I Don't Want to Write this Blog

A short blog about unplugging, slowing down, and being fully present.

In many ways, the title says it all: I don’t want to write this blog. It’s not because I have nothing to say - if you know me at all, that’s rarely an issue. I’m also not burned out, cheesed off at the world, or questioning whether I should continue writing these blogs every week. Honestly, the reason is much simpler than that.

When this blog post goes live, I’ll be on vacation with my family - one that includes both boys and significant others, if applicable - since before the pandemic, and I want to fully be there with them. To me, this means not halfway there while checking emails, not pretending to listen while mentally organizing client projects, and not thinking about blogs, podcasts, deadlines, or filling every moment with something I “should” be doing.

I just want to be there, and candidly, I think many of us have forgotten how to do that.

We’ve built a culture where everything has to be productive, every experience becomes content, and any quiet moment is interrupted by notifications, Slack messages, or the overwhelming urge to “just check this real quick.” It’s gotten to the point where even rest feels like something we need to optimize, and that’s just insanity.

The real irony is that most of our best thinking and highest level of creativity usually takes place when we intentionally step away for a bit. At the same time, our society tells us the opposite: we need to grind ourselves into dust, trying to squeeze just a bit more productivity out of every waking second. Recently, I’ve written about the importance of boredom, quiet thought, and intentionally slowing down, which has led to this time off. So, in many ways, this blog seems like the natural extension of that idea.

The fact is that sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for yourself, your relationships, and even your business, is to fully unplug long enough to remember there is a world to be experienced beyond your screen. This week, that’s exactly what I’m doing, which is why this blog is short. There’s also no business lesson, no wedged-in Van Halen analogy, no productivity framework, and no “five ways to maximize your vacation.”

Simply time off with the people I love. Honestly, that feels like enough.