beautiful creativity on your blog have inspired me for years. I love seeing ideas (new or “borrowed “) in peoples real lives. Do what challenges you but brings you joy!
So important to remember to take time for ourselves, especially during this unprecedented, stressful time. Looking forward to when you return and getting my fill of beautiful home inspiration! You are a light in this space!