My Impromptu Stress-Free Vacation From the Internet

My Impromptu Stress- Free Vacation from the Internet

I live a stressful life. Between writing a newspaper column which tend to incite anger and controversy, studying in law school and working on extra-curricular activities, stress is always present.

Usually, the only way to get all my stressful responsibilities done is through the internet. Itis an important tool for nearly any student and writer. I am no exception.

Unfortunately, due to the rather unique nature of my life, I have started to equate the internet with stress. Getting online will let me get things done, but I get stressed out in the process. Yes the internet is efficient. Yes it is undoubtedly useful. But it can breed stress.

And I’ve gotten to that point that stress has become part of my being, without my meaning to.

It’s funny then that since I got back home to Davao City for the holidays, I suddenly got cut off from internet access (I had to find a coffee shop with wi-fi to write this).

It was unsettling in the beginning, as I thought of all the responsibilities I had to deal with, all the email I had to check and all the deadlines I had to meet. It was as if the world was going to crash down on me if I didn’t get online.

But as time passed and nothing catastrophic happened despite my being cut-off from the net, I realized that sometimes, it is good to de-stress and decompress — to get away from your responsibilities for a while.

You see, a lot of my responsibilities could only be met through the internet, such as the filing of columns and the submission of write-ups for the Law School yearbook. Since I had no internet for a few days (specifically Dec. 23, 24 and 25), I found that I was initially panicky over that fact.

Soon however, I realized that it didn’t matter so much. Or at the very least, those responsibilities could wait.

So my work waited.

While I, on the other hand, enjoyed myself by spending the holidays with my family. I had long conversations with my mom, joked around with my little sister, and horsed around with my brother. We ate together as a family and had lots of time to bond, uninterrupted by the demands of responsibilities.

I was also able to sleep earlier, and spent the time I would have spent online pursuing other pursuits. Like watching DVDS with my siblings or playing with my sister’s dog, or just hanging out with the family. I de-stressed, and lived a life without the internet.

Soon the clouds that seemed to cover my life lifted. And I found I could breathe easier, laugh more heartedly, and smile more sincerely. I had fun, without having to think of work and school. At least, for a little while.

It was a vacation from work and stress that I had not expected. But one that I wouldn’t mind taking again.

And now that I managed to get internet access again, I find myself working faster and perhaps more efficiently. My mind, refreshed from the impromptu vacation, worked at a more rapid rate than I expected. It does feel good to be back online, but I don’t think I would feel this way if I had consistent internet access the last few days.

I am also excited about spending New Year’s Eve in another country, where I will probably get cut-off from the internet again. I am already looking forward to the rest and relaxation I know is coming, and for another chance to clear my head from the responsibilities of life.

The internet is a wonderful tool. I can’t imagine my life without it – for both work and leisure. But sometimes, just sometimes, it’s good to get away from it for a little while.

Give it a try. You’d be surprised how liberating and relaxing it can be.

Take a Vacation from the Net. De-stress.