How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

I turned off my notifications years ago—not because I stopped caring, but because I cared too much. I didn’t want my peace or focus hijacked by every buzz or ping. I just wanted to stay present… to protect my creativity.

And yet—even without those interruptions—I still catch myself checking in. Socials. Emails. Updates. It’s become this weird reflex, almost like filling silence with noise.

There was a time—especially years ago—when I felt a strange sense of obligation to post right away. After trips, events, family days out… I felt like I had to share. Almost like if I didn’t post it, it didn’t really happen.

Maybe it’s because my husband and I were always the “designated photographers” of our circle. And don’t get me wrong—it felt meaningful. Until one day, it just didn’t.

About 12 years ago, I stopped posting in real-time. I didn’t stop caring. I just got burned out. It started feeling like I was curating joy instead of feeling it. Like I was performing instead of just… living.

Now? I post when I feel like it. When I have time, space, or the urge to relive a memory. The tradeoff? I’ve got about 12 years’ worth of backlog. Oh well.

Sometimes friends or family get confused.
“Wait—were you just there?”
Nope. That was three, six, maybe even ten years ago.

But if my daughter’s in it, you can usually tell when it was taken—her growth is the best timestamp.

Honestly, I’ve learned to love this rhythm.
I don’t feel like I have to keep up anymore.
I share when I want to.
And sometimes, I don’t.

Unplugging for me isn’t about disconnecting from the world completely—it’s about reconnecting with myself. Creating when it feels right. Posting when it brings joy. Living first, sharing later. Or maybe not at all.

It’s not a rebellion.
It’s just a gentle boundary.
A reminder that not everything has to be shared in real-time to be real.