Last year on 24th December I wrote a post called Time to Disconnect where I was explaining about how overwhelmed I felt with my bad habit of being glued to my phone or laptop 24/7. I know that is not what I want for me but unfortunately being a blogger means that I have to be more aware of the internet and social media. However, there are some moments that we should disconnect from everything and try to focus on what is important.
Last year I did try to disconnect around Christmas. It was hard and I did my best, managing to disconnect and really enjoying it. So this year when I was asked by Time To Log Off and Punkt to be part of their “Your Present is the Presence” Christmas campaign, I was really keen to give this a go as I know a digital detox is always something that I occasionally need and is a great way to help you think what are your priorities are and to focus on your loved ones more.
This campaign was different as they wanted me to do the challenge one month before Christmas as preparation for the actual date. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do it as I have so many commitments at the moment but then I thought, why not? I decided to just try to give it a go.
They sent me a box with a Punkt phone and other items which they thought could keep me entertained and away from the internet. The idea of this phone is that you remove your sim card from your mobile and put it inside the Punkt phone. This phone is designed to only let you make calls and texts to your friends and family so all your contacts will still be there.
That way you will not be away from your love ones but you will not have the temptation of browsing the internet that easily. This really helps you to properly disconnect from the internet. This sounds all so interesting but I was also really scared about it as I know how attached I am to my phone and I was worried this was going to be the most difficult challenge for me to do.
My days are always very busy. I have so much to do that it is insane. I need my phone for everything, especially for my work. I had a commitment on the first day. My family and I were invited to visit Lapland UK for the day. I was really worried about that as I knew I would be desperate to share photos online. I had a chat with my husband and we agreed that he will support me and he will share some photos if needed.
After that, I was ready to start this challenge. What I love more about this was that I actually had the day to spend with my family and have fun together. I really enjoyed our time together as a family. I had my DSLR and that was great for me as that substituted my need to use my phone for photos thus avoiding ending up looking at anything else.
OMG guys, this was SO hard. I really felt the need to use my phone constantly and I wanted to tweet about it all the time LOL. It was really hard but I must say that being with my family and enjoying the time together was the most important thing for me. I really want to give my presence to my girls over Christmas so this challenge was very important.
Day 1 was very hard but being distracted really helped me to be away from my phone. That was also a bonus because it passed very quick as we were busy on our day at Lapland UK. I found it very difficult during the journey though as when you are in the car you tend to kill the time by browsing the internet through your phone. I put the radio on instead and that actually helped to get distracted. We also put some Spanish songs on for kids that my girls love so we sang along. They fell asleep On the way home so the temptation came back again. I decided to sleep a little bit too. That was nice.
As soon as we arrived home we were really tired so we all went to bed early. This took me to Day 2. This day was going to be difficult as we didn’t have plans to go out. I actually had a lot to write so I decided to concentrate on that. This was great as not being connected to the internet actually helped me to be more productive. I managed to write 2 blog posts that day which was good. We did some activities with the girls and the day passed quicker than I thought.
When the afternoon arrived I was getting anxious again. As I said before I have some commitments so I need to get on the internet. I was feeling the pressure and the urge to get a few things done. I am not going to lie, I had to check a few things online in order to fulfil some commitments. I know this could sound like a failure and maybe it is as I probably failed the challenge after doing this but I would like to think that the success of this campaign was more trying to keep me away from the internet as much as possible than trying to get away from the internet AT ALL. I did that, spending a a lot of time away from the internet and enjoyed some quality time with my family and that for me is a success!
I will be doing this again around Christmas for sure and I would love it if you joined me by disconnecting also, so you can give your presence as a present too!
What do you think of this campaign? Do you also feel that you spend too many hours online? Are you also attached to your phone? Have you tried to disconnect before? Would you like to disconnect around Christmas time? Please leave a comment below as I would love to read what you think.
*Disclosure: I was sent a box with a Punkt phone and some other items for the purpose of this challenge and promotion of this campaign but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
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You did much better than I would’ve managed. I would have caved I’m sure.
Good luck for your Christmas detox! Clare xx
You done really well Franca, I’m not sure I would have been able to do it. I’m hoping to be able to switch off over Christmas for a little bit though #KCACOLS
I’m working a lot more on turning off for many hours in the afternoon and evening. I’ve noticed we’re getting very bad habits in this house. #KCACOLS
We definitely spend too much time looking at screens in our house. I love this!! #KCACOLS
I step away from the phone, internet, tv etc on certain religious holidays and it is really difficult at the start but then I find it more relaxing than the constant busyness all the time. Good luck when you try the detox again #KCACOLS
Well done! I remember when Obama took office and he said to his security people they would have to surgically remove his phone from him. I’ve found it harder and harder to go without, but we have a no phone rule at meals or during previous family time. It’s so tempting sometimes just to send a quick message or have a peek but it all adds up. Have a lovely online again Christmas! Jo #KCACOLS
I don;t think I would have coped half as well as you! I am definitely addicted. I plan to take a bit of a break over christmas though #kcacols
This sounds like such a good idea but also quite difficult for a normal day. I feel like Christmas day would be somehow easier because there’s so much going on it would be easier to forget about social media. That pack looks nice too.
#KCACOLS
http://accidentalhipstermum.com
What as great campaign! I do my best to put my phone down after christmas but I definitely couldn’t go without the entire time! x #KCACOLS
I’m addicted to my phone!!! It’s really eye-opening that you describe yourself as getting ‘anxious’. That’s exactly how I would feel and how I’ve actually felt at times where I didn’t have wifi!!! It’s crazy! It probably IS an addiction that we all have! How crazy! This sounds hard but it’s often very much needed! I sometimes get hooked to my phone in a way that frustrates me – I go on it to check something and 20 minutes later I’ve gone and read someone else’s life story on FB for no reason, for example! And then I wonder why I do it! It’s so easy to waste time as well! This is something that we (our generation of parents) really need to work on! Thanks for sharing #KCACOLS
Sounds like a great campaign! My husband is always complaining that I live on my phone. And it’s just got worse since I started blogging! I’m addicted to checking my social feeds to see what’s going on in the world! #KCACOLS
Sounds great. I am not so addicted to my phone but am to my laptop. #kcacols
I know I spend too much time online sometimes, but I try and keep it to nap times and the evening if Hubby is working anyway. I am taking some time off this Christmas. This will be the last week I do link ups, after that I will have scheduled posts going out at a reduced rate, I will keep social media ticking over but I won’t be pushing it. Just enough to keep me sane over the three weeks of no preschool! Then January it is back on it all with vengeance.
#KCACOLS
I think that having time away from our screens is crucial sometimes, that doesn’t make it easy though! I work during naptimes and evenings but I always have my phone with me, which I check far too often. Here’s to a Christmas detox, I think I’ll join in!
#KCACOLS
This is a great idea. I regularly feel overwhelmed by technology and all we have to do to keep up. And it’s so addictive! It would be so hard to give up for a month but I’d love to try as well. #KCACOLS
I can think of a few other people in this house that may need a bit of detox. I wonder how much of this is a generational problem. I’ve noticed that there is a inverse proportion to age and time spent staring at gadgets #KCACOLS
Great campaign, it’s so difficult to be away from technology these days. The Internet is a wonderful thing but it also impacts so much on relationships and concentrating on enjoying the here and now. Well done! #kcacols
I think this is a great idea. I am hoping to stay off my laptop as much as possible on Christmas day. It is a day we should all be together x
#KCACOLS
LOVE the sound of a digital detox – I totally need one! But the FOMO would almost be to much to bear! Well done for taking part! #KCACOLS
Omg Franca well done!! This must have been so hard I’m not sure I could do it but I would love to try!! #KCACOLS
Sounds like you did really well. My husband and I often comment on our reliance on the Internet. It’s really hard to switch off though and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the communication back log when you get back online. I really want to switch off over Christmas. It’s often easier when everyone else is doing it too! Hope you manage it and have a lovely break x #KCACOLS
The Punkt phone is such an interesting idea! I’m sure my family would love it if I would have a digital detox. I’m definitely addicted to my phone and social media and I probably do ignore my family sometimes when I shouldn’t. Good for you for trying this. I will also try to “switch off” over Christmas and realise my blogging isn’t going to be set back too much. Family is more important! #kcacols
I disconnected last Christmas, partly because there was not a spare minute to check e-mail, let alone browse Facebook, but also because it is an important family time. After Christmas I was interested to see if anyone had been on Facebook on Christmas Day itself and I was surprised at just how many people with families had been spending time online during the day. And at how many photos of Christmas lunch were posted! How do people find time to photograph their lunch? #KCACOLS
It is really hard to disconnect. I try to ease off my phone on the days that I am with Cygnet all day. I don’t want him to think of me as someone who is always on her phone. I want to be able to connect with him IRL so to speak. The evenings though are different (and the occasional toilet break) this is my time and I reserve the right to spend it how I want. As it turns out, how I want tends to be on Twitter, Facebook and on my blog. Jeez – I must read more books – real ones, made of paper!
Pen x #KCACOLS
You did really well – congratulations! It is so easy to get sucked in to spending way too much time on your phone. I’d love to try this! #KCACOLS