Yes, I’m just home from the most delightful 90 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. (And that says a lot because I got to see both Star Trek and Wolverine this week.)
Last night my eyes fell on the four new magazines that have arrived in the last few days. The thought came to me that it would be really cool to take them up the street to our local cafe in the morning to read/scan them over breakfast and coffee.
Why didn’t I just take them into the living room and read them on my own couch? Why not just read them here at my desk? Sometimes I do – but I find it hard to relax, read and reflect when my keyboard is only a few inches or steps away. The urge to visit the sites mentioned and Google the people interviewed is intense.
There’s nothing wrong with going dual-media – but there is something to be said for just reading and thinking – so, I packed up my magazines, a fresh note pad and my favorite pink pen and headed out to the Looking Grand Cafe.
Late morning is the perfect time to go to a small town cafe. The breakfast rush is over, service is fast and the environment is quieter than usual.
I was in for a treat. An older gentleman poked fun at the waitress by requesting a ‘left handed hamburger’. This turned into an all-staff/customer discussion on sending a new cook’s assistant after ‘canned steam’ from the pantry and the important difference between ’summer air and winter air’ in your tires and other old time rural legends.
Before the man left he told us he didn’t care much for the local police anymore since he’d been giving a ticket recently. Apparently he’d struck a turkey in the road, sending it right up in the air! When it come down, it hit a police car coming in the other direction.
Reason for the ticket? ‘He said I flipped him the bird!’
Oh yeah… you can groan now 
This sweet taste of small town friendliness and goofball humor was exactly what I needed. I didn’t decide to get away from the computer just so I could read. I wanted to start my day with something other than email and Twitter.
It’s nice to experience non-digital life now and then. Can you relate?
Breakfast was yummy. The coffee was ok. The magazines gave me a few ideas to look into – but all in all – I’m going to count the smile on my face as the biggest takeaway from this morning.
And that’s enough 
What do you do to unplug and refresh yourself?
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That’s the problem – I haven’t unplugged or refreshed myself this week! The family is feeling the effects, and fresh ideas for my business are nowhere to be found! Thanks for the push. I will stay away from the computer tomorrow!
Angela Greens last blog post..Happy International Virtual Assistants Day!
That sounds like a great morning! I have decided I need to get away from my computer more often also. Thanks for reaffirming my thought that sometimes unplugging IS a good thing!
Lauras last blog post..Saturday Link Love – The RYB Edition
Hey Kelly!
You’re more likely to get burn out if you stay in front of the computer too long. I like to walk outside and shoot a few hoops to clear my brain! I often get some good ideas that way.
Jenns last blog post..Make sure your listings are up to date
I just had to update my earlier comment. After reading your post, I have focused this weekend on working in the yard, exercising, going to church, playing with my kids, and doing NOTHING in front of the computer (except now, haha!). I feel better already!
Angela Greens last blog post..Happy International Virtual Assistants Day!
With spring arriving, I am trying to do more outside stuff — making room for a garden, planting flowers and herbs, getting in some shrubbery and stuff like that. I also try to do some recreational reading — reading that is not related to anything outside of fantasy fiction
I feel that if you don’t unplug and refresh you fall into burnout and creative blocks. Some other things I do is scrapbooking — no digital allowed
all paper and fun stuff. Love it. Walking around the block in the evening has been a good thing too.
thanks for sharing your “unplugging” moment.
Just this weekend I decided to have more “unplugged” time than I’ve had in a very long time. And it has felt good. My brain is not overwhelmed by the constant stream of information that I LOVE to filter through.
I’ll admit – I’ve felt a little lost for a few moments – but I’ve had time for reading (for pleasure!), relaxing, napping, and having time with my family. It’s been wonderful. I covet 90 minutes alone at a coffee shop – so that’s my next goal!
Debbies last blog post..Unplugged
Wow, did I need to read this post. I almost never completely unplug and refreshing myself! I really need to do this…thanks for reminding me to take time away.
Amy Hasss last blog post..Teenagers And “Sexting”: How Much Do You Know?
On the weekends I try to just focus on friends and family. I take a break from my blog, but somehow I always find myself checking email or hopping on Twitter.
We are trying to plan a family vacation and I’m still trying to figure out a plan for my blog and social networks – any suggestions?
Holly – The Work at Home Womans last blog post..Lovable Links – Social Networking & Blogging Communities
Kelly, the ‘smile’ on your face – is priceless. It seems recently that I’ve been glued to my computer non-stop. Unplug you say, ‘what is that’? Yes, that is something we all need to do. Reading this is a ‘kind reminder’ to me, to stop and smell the roses, don’t forget the family, and remember to hold our heads up high and breathe. So, starting this week, there will be a BIG POST-IT on the computer – UNPLUG, UNPLUG, UNPLUG – Thanks for the ‘wake-up call’.
I am cracking up over the reasoning for the ticket. Yeah, I know, it doesn’t take much to make me laugh.
I think it is GREAT to unplug and just enjoy things. When I want to do this I usually enter into my 9yo’s room and start a mean game of “Action Hero Battle”. We create little worlds for our action Hero’s and get lost in our imaginations for over an hour at a time. It is so cool to just get down on the floor and play “No laptop, no computer, no phone, not blackberry” Just me, my kid and .. well… about 50 action heroes. (BTW I created the coolest spaceship that could hold my entire hero village.. c’mon, how cool is that).
The other thing I do to unplug is to go running. I do this without a walkman or iPod. I actually like to run and concentrate on my breath and nature.
I think unplugging should be mandatory for all of us from time to time:)
Aurelia Williamss last blog post..Help for out of control teens
Kelly,
I don’t do what you were talking about, but have been realizing more lately how important it is to get out at times. I have been sitting behind my computer for four years now, and don’t do much for “me time.”
Thanks for the encouragement!
What a wonderful post, Kelly. I especially appreciated the “goofball” humor.:-)
Thanks so much for the reminder to unplug on a regular basis. As wonderful as the online world is for so many of us, we do need to keep it in perspective and not let it become the sole focus of our days.
Now that the weather is cooperating, I love being able to get outside more and get my hands dirty with gardening and playing with my kids. We can really take a cue from them, because they see the whole outdoors as their playground.
I also find that sitting down with a good book or magazine and a cup of green tea helps me to recharge and de-stress.
For me, it is a daily challenge to make conscious choices about how to spend my time and energy. Sometimes I end up feeling a bit “unsconscious” when I go online and stay there for too long. I really have to be aware of this tendency.
Thanks again for the great post.
Amy E. Willards last blog post..Isn’t it Time to Give Yourself a Break?
Hi Kelly, thanks for the small town snapshot. My last blog post was actually about social media and whether it makes us less social–so this was interesting.
To unplug I love simply sitting on the couch having long talks with my husband or going with him for a walk down to the local lake. Between my iPhone and the computer, he teases me for being so connected. After a day of staring at a screen he doesn’t want anything to do with it.
Christine | Communicate Values last blog post..Are We Less Social With Social Media?
Kelly, I just returned from a weekend at our beach house where we have no internet. Although I was busy cooking, entertaining and helping a bunch of scrapbookers I enjoyed the electronic break! I was refreshed and eager to get back to my computer this morning. Thanks for the great reminder to take those much needed breaks now and then.
I definitely don’t do it often enough. About the only time I ‘unplug’ so to speak is when my internet goes down and I’m forced to walk away.
I’m working on putting a new schedule into place and I really know how important it is for me to put some ‘me’ time in there.