Lessons in Disconnecting

Connecting on social media brought us together. Disconnecting from social media made us friends.

This past Monday we hosted our most recent FP Me Event: “Utah Unplugged.” Seven customers and their plus ones met us in Moab, Utah, the land of canyons and red rock, to unplug from technology and social media for 24 hours. A withdrawal from all things digital, if you will… cold turkey. After sharing the app we would miss most over the next day, we all turned off our phones together and tucked them away.

In the next 24 hours of being cell-free, we took a propeller plane ride over Canyonlands, picnicked under the trees, hiked Arches National Park, ate an intimate dinner by lantern light, shared stories around the campfire, and practiced yoga in a large open-air teepee structure. All while our cell phones and iPads lay motionless in the dark pockets of our bags. Emails, Instagram, Snapchat, text messages… they will all have to wait.

Detaching from our cellular companions allowed us to personally connect with each other while experiencing the breathtaking scenery surrounding us — to relearn how to live in the moment. To appreciate the adventure that stood before us. We learned how to marvel again. We remembered how to use words to describe the experience instead of relying on a photo to do the talking for us. We rediscovered how to get to know one another through the art of conversation, without any digital distraction.

Life is happening. Right now! Are we living in the moment and partaking in this grand adventure or are we living life through a screen? It’s an interesting question to ask yourself, one that I need to remind myself of every day. Thank you, ladies of FP Me Utah Unplugged, for partaking in this digital detox and reminding us that life is about connecting with people and appreciating each and every moment. Keep reading for a mega dose of inspiration from these FP Me ladies, as they journaled what disconnecting personally meant for them.

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Next time I witness a gorgeous pink sunset, I am going to enjoy it, appreciate it, breathe it all in, until the sun retires behind the horizon line. The phone will stay in my pocket and the camera will stay shut down. Live in the moment! Who’s with me?

Photos by fp naomi.

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Brigette
8 years ago

Love this so much. I wish that every so often there’d be a set day when social sites would purposely make themselves unavailable… and the entire world would be encouraged to participate in a day of mindfulness ~together~.

8 years ago

Sounds wonderful! I love disconnecting every so often especially when I’m on vacation. Actually yesterday, my phone died and I didn’t rush to charge it. I don’t even know how long I let it stay like that, but it felt great! No anticipation of notifications or texts. Sometimes you do just need to disconnect!

8 years ago

I have done this too! I love doing this, everyone should once in awhile, helps you to get back to yourself and your interests instead of trying to share every little thing

8 years ago

This would sound so frustrating but this would help so much! Take at least 30 minutes or even a few hours disconnecting from social media would literally work a milestone!

8 years ago

Disconnecting is healthy! I try to do it frequently. Honestly, I’ve caught myself many a time at home noticing that hours have gone by and I have no idea where my phone is. While I should probably try not to lose it, it feels nice to not be addicted to technology.

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