life

Unplugging

by Keira Lennox

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I started this post a week ago. It languished in draft while I navigated a crazy few days at the flower shop, worked through the weekend, and slept it all off on Sunday. Yesterday, I penciled in some “me time,” and ended up at a bookstore (I always end up at a bookstore) where I spotted this journal and decided I needed to finish, and publish, my thoughts on “unplugging.”

Prince Ea’s “Can We Autocorrect Humanity?” video is making the rounds on my Facebook newsfeed. It’s an important message wrapped in a beautiful delivery.

“Did you know the average person spends 4 years of his life looking down at his cell phone? Kind of ironic, ain’t it? How these touch-screens can make us lose touch…”

It seems especially timely for bloggers, considering Young House Love’s recent farewell post and the NYT article, “When Blogging Becomes a Slog.”

Erin Loechner (Design for Mankind) said,

“I need a little less online, and a little more in life.”

Erin wrote a post two years ago, “The Rebirth of Slow Blogging,” that echoes all my sentiments about blogging and social media as I approach my fifth year of writing A Pretty Penny.

Like all things in my life right now, I want to simplify blogging.

I want to write and share without worrying about a posting schedule, or promoting across my “channels,” or monitoring my traffic. I want a break from advertising and affiliate marketing and “curating” the perfect Pinterest boards. I want to fill my Instagram with pictures of my dog and messy (productive) flower shop and friends’ babies, instead of contrived images designed to drive the most “likes.”

I want to power down in the evenings and weekends. Make dinner for my husband. Read a book. Bake something. Watch my favorite sitcoms from the 90’s (I love you, TV Land). Binge on Netflix.

Most of all, I want to circle back to my original intentions for this blog. I want it to be fun; a creative outlet that makes me feel inspired, instead of obligated.

So I’m turning off the ads, turning down the pressure, and turning a new leaf in my blogging journey where less is more, and real life comes first.

Slow and steady.

46 thoughts on “Unplugging”

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  6. Hi Keira – I just happened to stumble upon this post and I don’t think it could be more timely for me. I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for quite a while and finally took the plunge a few weeks ago. I was hesitant because it seems like there is a lot of pressure on new bloggers to “make it”, but this is a great reminder to write about what I love and to keep that at the heart of the blog! Great Post!

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    1. Congrats on taking the plunge! Blogging has been such a great journey for me. Just remember to do it because you love it. Everything else will fall into place. :-)

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    1. Not dumb at all! It’s a journal. I’m replying to this on my phone so I don’t have the link handy, but it’s from Books a Million. I left a link in another comment somewhere on this post.

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  11. Great post! That journal looks interesting. I’ll have to pick one up.
    Check out the book Hamlet’s Blackberry by Powers. I’m reading it right now for a class, and have found it very profound. It speaks to our hyper-connectedness as a modern society and proposes ways to unplug.
    Refocusing is good. I’m a huge fan of slowing down, remembering our purpose in the midst of this crazy and busy world.
    Best wishes in your blogging endeavors!
    Kindly,
    Heather

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  15. I definitely struggle with this on my own blog… I constantly battle with wanting to grow my following through social media vs. just blogging for passion (which was why I started in the first place!). I love the idea of taking a step back and just doing what feels right!

    Xo Julie

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    1. Hi Julie! I honestly believe that if you start with the passion, the rest will come. Like you said, do what feels right, and everything else will fall into place. “If you build it, they will come.” ;-)

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  16. I drop a comment when I like a article on a site or if I have something to add to the discussion.
    Usually it’s triggered by the fire displayed in the article I looked
    at. And after this post Unplugging | A Pretty Penny.
    I was actually excited enough to drop a commenta response ;) I actually do have
    a couple of questions for you if it’s okay.

    Could it be simply me or does it look like like a few of the comments appear like coming from brain dead visitors?
    :-P And, if you are writing on additional sites, I’d like to follow anything fresh you have to post.
    Would you make a list all of your social pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed,
    or linkedin profile?

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  17. I feel like so many bloggers have written about needing less. More simplification. You should check out bemorewithless.com. Lots of inspiration for simplification over there. Love you Keira, always have and always will! Keep on being you!

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  26. I think it is fab to have “time out” I did The Lightning Process” last year and it was 3 days with no internet, no phones etc it was fabulous. I did as I have a chronic disease and they can help the way you think and I went from a worrier to chilled out – I have timeout from my phone and from the internet but I do love blogging :)

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    1. I think that’s a great way to help reduce some anxiety! I’m a worrier myself, and sometimes all the digital inundation can feel a little overwhelming. It’s nice to unplug with a book or a craft project. I think it’s all about balance!

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  27. I love this and good for you and your decision! It should be fun, not work. I’m pretty sure you and I need to get together and do some baking. :)

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  29. Reblogged this on My Fashion Art Project and commented:
    This is a great goal. One that I had when starting my blog this summer and one I will follow. I normally post on Sundays but had too much to do and didn’t get to sending out my post. But…still felt guilty I wasn’t there to share with all of you.

    Either way, I’ll enjoy writing my next post for all of you soon.

    In the mean time, relax, enjoy and look up from your phone once in a while.

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  30. Keira, I always enjoy your writing. It is always personal and thoughtful, and I always feel like I relate to everything you just said. So in essence, just keep on keepin’ on. Follow what feels right for you and don’t let others tell you how to run your own creative outlet.

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  32. I think this is a great idea to chill out your blogging habits so it becomes fun again. After an almost internet free week in Wales I came back with the same attitude. Do you feel more creative now Keira? Does the journal have little prompts and things to do? I’ve been looking for one like that x

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  33. Wow! I think you should do exactly what you need! It’s the problem now with blogging that it’s more of a business/race then just wanting to talk and show what you love!

    I can’t wait to see the new A pretty penny and an actual natural instagram feed! That’s the dream right there! Can’t wait to see your doggy more!

    Jess

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    1. Thank you, Jess! You’re so right, it’s easy to get caught up in the race to post/engage/update more, and before you know it you’re totally exhausted by it. I think I realized that I need to put all my work commitment and energy into my “real life” business, and just have fun here. :)

      Thank you so much for the encouragement, and for reading APP!

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