Finding Time To Disconnect

Finding Time To Disconnect

Now that the holiday bustle is over, it’s time to relax. One of our favorite parts about the holidays is seeing relatives we haven’t seen in months, or even since last year. We love exchanging the gifts we spent hours finding, just to get the perfect thing for our loved ones. Being surrounded by people during the holidays reminds us of how much we have to be grateful for this season and always.

The holidays are also a time to take a much-needed break from technology. We finally sit down, talk to close friends and family in person, and avoid the urge to check our phones. This part is actually fairly easy when you’re around so many people celebrating a holiday, but can you resist this urge when you’re alone?

In some sense, the holidays are a time of disconnecting, but you’re still surrounded by noise and chaos. When’s the last time you truly separated yourself from the rest of the world?

Today, we encourage you to put down your phone, step away from your laptop, and tell your close ones you’ll be excusing yourself for the day. Find a nearby trail and pack some water and snacks so you can stay for awhile. As you walk, notice the quietness all around you. Listen to the birds, the trees, and listen for any signs of nearby streams or pools of water.

Maybe you live by the mountains or the beach. If so, drive to a secluded spot and sit for awhile. Reflect on the year. Think of your accomplishments, your setbacks, what you gained, and what you lost. Try to come to peace with your disappointments, regrets, or losses. Focus on what you’ve gained, what you’re grateful for, and what you look forward to in the coming year. You may even want to pack a journal to take note of these things!

Here at Outward On, we appreciate nature for providing these quiet spaces. Yes, there is always time for extreme skiing, group traveling, and thrilling adventures, but part of why we love the outdoors is that we can have both. There’s a time for playing and a time for meditating. Use today as a day to meditate in the outdoors, fully absorbing the other part of yourself in which nature can fulfill.