Disconnect to Re/Connect

Summer Camp Week 10❣️ Wherein we relax into positive disconnections to restore our natural connections and give ourselves a f-ing break. Bring the R&R!

We’re in our final three weeks of Summer Camp, our adventure into re-imagining how we Rest, Relax, Recreate, Recuperate—and any other R we want to throw into the mix.

Dear Beautiful Friends & Summer Campers,

Welcome newcomers, we’re on week 10 (of 12)! This week, let’s take a page from this recent NPR news story and relax ourselves into some beautiful disconnecting.

As seen on NPR here.

This “Right to Disconnect” movement started in 2017 in France (naturellement) and has been implemented in a dozen countries across Europe and South America.

You can read the full article here, as it applies to Aussie work-life culture, but this week at R&R Summer Camp, we’re going to widen the context around Right to Disconnect and—

Disconnect in order to (Re)Connect

"Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted." — E.M. Forster, Howards End.

You’re invited to go all in on the kind of disconnecting that reconnects you with yourself, the world, and others. Or simply makes your tail wag, your breathing ease, brings a smile to your face, drops a laugh from your lips. Yes, that.

Here’s a menu of positive disconnections to get you started. Create your own, of course.

Of course, some of our habits, behaviors and beliefs are so ingrained, it can be hard to break from them. If we allow ourselves a moment of disconnection, a min-break, a micro-holiday from that interior voice hissing to do better, or getting pissed about dinner, we might connect with what’s possible beyond our current setting.

Take a breath. Say “DISCONNECT” and experiment with PAUSING the instinct to email into the night, doubt a decision, people please, defend yourself, scroll social media, or defend your opinion as if it’s your life. 

You can always go back to the emails, scrolls, perfectionism, and procrastinating after a period of experimentation.

“But what about my tsunami emails?”

Create your own disconnect-positive email auto-responses. Let people know what to expect.

You’re probably familiar with these, and have used them yourself. How about if you use them for life-related emails, as well as professional? Try one of these for a week, see how it goes.

1. “I’m on vacation, and not checking email until DATE. I’ll get back to you then.” Then, stick to it.

2. “Thanks for your note, I’m taking a digital holiday. I’ll be responding to email by DATE.” Then stick to it. This response gives you an out in case you MUST look at your emails; you can look but not answer.

3. “Thanks for your email. I read emails from 9 am - 3 pm M - F only, and will respond within 1 - 4 days.” Then stick to it.

   

4. I once read about how a creative tech worker handled out-of-office email tsunamis, my favorite ever:
   “I’m on vacation from DATE to DATE, not checking email, and will delete all emails received during this time. Please send your email after my return on DATE.”
   As a natural-born purger, I found this delightful and purr loudly every time I think of it.

   With messages like these, we could be showing others how they too can scale down on being One with their Inbox.

Let’s use our Right to Disconnect in the spirit of adding positive pixie dust to our daily lives, and being more engaged in our communities in wild and wonderful ways.

Here’s your Summer Infinity deal for yearly subscription. 

If you’d like to explore more, I offer 1:1 Coaching, a space to adventure, create, and surprise yourself. Use everyday Beauty as a portal to change and transform your life, in big, medium, and delightfully tiny ways.