Taking a Much Needed Summer Break!
This time of year is always hectic. Family picnics, weddings, graduations, vacations, camping, entertaining, late night fireworks, and chats around the campfire are some of my tasks this summer.
Last week, I shared with a friend how exhausting it is to keep it all up. When you have so many things going on at once, it can feel overwhelming. I have been doing decent with managing my hectic schedule so far this summer, but I started to realize some things need to be let go of for a few weeks to allow me a chance to catch my breath.
And so, I am pausing my social posting. Most of the time, posting on social media feels like I'm screaming into the void and no one is hearing me. Low views and engagement back me up on this, as analytics don't lie. I know I'm not alone in this, as I have heard from so many others how their analytics have crashed and burned too.
So, instead of expelling my energy to try and beat an algorithm that will always win, I am going to side step. I have given myself the permission to walk away from social media and allow myself the chance to be present more with others.
Fun fact, it takes me 12-16 hours a week to plan, write, design, and schedule my social content, blogs, and newsletters. Could I reduce this time by using shortcuts like AI? Sure, but I prefer to do this myself so you get me authentically. AI cannot sound like me, no matter how much I try to prompt it, it gets it wrong every single time. Even weirder, I have seen things it has told me to share posted on other accounts that it also likely told them. Word for word...verbatim!
Knowing this to be facts as I have seen it myself, I still prefer to make things harder on myself by choosing to show up authentically and speaking from the heart. After all, my blog name is The Heart of the Matter for a reason.
Like pretty much everyone else in this world, sometimes I need to recharge. This year has been brutally difficult for me. First with an injury, then a surgery to repair the injury, and the fallout that came after surgery. My arm still aches, it gets tired easily, and this heat is causing it to swell up bigger than Texas. Ok maybe not literally, but I'm sure you get the point.
This past weekend, I enjoyed two days in nature on a very SHORT camping trip (way too short). As I listened to rain fall on the top of the RV, I realized that once I came back to work after surgery, I went all in, full steam ahead. I've had little to no down time for rest and rejuvenation. And the realities that summer is almost over, hit me like a sack of bricks.
Friends, I want to enjoy summer before summer is gone. And so, I'm going to do just that by taking a much needed summer break from pushing myself to perform daily on social media. To step back from forcing myself to make sure I come up with the perfect weekly themes to teach you. To reduce expectations from myself and allow myself the chance to be present each moment, and to share with you what I discovered by allowing this freedom.
Through it all, God has been ever present. He's still my anchor, keeping me in place. My relationship with Him has grown so strong this year, and that alone, makes this year one of the best. I've had to admit I was weary, worn, and battered. I cried out to Him to hold my head up when I didn't have the strength to do it myself. Broken, I surrendered in a way I have never surrendered before. He has done all the heavy lifting for me this year, and for that, I am ever grateful.
I encourage you to take a step back and take a summer break. Whether it's one day, one week, or one month, pick a time frame that helps you restore your soul and draws you nearer to God.
With Grace, Shonda Ramsey