Prior to Easter, I was feeling a bit strained so I decided to "go dark" (in software developer's language) and go offline for a few weeks. I figured that with Holy Week and then a vacation with my family, it was the perfect time to hit the pause button and unplug.

Little did I know that I would enjoy it so much.

With Twitter, email, voicemail and weekly blog posts, it's safe to say that I'm pretty well connected. Here are some things I learned as I now gradually ease back into digital life:

It's not that difficult. You just do it, plain and simple. For those who feel they can't, try it. You may be surprised.

It's helpful to tell folks that you're going offline. My blog post from March 29 explained to readers that I was shutting things down in order to reconnect with the Lord and my family. Those are hard to argue with and friends were very supportive.

You enjoy time with family and friends more. When you're not worried about Twitter or email, time is freed up to have quality time with those you love.

You're not fully out of reach for emergencies. With my role at work, I can't afford to be 100% out of reach so some folks know how to get hold of me. That's just how it has to be in the digital world and it's ok. No one abused the sabbatical by calling me every twenty minutes to see how things were going.

You learn more deeply about the importance of sabbatical. Honoring sabbath is still a relevant concept and makes a whole lot of sense.

It's good to gradually enter back into the fold. Like all fasts, it's good to ease back into things. I chose Twitter as this means and started posting items last week.

So how do I feel now that I'm back online? More energetic, more ready to tackle the challenges of life. More connected with God and family.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or tired, why not try a digital fast for a week or two?

*Photo by totojaunjo