Unplugged // JustineCelina.com
Creative Process, Goals, Life, Travel, Wellness

UNPLUGGED

I took this weekend off from blogging. That almost never happens. If you read My 1st Blogiversary + 10 Things I Learned in my First Year of Blogging post, you’ll know that I’m pretty diligent about my twice weekly blogging schedule, which usually includes a post mid-week and one on the weekend. Well this weekend, despite my best efforts, I simply couldn’t get a post up before we left on Friday for a wedding in Saskatoon. As I ploughed through a very busy week and the weekend drew closer, I decided that what I really needed — more than rushing to get prewritten content ready to publish for a weekend that I was going to be out of town, was to completely unplug.


UNPLUGGED


I’ve skipped a blog post twice now since I first started JustineCelina on April 2nd, 2015. Last summer, one of my best friends got married in a remote location in the Kootenays, and I took some time off at Christmas to reconnect with friends and family. I guess this past weekends post is this one you’re reading now, on Monday. It’s pretty sobering to realize that it takes a significant event for me to unplug.

Honestly, it was so refreshing to not even bring my laptop with me (seriously, that is unheard of) and completely turn off all of my social notifications. I absolutely love what I do and don’t consider it work at all, which is probably why it ends up being so consuming! In starting JustineCelina, the lines between work and life have become even more blurred than they were before — that was actually one of my intentions (read more about why I started blogging in the first place here). But, with those blurred lines comes a need to set new boundaries in my life. Truthfully, I’m always working — whether it be on the blog or on other projects. It took a totally unplugged weekend away to come back with a new perspective and realize how much I needed it.

This weekend, I was able to be fully present and to enjoy time with family and friends without distraction. I wasn’t daydreaming about my next blog post or focused on collecting content, I was just living and enjoying the small, simple pleasures in life — rather than focusing on capturing them. Not ironically, after turning off my social notifications for the weekend, I feel more connected to those around me. I need to do a better job at remembering that although consistency is important in producing great creative work, so is taking time to unplug, recharge and reconnect. That’s a new goal I’m setting for myself.

As I came back to my blog this morning with fresh eyes and a fresh mindset, I felt inspired to share this post. Guess what? There are no photos. I didn’t even bring my Canon this weekend and I can’t tell you how freeing that was. Is the world going to end? Nope. Were there a million beautiful moments I could have taken photos of and shared with you? Of course. The featured image up top is actually a photo I took at Kootenay Lake last summer.

Although I love capturing images and am a visual storyteller by profession, I truly believe that some things in life should remain private. The most personal moments of my life (happy, as well as unhappy) will never make the pages of this blog, or my social feeds — and I believe that’s the way it should be. Despite blogging, I’m actually a very private person and am always respectful of the privacy of others in my life. Quiet moments and reconnection were needed this weekend. Cameras and social media were not.

Regardless of this being a photoless post, I hope you enjoyed these reflective, non-visual musings that I know are equally as important as all the others I share here at JustineCelina.


When was the last time you totally unplugged?


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18 Comments

  • Reply Chrissie (thebusybaker.ca) April 18, 2016 at 9:42 am

    I couldn’t agree more!! I love your blog and your insights 🙂 Thanks for sharing! Glad you had a great weekend!

    • Reply Justine April 18, 2016 at 10:25 am

      Thanks, Chrissie! Although it’s definitely not my norm, I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Hope you had a great weekend, too.

  • Reply Dana April 18, 2016 at 11:12 am

    You totally hit the nail on the head, Justine! I went unplugged for an entire weekend not long ago and that’s when I realized how shackled I felt by social media–especially as a blogger. We feel the need to constantly create and share and, at the end of the day, what is left for us on a personal level?
    Also, I feel like constantly documenting things, even if it’s just on Instagram, can rob you of the experience of simply taking things in. It’s so important to just shut the rest of the world out and enjoy the moments and the scenery for yourself once in a while.

    This posted reminded me that I’m due for an unplugged weekend. I’m going to plan one soon–I already can’t wait!

    Fantastic post, Justine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts <3

    • Reply Justine April 18, 2016 at 11:37 am

      I’m glad you could relate — I actually remember you chatting about your unplugged weekend, too. It’s ridiculous how difficult it is for us as bloggers and creatives to unplug. It is totally necessary though, and something I’m definitely going to do more often. I’m sure so many of us feel this way — and it’s important to talk about it! Thanks for the comment and the Facebook share, Dana. Hope you have a great week!

  • Reply Jess April 19, 2016 at 12:21 am

    I feel tha unplugging often equals reconnecting.. Glad you had an ‘unplugged’ experience with guided insights ✨

    • Reply Justine April 19, 2016 at 8:44 pm

      Thanks, girl! Me too.

  • Reply Anneke Forbes April 19, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    Congrats on taking the weekend to recharge and relax! Just be careful – it’s addicting; just ask my slowly disappearing social media accounts. Haha!

    • Reply Justine April 19, 2016 at 8:45 pm

      Haha, thanks Anneke! Quality is better than quantity, right?

  • Reply SIMPLE PLEASURES - Justine Celina April 21, 2016 at 6:00 pm

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  • Reply Desiree April 21, 2016 at 11:21 pm

    I totally agree with you. I am not blogging but I set up an Instagram account and even that requires time. So I am constantly on my phone or thinking about, what photos I want to put up. Nowadays it’s really important to live in the moment and not only online.

    • Reply Justine April 22, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      It totally does take time — I know the feeling! You really sum it up well with living in the moment and not just online. Something to always be mindful of! Have a great weekend, Desiree!

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