Summer is an opportune time for reflection, getting re-energized for the upcoming school year, or just focusing on what is most important to you.
For 17 incredible days this summer, I was disconnected from technology. No email, no tweets, no Internet, and often no cell phone. Even a land line telephone and television were not available in the cabin. Granted if I drove away from the cabin towards a town, there was cell and data service. What was there was time and the most important people in my life.
Sure, I have "gotten away" before, but it was up to me to decide to deal with work-related call on the cell, etc. I hadn't had such an experience for about 25 years (and back then it was much easier as all one could "escape" was to get away from a telephone and TV (remember cell phones were in 3 pound bags). This time there really wasn't much of an option if I stayed at the cabin. I think it shall be an annual event. A truly liberating disconnection (though temporary) was just what I needed.
Amazing how much less stressed I felt, focused, and in general WOW. Now the challenge is to maintain and get better at managing the balance of personal and professional time.
Certainly when I returned, I reviewed emails, read the news, etc.
So I hope for all of you finding this blog that you took time for you and what/who you value so that you will be in better shape for welcoming students when they start the 2009-10 year.
How did you rejuvenate yourself?
The Periodic Table of Agile Learning
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This is the eighth in a series of posts on Agile Learning Design:
- Post 1 - Agile Design: An Ethos for Creating Learning Platforms.
- Post 2 - P...
4 comments:
I commend you for your efforts in disconnecting and taking the time to just "be". We often overlook ourselves in all that we do as educational leaders in today's schools. Because I am moving from one job to the other I am not able to get away; however, I have been able to take in some extra yoga classes, walk my dog and spend some quality time with my husband. Time well spent!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Ed. I think it's so important for us to recharge and reassess so that we can go back to school able to focus and be effective with the time we must spend away from our families. I have had a similar experience over the past couple days as I am up in an area with limited reception. I have spent wonderful time with my college aged daughter and done some writing. It's so easy to get our brains full of clutter with technology; I do believe we need to take some time off. Thanks again for sharing.
This is exactly what I did! I spent 2 glorious weeks traveling out West with my son. I did not bring the computer (much to his dismay)and stayed off of my iphone as much as possible. I missed Twitter and my PLN but I feel like I am ready to go back and deal with the stressors I left behind!
Thanks for sharing. Kudos for being able to thoroughly disconnect. We spent a week in the outer banks enjoying the beach and eating fresh seafood. Took the vacation a little early in June though. I'd have to say July would have been better. Met some great people on the way out as well.
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