A Week Offline

How reading, writing, and contemplating fared against the Internet

My weeklong writing buddy, coffee and Caprese toast at Korppi, and a roaring fire

Last week was my DIY at-home writing residency, and the biggest way I set myself up for a week of creativity was by making a rule for myself of disconnecting my phone from service & Wifi from 7:00-7:00 daily. I had many other structural aspects in place for the week, but I knew that removing myself from being ‘online’ was the most crucial. Why would I take a half hour to write, read, or just think if I could scroll mindlessly instead? I don’t on any normal week, so without changing my day to day schedule, I knew better than to expect a giant leap in productivity, so I removed the one distraction that most eats into my time.

And I failed miserably. More often than not, I still switched my phone back on unnecessarily, and put aside my book, my pen, or my thoughts. I still opened every single app I normally do, and caught myself scrolling at least once every few hours. But I also switched it back off again. I didn’t give up on the week or on my goals, and each time I realized I had yet again been pulled into the black hole of the internet, I was able to redirect my energy into the tangible goals I set for the week. And, although I didn’t accomplish the lofty goal I’d set for myself as far as pages drafted, I accomplished a lot of other, worthy goals that will continue into my daily life.

Each morning, I did get up by 6:30 at the latest, and I did touch base with the three wonderful women who did their own at-home residencies along with me. I spent time contemplating creativity, motherhood, vocation, and how they all intertwine as I prepared for those chats, and I was consistently reinvigorated and redeemed by their encouragement (thank you, Kristen, Kristi, and Morgan!).

My reading spot, the banks of the Mississippi, and a glimpse at live chat preparation

I did read for long periods of time every day, and fell in love with the irreplaceable beauty of being immersed in a book, and I learned how to find pockets of time to read even with a squirming, crawling toddler. In the evenings, I talked about what I’d read with John, and we shared in the joy of diving into the great works of Tolstoy and Tolkien.

I found so much joy in the routines of home, like feeding the wood-stove and preparing meals, rather than allowing those things to become a stress and a chore. We ate homemade muffins throughout the week, as well as Korean beef bowls, pumpkin sausage soup, omelets, and smoothies. For the first time since I stopped working I was awake to eat breakfast with John before he left for work, and was awake before Klaus and could spend time drinking coffee and reading.

What writing as a mother looks like, raw milk from a local farmer, and our outdoor picnic reading spot each day under our party tree

For the first time since my hyperemesis pregnancy, I walked 10,000 steps in one day, and that was without the help of an errand or an event. I just enjoyed pushing Klaus in the stroller, listening to a podcast, and looking at the banks of the Mississippi River.

Most significantly, I rediscovered the joy of doing something challenging. It is. not easy work to read, research, write, and edit creative work, and it is even harder when you are constantly interrupted by obligations, notifications, and children. I spent so much of the week contemplating the techniques of good writing (thanks to A Swim in A Pond in the Rain by George Sanders, my reading material for the week), and then in applying them to my own work. Last week gave me new direction and understanding of what I am writing and what I intend it to teach, and thereby has rekindled my love for the grueling technical work of creative writing.

So, despite my many failures to stay offline last week, I find myself inspired to continue trying to stay offline and to spend my time contemplating, reading, and writing as often as I can. I imagine I will need the occasional week of intense structure and high expectations to set me back on the straight and narrow path, away from the temptations of mindless scrolling, but, hey, it just gives me another chance to invite you along for a cup of coffee, a daily zoom chat, and your own personal digital detox and creative intensive!