When my children were younger, we would mark one day every other week on our summer calendar as 'unplugged day'. They weren't allowed to use anything that plugs in, anything. They whined at first but quickly looked forward to those days (I called them our real days) because those were the days when they did stuff.
Lately I have found that all things 'plugged in' bring big distractions to my creative process, my focus. All it takes is for the phone to ring or my email notification signal to sound and, whether I respond or not, I'm already distracted. I need to prove to myself that I can, for at least one day, step away and disconnect. One day.
What to do with a day of no blog-surfing, no television, no phone calls? Some ideas . . .
- Imagine an art gallery called and asked you to bring a piece by to exhibit; that should push and stretch your creativity. What you will end up with is a piece that at the very least you'll be proud to hang in your home.
- Finish some or all of the kits you've purchased, those you had to have but they sit unopened/unfinished on your shelf.
- Create a piece or a few that you will send in for publication consideration to a magazine. I promise you will never be in a magazine if you don't submit something.
- Make cards. Make cards for birthdays, celebrations, occasions, everything. Pile up a big pile and then you will have cards on hand. I've done this before and let me tell you, it's worth it!
- Journal. Write, write, write. Pull out a box of photos and write something for as many as you can. Get lost in the process of it.
- Pull out all those magazines where you've marked projects you'd really like to make for gifts or for yourself, your home. Get started.
- Make it a technique day. All of us have techniques that we'd like to try or perfect (that dang soldering still gives me fits). Use this day to practice to perfection one technique or to learn several new ones.
- Play and make art all day with your kids.
- Take your camera out and snap photos all day. Try out all the settings, learn new techniques, practice being amazing behind the lens.
Notice the trend in all the above? At the end of the day, you have something to show for your day. Blog-surfing is fun and inspiring, but at the end of the day do you ever think that maybe-just-maybe you could've done something a little more substantial with your time?
So, think this over. If you plan to join me one day this week (any day that works for you), drop me a comment and let me know. Then post on your blog and challenge your readers to do the same if you'd like.
Some thoughts: Don't place too-high expectations on yourself; relax and roll with it, no pressure. If your workspace is completely trashed (like mine), try to straighten up the night before so you won't have to spend half a day cleaning up. Music is something you may want to make an exception for; if you're highly inspired by music as you create, play it. If you're a working girl, you may want to set aside two evenings instead of one full day. I plan to completely unplug the computer and the phone...just running over now and then to check emails is still a big distraction; remember, the idea is to focus and immerse in the creative process.
Next Monday, let's all come back together and post photos of what we did with our unplugged day on our blogs. That'll be fun, don't you think?
Ready, set, let's do this! :)
Rebecca,
This is a WONDERFUL idea. It's just kinda funny that I'm blog-surfing this afternoon. But I can do this. I think I'll take tomorrow's holiday as the day to work on the 5+ kits I have sitting in my scrapbooking room to be done!
Posted by: christine | 17 February 2008 at 18:24
I unplugged for a week about a year or two ago and it was soooo nice and refreshing! I've been saying ever since that I want to do it again, but haven't made it happen. Maybe a day (or two) is a better - more reachable - goal. :)
Posted by: Petra Carden | 17 February 2008 at 18:44
Ok! As I've already agreed to be "plugged in" tomorrow...I'm choosing Tuesday as my day this week. And I'm in serious need of a day like this!
Posted by: Sara R. | 17 February 2008 at 19:07
This is great! I will choose next Saturday the 23rd as my day - my husband is taking the kids skiing, so I will spend the day in the studio (and a bunch of stuff I have due will already be done), so I will just play!
Posted by: Jackie | 17 February 2008 at 19:35
Oh! I'm totally game! I'm thinking Wednesday - the kids don't have school Monday and Tuesday so that would defeat my whole purpose. LOL But Wednesday...that might be just perfect.
Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | 17 February 2008 at 20:05
Oh! And soldering is great fun! I learned in time to make my brother's Christmas gift: http://sharyntormanen.typepad.com/be_good_/2007/12/christmas-eve-r.html#comments
I can't wait to have at it again!
Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | 17 February 2008 at 20:08
This is AWESOMENESS Rebecca. I've been "unplugging" from my two message boards during the weekends for about a month and half now (my way of not getting frustrated while hubby is home during that time -I still go to what I consider my main blogs though). Will look to see what day is good for me this week. One of the things I bought yesterday was a copy of The Natural way to draw by Kimon Nicolaides (I went to a second-hand bookstore looking for vintage Irish and instead found this book plus a Sears,Roebuck and Co. 1900's Catalog and a rebound copy of The Oxford Book of English Verse...the inside pages are so old that when I breathe on them, they crumble), so i guess I've put that on my list of things to accomplish during my every day for the rest of the year.
Posted by: joyce | 17 February 2008 at 20:25
Love this idea! I blogged about it and I'm planning on either Tuesday or Thursday. My challenge is that we use the internet for homeschool also but I really want to do this so I'm going to plan some different lessons for our unplugged day.
We may even make this a once a month event!
Posted by: Katie the Scrapbook Lady | 17 February 2008 at 20:32
what a wonderful, refreshing idea! i have been wanting to create something new, so i will be 'unplugging' on thursday. it will be fun to see what everyone has made on their 'unplug' day.
Posted by: Alissa Millsap | 17 February 2008 at 20:33
What a wonderful idea!!!! I am going to try this for myself and my Family!!
Posted by: sharron | 17 February 2008 at 21:10
Excellent Excellent Idea- I've THOUGHT the same things- but never really committed to doing it. I think just seeing your ideas in writing is so helpful and CONCRETE. I'm going to take some of your ideas, write them in my date book for certain days and make an appointment with myself to GET IT DONE! Thanks for the jump start!
Posted by: Beth Leintz | 17 February 2008 at 21:25
How smart are you, I ask. You know just what we need, and that we need to be reminded as well. Thanks for passing along your good thoughts, and inspiration.
Posted by: Dede Warren | 17 February 2008 at 21:26
Great idea. I have been feeling like I am inspirationally overloaded lately. In other words, spending too much time looking at ideas and dreaming of creating, but not enough time creating! When my daughters we little we went TV free for nine years and we never got bored. (Well, almost never!) You'd think this would be an easy challenge for me, but it isn't. Gonna give it a try though...
Posted by: debbie | 17 February 2008 at 21:40
Brilliant, Rebecca...
Saw you in the Dove of the East booth at CHA and just marvel at how cool you are.
Thanks for sharing...
Posted by: Michelle | 17 February 2008 at 21:42
Perfect! I get distracted to very easy, that a day of reflecting, creating, and no plug-in items would be perfect! Tuesday is my day off--thanks Rebecca.
Teresa
Posted by: Teresa ~ French Poppy | 17 February 2008 at 21:47
i love THIS idea. I am feeling so relieved and inspired after reading this. Tomorrow will be my unplugged day. Thanks Rebecca!
Posted by: Cris | 17 February 2008 at 21:49
This is an awesome idea! I so need to do this on Wednesday. I am going to see what all I can get done and will post on my blog. If I cannot use anything that plugs in that means no cooking or cleaning that day! Wanna try to explain that one to my DH? LOL! JK! Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: Alicia Sharp | 17 February 2008 at 22:09
How fun! Sometimes, all I have to show at the end of a day - is folded laundry. Everytime, all I have to show at the end of a crafting session - is a lovely gift for someone else. I only recently (after continual prodding) began taking pictures of my projects. I just started a blog, and I have realized that I have nothing to show of my arts and crafts! I give it all away... On my "unplugged day" I will make something for myself to keep! :) And I will finally learn how to post pictures so I can share the event. Rebecca, you are my hero. Ha!
Posted by: Whitney Johnson | 17 February 2008 at 23:17
love it!
Posted by: Lori | 17 February 2008 at 23:32
So in on this one.....I just wish I didnt have to work too!!
I think I will choose tuesday to unplug.....mmmm now what to make...this is gonna be fun!!!
Posted by: Jo-Anne TE RAA | 18 February 2008 at 02:39
what a wonderful idea. I especially like to dream about an art gallery calling me to ask me to make an exhibit.
Paula
Posted by: paula | 18 February 2008 at 06:11
I absolutely love this idea!!! Now to look at my calendar and get a day... Maybe this weekend between the kids basketball games!
Posted by: Sheila R | 18 February 2008 at 07:36
How specific are you about the no-plugs thing because lights have plugs as do stoves and refrigerators. :) I love this idea but I want to make sure I won't be starving or working in the dark. :-P
Posted by: Amanda | 18 February 2008 at 07:43
This is a fabulous idea, and am hoping I can pull it off later this week. Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: Trish D | 18 February 2008 at 07:46
I blogged and rallied a few more folks up to the challenge...this is a good one!
Posted by: Sharyn (Torm) | 18 February 2008 at 08:52