Before I came here I was used to be online most of the time. For the last years I had a mostly online business: online coaching, online courses, organizing events that required a lot of mailing. At the end i longed to be offline more and more. I planned days and weeks without internet and mail. I loved it.

And when last May a few of my longings came together and i decided to go away for a while, it was obvious for me that i also would be less online for at least a few months. No new blogs on my other site, not visiting Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest (I already said goodbye to Facebook the year before). And to leave my smartphone and instead bring a old mobile phone.

And then i came to this place. With only a few spots with mobile phone connection. A -very old and slow- voluntary laptop that i could use at one specific place at certain hours. A sort of secret Wifi spot where i could connect with the outside world, but only after 5 pm and at a dry but quit uncomfortable place, where the only place place to sit is on the ground.

When it is so much hassle to get online, you get so much more efficient. And lots of things are not really worth the time and effort. Typing on a little tablet screen when sitting on a cold floor makes sure that you don’t type or browse to much.

Offline most of the time. I love it.

Besides, most of the time i have to work or spend my time walking, reading, having nice conversations, looking at the beautiful view or just sit with one of the cats. It is quit a relief to be in a place where not everybody is looking at their smartphone all the time.

Since a few weeks i made the decision to slowly get more online. My smartphone was send to me, so Whatsapp is back in my life. (Although i told that to almost no one until now).And i started to share pictures on Flickr and Instagram again. And i started this new site. Everything is a bit handier because i have sometimes access to a normal computer. 

I also felt the downsides of it all again. Checking Instagram and my mail quit a lot. It made me more anxious sometimes. Until i realized again that i don’t have to do check all this all the time.  And I can always make the decision, like last weekend, to not go online for a few days.

Because disconnecting actually connects me more: with myself and the people around me.