Consider a Radical New Year’s Revolution

Imagine you unplug for one whole week-end? Or week?? Or month???

Some of you are thinking that is completely impossible. Well, no, not impossible. But, certainly radical. It requires a strategy and plan. I have detailed the one that worked for me below. But the radical part, is not executing the proposed unplug.

The radical part is being self-reflective enough to gather the necessary information to determine how you will plug back in… differently. Who and what deserve your attention? How often? When? Under what conditions? And why?

Here is the seven step plan I recommend based on my three month unplug.

1) Devise Your Cultural Cover Story

You will need this to appease the great majority of well-intentioned friends, family and culture at large, who will otherwise think you’ve: a) lost your mind b) been abducted into a cult or c) determined you deserve a more peaceful, relaxed, and unencumbered existence (shhh…not everyone is ready for this).

It’s kind of like when you go on a diet you warn people ahead of time you will not be ordering carbs, dessert or more than two glasses of wine so they don’t feel abandoned, betrayed or pissed off.

My cultural cover story is that I am writing a book about unplugging from social media. True story.

But, the truth is a many-splendored thing. And there are stories for every possible life circumstance. EVP of a Fortune 500 conglomerate? Perhaps YOU are streamlining productivity by maximizing sustained strategic thinking. Career mom? Maybe YOU have decided to cut back on what doesn’t connect you to your family.

2) Execute Your Exit Strategy

Before the big unplug, you’ll have to let close friends and family know your story. Then, put a new message on your cell phone and a bounce-back message on your e-mail letting people know your story and that if it’s urgent they should call your landline (work or home).

On your cell you’ll have to go into the general setting and turn off notify me when new messages come in. On your computer or laptop you’ll have to quit out of Entourage or Outlook. This is critical to your success. Trying to IGNORE incoming messages is like going to a bar your first day sober.

3) Take Three Deep Breaths

The first to clear thoughts like, “Oh dear Lord what have I done? Does anyone still remember me? Will I be lost in a sea of “social media misfits”, a technological tornado of “outdated, irrelevant cast-offs”?

The second to embrace the feeling that you are finally free from the endless barrage of bull*&#@ and may in fact be more at peace without your 5,000 friend entourage.

The third is to repeat mantras 4 and 5.

4) Choose Inner Active Over Interactive

When you go to check your phone, which you will, about 150 times, STOP. Choose YOU! Sliding to Unlock just takes us away from who we are, what we love, and why we’re here.

It also takes us to beauty and brilliance and vital connections with loved ones, not to mention a fantastic world of inspiration, like what you are reading:) BUT, if we don’t begin plugging back into ourselves, we lose the individual spirit, breath and heartbeat that makes us feel real.

So don’t lose your SELF in endless replies.

5) Enter Your Presence, Not Your Password

We are in a constant state of high alert because everything has become a level red stage four crisis. Everything needs to be done NOW! Later is for losers. Except the more we react, the more reactive we become. Unless, we choose, to be present.

It’s not to say you won’t respond. Because, most likely you will. But, very few things require responding within seconds. Or even minutes. Possibly hours. Consider the possibility when you plug back in, to checking every three hours.

6) Be Forewarned: People Respond Very Differently

Some people will find your home phone number and call to congratulate you right away! Mostly these are the people that long to do it themselves, already have a balanced social media diet or love where they are at in life and have an abundant sense of support for others.

Some friends (even close ones) may not respond no matter how many times you reach out. They will wait till you plug back in to the 21st century. They will feel you are not being a team player. If they’re sucking it up and dealing with it, why can’t you? It’s kind of like when you say you are getting divorced, quitting alcohol, going on a diet or doing anything that takes charge of your personal well being.

You become a mirror for what is or isn’t working for others.

7) Enjoy Your New Found Freedom

It’s kind of like a mini-vacation, especially if you plan on plugging back in at a future date. So, make a plan for what you will do with more free time than you can currently imagine.

And pay attention… the trick is plugging back in without unplugging from you.