1,000 Unplugged Hours in 1 Year
I started unplugging my phone on my 33rd birthday.
I was sitting in the screened in porch of a friend’s home in Melbourne, Florida. Lane and Novi were inside eating breakfast. It was just me— sitting and sipping my coffee as I reflected on the last year and what this next year would bring.
And then the nudge happened.
A holy and sure nudge that told me, “Turn off your phone.”
I write openly about how I think we can hear from God when we quiet our hearts and we weed out all the other voices that sound like criticism or dread, anxiety or adrenaline. I am not claiming that every thought that enters into the mind comes from God because that would likely be a disaster. But sometimes you just know. In the deep of you. Without even being able to explain why. That’s what I felt on that last day of May 2021. I felt like I needed to listen to the voice and I turned my phone right that moment.
I’m a tangible person who needs a roadmap when it comes to transformation. I realize other people dread this kind of structure but it’s productive and life-giving for me.
So I created structure around this idea. I decided I wanted to unplug for a total of 1,000 hours in 1 year. It averaged out to about 3 hours per day. The goal seemed too simple but now, 10 months into it, I can tell you it’s not that simple. Unplugging is hard work. It’s constant work within a culture that convinces we need our devices for every waking hour.
I’d become keenly aware that Novalee would hit milestones and grow up too quickly. It’s one thing to have someone tell you it all happens so fast, it’s another thing to experience it for yourself firsthand. I knew I wanted to be more present. I knew I was using my phone as an excuse to document her life. I was at a point where I just wanted to be in her life, not capture every inch of it for consumption. Her life is not content for others. My life is not content for others. I knew I wanted to shift away from the constant noise and learn to sit in stillness.
I’m almost at 1,000 hours. I will hit the goal by my 34th birthday, just as I hoped. But I’ve also watched this challenge morph into a lifestyle.
It’s no longer about meeting a quota of daily unplugged hours, it’s about building an unhurried, in-the-moment life.
I could say so much more (and I am sure I will in the future) but for now I am still just living it. I’m not writing about it in greater detail— I’m just finishing what I started.
There were requests for the tracker sheet I created to track my unplugged hours. It’s not perfect. I made it in Canva. But I’d love for you to download it if you want to start unplugging in an intentional way. I had a few rules for myself if you’re someone who thrives off guidelines:
Unplugging to me means being cut off from social media, my phone, and email. Most of the time, my phone is completely shut off but there are days where I keep it in a phone box. I do this specifically if Novi is at school or I am expecting a call.
I still consider focused work on my computer (like writing) to be “unplugged” because it is work where I am not scrolling, distracting myself, online shopping, or opening a million tabs. I’m going to get way more into this in my next live class on focus. My phone is not present during these sessions.
I recommend planning when you are going to shut off during a day or week. It makes the journey that much easier. I would love to say I could do this without planning but days will go by where I don’t unplug when that’s the case.
Pay attention to the moments when you are plugged in and you reach for the phone. Are you tired and bored? Are you looking to escape the present moment? Are you fighting with your significant other or wanting to tune them out? Ask yourself: What makes this phone my lifeline and do I want to keep it this way?
I’m not saying you have to complete the challenge in a year. I’m not saying you have to hold yourself to strict rules or standards. Just enjoy the process of unplugging from the noise.
If you’d like to download the tracker and get occasional updates from me as I move into writing about my own experience living more unplugged, you can absolutely join me below. I’d love to see you on social media if you choose to join the 1,000 Unplugged Hours Challenge. It’s not really a thing but hey, we might just be making it a thing starting today.
Let me know in the comments if you are going to start your own unplugged journey, I would love to cheer you on! I can tell you from my own experience- it’s one of the most worthwhile things I’ve ever done. I feel more free, younger, happier, more present, and alive today than I’ve ever felt in the last 10 years of writing online. It’s worth the challenge. Your life is waiting for you. Don’t miss it.
I’d love to hear from you:
In moving my blog to a newer platform, I sadly had to let go of the thousands of comments and conversations that came from readers over the last 10+ years. This grieves me deeply but I know there will new conversations, fresh words of wisdom, and opportunities to create close community once again. I’d love to hear from you in the comments section. I’ll be reading + replying on a regular basis.
