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My Slow Week.


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There comes a point in every blogger’s life when you just don’t want to blog anymore. Like a runner’s hitting a “wall”, it just catches you off guard. I’ve read so many articles about it, I never thought I would be the topic of the matter.

I just needed to stop and breathe for a moment. I thrive on social media but the phrase, “too much of a good thing” bears heavily right now. I work from home, so I can’t get away from a computer even if I wanted to. I used to blog with vigor. Lately, I haven’t felt like doing anything with vigor. It may be textbook depression, but whatever it is, I just didn’t feel like doing anything. You know, feeling blah, overwhelmed, irritated, wanting to throw your every computer, gadget and tech item you own out the window. You know, the usual.

My camera felt like obligation for work than a passion for photography. I love you guys, but I caught myself browsing through blogs like an old magazine and my inspiration was kaput. 
If I wasn’t getting any inspiration, how was I supposed to give you guys the goods? 
Running away from the Internet and never looking back seemed so refreshing at the time.

So, I took a break. I took Gmail, Facebook app, and blocked the web on my phone. I turned off my wifi while I worked, I turned off my phone at night, didn’t run to check my email in the morning. I treated myself to some of my favorite things normally distracted by going online

  • listen to my records, 
  • bake, 
  • embroidering,
  • cleaning my apartment, 
  • swap my 35mm SLR instead for my digital SLR, 
  • going for walks without my cellphone, 
  • writing my pen pals, 
  • swapped my MacBook Pro for my Fieldnotes and a pencil, 
  • my Bamboo tablet for colored pencils and paper, 
  • swapped my cluttered office for a quiet cafe
Everyone deserves a break. Thanks for sticking around!  I’m back to blogging! 
How was your week? 


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32 Responses to My Slow Week.

  • katrina says:

    for what it's worth, i know how you feel. i feel "blah" occasionally, too and i think those feelings will come cyclically and is simply an indication that we need a break, even from what we love.

  • Courtney says:

    I think that is amazing!I bet that you feel better and are far more inspired and ready to create.The good part is that you know when you need to stop and actually do it. I think that everyone might soon be following suit.

  • i sense that a lot of people have been feeling this way lately. i'm glad you're back and it sounds like you were able to do a lot of great things while ignoring the internet. perhaps small breaks more often will help you and me from hitting the wall. have a fantastic weekend.

  • It all sounds heavenly! I am very much looking forward to life on the boat, when I'll be unplugged for a few days every week. I think it's really important to pick up a book, an old camera, a recipe, etc. to remember where we came from. The internet is supposed to be inspired by what goes on in real life, right?

  • I take my breaks from the interwebs every now and again, too, so I completely know where you're coming from. You just need that space sometimes, in order to appreciate the stuff that really counts.

  • Liz says:

    I not only think its acceptable, but necessary to take breaks like this. You're the one who reassured me when I took mine, that everyone would still be here when I got back. You were right. <3

  • Autley says:

    Glad you are feeling refreshed! :D

  • natalie says:

    Well, that does sound refreshing! Be glad you took the break, things always look better afterwards. :)

  • becka says:

    This is something I really need to do, despite feeling a little anxious when I think about it! I'm glad you got a good break, and I'm glad you're back!

  • Angie says:

    I'm most productive when I shut down the computer, grab my pen and notebook and get out. You deserve to reboot your creativity once in a while.

  • jackie says:

    Like Angie said, I get so much more work done when I'm at a cafe with pen and a Moleskine. It's good to take break from so much electronics around us these days :)

  • i need to do this…been feeling so overwhelmed by everything lately. unplugging sounds so luxurious.

  • muchlove says:

    great to have you back :) It's always good to take a break from something once in a while, and it looks like you you had a really nice one (baking, embroidery, and coloured pencils? yes please!).

  • I just noticed you won the award for 2010 Blogs by Latinas! Congrats!!!

  • drollgirl says:

    sometimes blogging becomes part of the grind of life, and you were very smart to take a break! it is good to get out and live a little from time to time. BUT…..i am glad you are back! :)

  • Ashlee says:

    Happens to the best of us once in a while. I've been thinking of organizing a computer rehab / technology-free vacay. Stay tuned for that adventure ;)

  • Oh, how wonderful that you took a break from blogging and computers and all of that. You're making me want to do the same. I've been feeling sort of weird lately, as well, and I think maybe I should follow in your footsteps and take a little break. I'm so glad you're back though!xo Jenny

  • Welcome back dear! We ALL need a break and you were smart to take one. Any new pictures?Ooh and love the new hair!

  • alexkeller says:

    good for you! i think i've told you, but i'm going to visit my girlfriend in CA – can't leave the MacBook, but i'll for sure take a break from some social media.

  • I can relate to every word, dear friend.Have a lovely weekend ;-)

  • Kristin says:

    I really think that unplugging is necessary for the soul. Great to see you back lady!

  • Ruxandra says:

    I think i know how you feel.I myself will be out of the blogging world for the enxt 5 weeks or so, as i have so much to do.And, just as you said, i need to do things i used to do before having my time spent in front of my laptop.happy weekend:)

  • While you were missed, we definitely would rather see you take a mini break to refresh than for you to get completely burned out and quit. I'm pretty obsessive myself. I take my camera & phone everywhere because you never know when the perfect scene will present itself. And the shameful thing is that I'm just an total amateur photographer, and I still can't let go of it. I'm tied to the web because of the shop, and don't even take days "off" completely when on vacation (I even checked for e-mails on my wedding day. Seriously.) I'm going to take some inspiration from you and take a real vacation from it all sometime soon. Welcome back!

  • Stephanie says:

    So glad to have you back! Sounds like you had a wonderful break! :-)

  • you definitely hit the nail on the head. I think I'm back from my hiatus as well. When you start to feel obligated to do something, it takes the fun out of it. Thats how blogging was starting to feel to me. and commenting on peoples blogs…it stopped being as fun. thanks for posting this!!!

  • Rebecca says:

    Ah, Diana, we're so in sync sometimes! For the last half of this week I imposed an internet-limit on myself: only getting online for 15-minute sessions a few times a day. I was… AMAZED by my energy and what I accomplished around the house. Sometimes I just feel like the internet is really bringing me down: I'll spend all day in front of the computer and accomplish nothing [and then feel lazy/depressed]. I'm glad to hear you had a good little hiatus! I may be taking a longer one soon, "officially." As good as the internet can be, real life stuff is so much more significant.

  • S.Elisabeth says:

    Good for you for knowing when to take a break. I'm glad you enjoyed some of your other activities, and I'm glad you didn't decide to simple quit and stop blogging all together!!My week wassss well how any senior who's in her last few months of school, still working like she did in the fall for AP exams in May– a flat out mess!

  • Eri says:

    so glad you are back x

  • Sam says:

    I totally know where you're coming from!!! I've been very slack lately – I practically did one post in about two weeks – hmmmm…maybe it's that time of year? …or the age of our blogs? I think ours are roughly the same age?Anyway, I'm back at it and so glad to see that you are too! I love you blog as you already know!

  • Missa says:

    This is truly inspiring! Good for you :)

  • Milly says:

    This list is great, i will bear it in mind next time i feel that way. Listening to old records never fails to cheer me up. I spent the weekend on a canal boat away from all forms of the modern world and really didnt miss the internet etc. And now i'm back to normality and not liking it! Glad you're feeling better xx

  • aDeLiNe says:

    Happy you're back!

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