I recently realised how addicted to being connected I am.

Since doing the Clifton Strengths Finder test, I’ve definitely been more aware of my connector personality, but the influence of social media and the Internet hadn’t really occurred to me.

I’m contactable by anyone in my network, pretty much any time of the day or night (even if I’m asleep, their email or Facebook message is one of the first things I’ll see when I wake up in the morning).

Do you feel like that too?

We sometimes get so caught up in ‘being connected’ that we think that means being available and being online ALL. THE. TIME.

And whilst I truly believe in the power of the Internet and the importance of social media in our global community, I also think that we need to have the self control and self respect to say no sometimes. To go radio silent. To switch off and step away.

To have some real life interactions and forget – even just for a little while – that social media even exists.

I have no plans to have an Internet detox (I’m not insane), but I do have some ideas that I’d like to try out just to remind myself that Facebook is not the be all and end all, that not every life experience requires Instagramming, and that people don’t truly expect an email back as soon as they send one.

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:: Jennie from Creating a Colourful Life recently did a 30-day social media detox as part of her 30 Things in 30 Days challenge. Can you imagine no online socialising for a whole month?

My biggest concern is how little I believe that this is even something I could do (which makes me think I probably really need to do it)

:: I’d like to try not checking ANYTHING until lunch time.

What if I could get up, have breakfast, go to the gym, shower, and get started with my day long before ‘connecting’ with the online world?

:: Getting offline and going out in the afternoons.

I spend a lot of time sitting at the computer and I’d like to set a predetermined amount of time for Internetting and writing and then GET OFF the computer.

This might mean going to the nearby park, a long walk, a coffee break, or finding something to do that isn’t online. Just getting out of the house and disconnecting for a while each day.

:: Making connections in real life (or IRL for those who speak maybe a little too much time online)

I’ve been thinking about this one a lot lately. I love Facebook and Twitter and Skype for making connections and keeping in touch with people but nothing really makes up for the real thing.

I know that I’m not alone in thinking this, it can get pretty lonely sitting at your computer, writing and socialising, but not really having that same vibe as the real life stuff. You put stuff out there, and hope to get a response, you connect with someone and have to wait four hours before you can continue the conversation.

There’s something not quite natural about that.

So with all the different things I’m going to try out to disconnect and find a way to have an online/offline balance (quite similar to a work/life balance), I decided to host a catch up for bloggers and online business owners to meet face-to-face and try this offline connection stuff too.

It will be in Sydney at the end of June and I thought, while I’m talking about it, I’d put it out there for anyone reading who needs some in person time with others who have similar interests and online addictions.

Want to get offline for a bit?

Be the first to get the details (and feel free to forward this to anyone else you think would be interested):

 http://eepurl.com/UXZkr

Tell me, do you sometimes feel like you spend too much time online? Do you have any tips for me, because I’m determined to bring back the balance!

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