Unplug to Recharge (Yes, YOU too!)
Unplug to Recharge
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes....including you" ~Ann Lamott
Disconnecting sounds great in theory, but in practice? It can feel almost impossible. I'm in the process myself so I'm sharing what gets in the way and how to shift to disconnection as your superpower (instead of some unattainable wish).
Why It's Hard to Disconnect
You care deeply. You're responsible. You're efficient. You're the one people lean on. The idea of stepping away - of being unavailable - can trigger anxiety, guilt, or even a little panic. I get it. I've lived it.
But here’s the truth: your constant availability is not a badge of honor. It’s a sure-fire path to burnout.
So why is it so hard to unplug? And what can we do about it?
Why It's Hard to Disconnect (and How to Shift It):
1. EGO: “They can’t do it without me.”
This story flatters our sense of importance but keeps us trapped.
Try this: Ask yourself, What might others gain if I step back and trust them to step up? Growth doesn’t happen in your shadow.
2. IDENTITY: “This is just who I am.”
When you pride yourself on being the fast responder, the reliable one, the always-on person, it feels like betraying your identity to pause.
Try this: Remember, identity isn’t fixed. You can be both responsive and rested. You can lead and let go.
3. FEAR OF FALLING BEHIND
When you’re constantly producing, pausing can feel like failure.
Try this: Reframe rest as strategy. High performers recover on purpose. Build white space into your calendar like it's a meeting with the CEO - because it is. (You're the CEO of your life.)
4. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Whether it’s a client email, a meeting update, or even a social post, stepping away can make you feel like you’re missing the action.
Try this: Remember that meaningful presence beats constant presence. What you miss in the moment is often far less valuable than what you gain in perspective.
5. PEOPLE PLEASING
You respond to that late ping, not because you want to, but because you don’t want to let someone down.
Try this: Define your availability and communicate it clearly. Boundaries don’t make you difficult. They make you dependable and sustainable.
6. HABITUAL HUSTLE
You don’t know what to do with silence. So you fill it.
Try this: Start with micro-disconnects - 15 minutes of no input. No phone. No screen. Just you, your breath, and your thoughts. Discomfort is a sign you’re stretching a muscle you’ve underused.
7. GUILT
If you’ve always equated rest with laziness, it’s no wonder you avoid it.
Try this: Reconnect to what rest gives you: clarity, patience, creativity, leadership. When you recharge, everyone around you benefits.
So how, do you ask, can you do the things mentioned above?
Real Strategies That Work:
Pre-plan your absence. Set expectations with others so you can actually let go when the time comes. An out-of-office message can be a boundary and a breath of fresh air.
Create rituals of disconnection. A walk without your phone. Turning off email notifications after 6 PM. A no-screen Sunday. Start small and stay consistent.
Replace “urgent” with “important.” Not everything is a fire. When you pause long enough, you start to see what actually matters.
Remind yourself: You’re not a machine. You're not meant to operate at 100% output every day. You’re human and humans need rhythm, not grind.
Speaking of unplugging, I’m walking my talk next week!
I’ll be heading out for a family vacation to New Jersey and New York City - reconnecting with people I love, seeing faces I don’t get to see often, and soaking up time with family and friends. That means you won’t see a newsletter from me next week, because I’m purposefully taking off and disconnecting.
I’m giving myself the gift of rest, adventure, and memory-making and I can’t wait to return feeling recharged, rejuvenated, and ready to reconnect with you.
Until then, take a moment. Unplug. The world will still turn. And you just might come back even more powerful.
Cheers to your disconnection,
Sharon
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