Digital Detox

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau

March 17th, 2025

📍Salida, Colorado, USA 🇺🇸

Greetings from the wilderness (and Happy St Patty’s Day)! 

This stage of my wilderness season has been quite the emotional roller coaster—what a doozy! There have been so many ups and downs that it sometimes makes my head spin to think about all that has happened over the last year. All the more reason to slow down and prioritize how and where I spend my energy.

I am learning to combat burnout by being consciously aware of my season in life (emotionally, spiritually, and physically) and loving myself by making necessary lifestyle adjustments.

A lot of progress has been made in my digital detox, an important step in my becoming a more conscious consumer of technology—something challenging for this digital nomad who wants to feel connected. To help me overcome the need for constant dopamine hits from my devices, I’ve created various “focus” modes that remove all of my phone’s push notifications (I am no longer distracted by those numbered red dots and dings begging for my attention).

My phone is on full-time DND (do not disturb), and I’ve added auto-replies to my email accounts to thank senders for their patience while I reply slowly. I have also scheduled time throughout my day (between a deliberately reduced number of Zoom meetings) to manage time-sensitive correspondence.

I’ve had to say “not now” to more good things. In doing so, I’m discovering what is truly important to me and how to focus my finite energy in fewer directions instead of all over the place. The extroverted parts of me feel the pain of being so disconnected, but the introvert in me thrives with more time for “offline” contemplation with God. 

While I could consider this a feeling of heavy restriction, I see this detox period as a gift. I know that not everyone (I’m looking at you, parents) is in a position to make such dramatic changes to their lifestyles, and I am grateful to have the option. But that doesn’t mean this busy entrepreneur hasn’t struggled to slow down and do less.

I’m grateful to be walking with God in the woods on our “dates,” and I look forward to spending April walking on the beach in Mexico. Daily, I step away from my computer screen to practice the feeling of slowness in my body by strolling, wandering, and meandering amongst the trees. While there is a time and a place for moving at an aerobic speed, these afternoon dates with God are intentionally slow.

Walking intentionally, looking up, focusing my attention, and silencing distractions means I can be fully present with the mystery of Creation. This is my favorite way to practice the Presence of God and nourish my mind-body-soul connection.

Taken during my prayer walk on Ash Wednesday

Especially this Lenten season, I am making more time for this sacred space, this holy pause, by building it into my schedule and prioritizing it as a way of life (not just a habit). In those moments, I choose not to let the chatter of my “interpreting” left brain speak louder than my “experiential” right brain—Less thinking, more feeling.  Less striving, more being. Less work, more play. Less me, more God.

I don’t want to know (Greek: "oida" - οἶδα) God just intellectually from a left-brained perspective; I want to live out of the embodied wisdom of knowing (Greek: "ginōskō" or “gnosis”- γινώσκω) God through a felt inner experience of YHWH’s unconditional Love. And I want that every day.

As an experience designer with the spiritual gift of hospitality, my desire for every occasion I host is to foster an environment for my guests to encounter Jesus internally. I want you to know His love as I do. I pray that you will have many right-brained experiences of your Creator, too.

Which begs the self-reflective question: How do you currently experience the Presence of God?

With Love,

Jennifer

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