The Benefits Of Off The Grid

by Jason Falls · November 25, 200920 comments

The Monongahela National Forest; Photo taken f...
I’ll be headed home to the mountains of East Kentucky this week. Image via Wikipedia

You may notice me being a bit off the grid this week. And there are some very good reasons.

First, we all need some R&R from the daily grind, even if it’s the grind we love so. I spend between 10 and 18 hours a day sometimes looking at a computer of some sorts. At a minimum, my eyes need to rest. And since I get paid to think, my brain needs some time, too.

Thanksgiving is also an important family time for many, me included. I don’t spend nearly as much time with my family – wife and kids – as I’d like to, and almost none with the extended folks we’ll visit with this week. So for a few days blog posts and Tweets and such will take a back seat.

I hope you take some time to be off the grid, too. Technology is wonderful. Social media is enriching. But sometimes we just need to curl up with a good book, a warm fire and a loved one and enjoy the here and now.

Do that instead of reading SME this week. I’ll see you back here on Monday.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Did you enjoy this blog post? If so, then why not:Leave Comment Below | Subscribe To This Blog | Sign Up For Our Newsletter |

About Jason Falls

Jason Falls

Jason Falls is the founder and chief instigator for Social Media Explorer's blog and signature Explore events. He is a leading thinker, speaker and strategist in the world of digital marketing and is co-author of two books, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide To Social Media Marketing and The Rebel's Guide To Email Marketing. By day, he leads digital strategy for CafePress, one of the world's largest online retailers. His opinions are his, not necessarily theirs. Follow him on Twitter (@JasonFalls).

Other posts by

Comments & Reactions

Comments Policy

Comments on Social Media Explorer are open to anyone. However, I will remove any comment that is disrespectful and not in the spirit of intelligent discourse. You are welcome to leave links to content relevant to the conversation, but I reserve the right to remove it if I don't see the relevancy. Be nice, have fun. Fair?

  • http://www.repumetrix.com/blog Joseph Fiore

    I hear you Jason. Being Canadian, our Thanksgiving happens in October, which means no break for us this week. But I can totally appreciate the need to use weekend time effectively, and as much as possible with family.

    Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

    Joseph
    @RepuTrack

  • http://www.donmartelli.com Don Martelli

    I hear ya Jason. Time off is always welcomed. Gets you back to square one and thinking about what's really important in life. Happy Turkey Day.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Hora/571834189 Jeff Hora

    Enjoy, try not to overdo the turkey thing, and let the brain go fallow. Goodness ensues….

  • http://jasonkeath.com jakrose

    Enjoy the break with the family sir. I got my downtime on the cruise 2 weeks ago. Refreshing for sure.

  • Jeremy Brewer

    You should re-post your famous (or infamous) Thanksgiving “Falls off the Rocker” story from years ago. Now, that would be a treat!

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      Thanks, Brew. The difference in me then and me now dictates why I
      won't do that. I have clients. Heh.

      But part of that story made it to http://sayfunnythings.com this
      week. ;-) .

  • http://mightybrand.com/blog Ryan Waggoner

    Ah…just looking at that picture and thinking about turning all my gadgets off makes me feel better. I love social media, but it's wearying and stressful if I don't get away on a regular basis. I wonder if it'll always be that way, or if the medium just hasn't matured enough.

  • acedrew

    Ahh, Eastern Kentucky, some of the most beautiful, if god-forsaken country I can imagine, enjoy your time “off-the-grid”

    Andrew Rodgers
    http://perfectedperspectives.com | http://twitter.com/acedrew | http://fb.perfectedperspectives.com

  • http://edwardboches.com edwardboches

    Beaten biscuits, country ham, small batch bourbon. Sounds good to me.

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      C'mon over!

  • http://thefuturebuzz.com AdamSinger

    There's an off button? Hmmmm…

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      Yes, and it's glorious when you use it. (The work will still be there.
      Just chill for a while.)

  • http://www.facebook.com/eddie.sherman Eddie Sherman

    Hello Jason,

    New to your blog and tweets. I too am from Eastern Kentucky. I still live here… Cool to see people from our area making an impact in Social Media. Lets connect and learn more about one another! @eddiegrey

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      Great to see a fellow hillbilly! Thanks for dropping by Eddie.

  • http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan

    Time spent doing nothing is when most everything happens. Trying to think every moment stops the flow of the really creative ideas.

    Most of my 'Ah-ha' moments came when my professional tasks were the farthest thing from my mind.

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      Thanks Ryan. I agree. My best thinking is normally coming back from
      vacation. Here's hoping I've got something good coming tonight!
      (Sunday after Thanksgiving.)

  • http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/ Orlando SEO Marketing

    I'm with you for the most part, but when I get back to work I start to feel a little lost. I like to take a project with me while i'm “on vacation”, but that's probably while i'm still single :) . I just need a little bit of work to keep me together when I get back to the office.

    • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

      Here's hoping you get out of that habit. The older you get, the more
      you need the decompression.

  • Qigaihu

    Time to let you know love, time can prove love, but also be able to love overturned.
    Without a time of grief can not be mitigated.
    If time can not make you forget the people who should not have to remember that we lost years what is the significance?
    If all the sorrow, pain, failures are false, and that without a mistake?
    Unfortunately, the world situation there are many false false righteousness, their own suffering, failure, sadness, has chosen to always be true.
    powder metallurgy
    power inverter

  • Qigaihu

    Time to let you know love, time can prove love, but also be able to love overturned.
    Without a time of grief can not be mitigated.
    If time can not make you forget the people who should not have to remember that we lost years what is the significance?
    If all the sorrow, pain, failures are false, and that without a mistake?
    Unfortunately, the world situation there are many false false righteousness, their own suffering, failure, sadness, has chosen to always be true.
    powder metallurgy
    power inverter

Subscribe to SME via email!

Close (X)

Probably the best thing you will do all day.