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!
Good for you! I am looking at doing the same thing. I hope you enjoy this time.
I love your work! I love your recipes!! Enjoy your time off. I hope you can make a plan to do this annually. Everyone needs it. Looking forward to your return and hoping you enjoy your time off!
Take all the time you need to reset. I totally know how you are feeling. Its hard to be the one person doing everything. It takes a toll I closed my Cafe and slept for a month. I worked on my house finally and cooked and did creative things and got more exercise and gave up (mostly) computer & texting etc. We are in a difficult time now and brain fog is real. So go have some fun🧁🍭🍬
I think you are feeling what a lot of us are right now. What is going on in the world is a trauma to our psychs our souls if you will, and we all need to take care of our mental health. I had similar problems even before the virus hit US soil and I floundered on what to do. I started journaling in a hope it would shed some light on why I was feeling the way I did, and it helped me so much to see where I was spending too much of my time and I set daily goals, little things basically and then led up to bigger goals and I feel it has helped me cope better with what is going on and to focus on the important things in life and hopefully when this is a thing in our past, I will come out of it better than I went in to it. Will miss your blog but definitely understand why you need a break. Enjoy your time and enjoy those kitties.
Will miss you during this time off and yet, at the same time I am happy for you that you are taking steps to focus on yourself and get yourself centered to where you want to be and what you want to do.
Enjoy your time off! I think it is a wonderful idea to feed your soul. I started blogging two years ago as a hobby (hoping to make it something more) but I find it so hard to keep it up. Even though I am not someone who compares myself to others, I find that it is difficult in the blogging world. You are an inspiration to me (and many others) since you have such a beautiful and informative blog and are so authentic and true to yourself. Take care and look forward to when you are back!
Michael,
so glad you are taking time to take care of YOU!. Best wishes on your break to reflect, recharge, and just feel good again. I hope your time is spent doing things you love, or doing nothing at all. God Bless, and thank you, for being you!
Best wishes to you and enjoy your break. I take a break from social media every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas and have never regretted it. I find that it helps me focus on what (and who!) is in front of me instead of on a screen. I look forward to your creativity and insight after you have recharged!
You are a uniquely gifted, beautifully creative person, and clearly, wise (I can so identify with social media issues). Glad you are doing what you need to do. Will look forward to your return.
Thank you for being a good example to follow!
God bless!
Michael, I understand and will be praying for you! God wants you to rest your body and take care of it!
I look forward to your emails every day. Stay well and take care!
Blessings,
Wishing you wellness and peace. My word of the year was to eliminate the noise in my life! I just love look g at your photos. They calm me and inspire! Hugs! Laura
Good for you to share with vulnerability and speak words to so many things I feel and I don’t have a blog! I do enjoy reading your blogposts and the beautiful content on them.
Thank you for admitting and taking the time to be intentional. We can only give to others from the out flow of our own hearts and when we are empty…time to fill up!
Stay safe and healthy and enjoy your time off from social media.
I can understand how this kind of work can be pretty daunting and exhausting. So much to keep up with! You should probably schedule more breaks for yourself to recharge.
But, don’t ever get down on your own personal talents. There’s nothing good to be gained from comparing yourself with others. You are you and bring special gifts that only you possess. I personally think your posts are beautiful and inspiring.
I hope this break restores your soul and makes you feel motivated to continue sharing your awesome ideas with us!
Hi, Michael!
I have been enjoying your blog so much! I completely understand your need to get away for a while. I hope your time away is restful and you are able to accomplish all of your goals to relax and reset. We all need to get away at times. Looking forward to seeing you when you return.
All the Best,
Good for you for making yourself a priority! Enjoy your time and I look forward to seeing you back!
I hope you have a very restorative break. You have nothing to apologize for and I love your blog. You need and deserve a break and hope you get what you need from it. I totally get what you say you feel….social media can be draining of good energy too. Hang in there and you are well thought of, and there is no sense my telling you to “snap” out of it, or “how can someone like you feel that way” because I have been there and you can’t control that sense of what you are feeling. Enjoy and sending you positive thoughts. At least you have a beautiful house and some land to get out and just take in nature. Best regards!
Enjoy your vacation. We will be here when you return!
I enjoy you post always and wish you all the best on your break.
Enjoy,
I too am struggling (with anxiety) currently. You are not alone in your need to back away from devices we are all so attached to. You are very talented and refreshing. I love your site. Take care and come back when the time is right.