This year, I’ve decided to give myself a very special Christmas gift. Don’t worry: it wasn’t bought at the mall, and it won’t clutter my closet – in fact, it doesn’t take up any space at all.
I’m giving myself a digital sabbatical.
From now until January 10, I’ll be completely unplugged from the internet: no blogging, no Twitter, no email. I also won’t be logging in to moderate comments. If you’ve commented in the past, your new comments should be published automatically. Otherwise, your comments will stay in the queue and be published as soon as I’m back (I apologize for the delay, but it’s necessary to keep things spam-free!).
I’ll miss you all dearly, but I’m looking forward to some time offline – to reflect on the past year, rejuvenate for the next, and look at the world around me instead of a computer screen.
But before I sign off, I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful year. I never imagined my little minimalist blog, which started 2010 with 500 subscribers, would start 2011 with nearly 5000 (and 50,000+ monthly readers). I’m thrilled beyond words that so many of you are interested in living with less!
Thank you for inspiring me, encouraging me, reading my posts, writing fabulous comments, and helping my book land on Amazon’s Home & Garden Top 10 list.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I couldn’t have done it without you, and I’m incredibly grateful for your support.
I wish you all a very happy holiday, and look forward to continuing our minimalist journey in 2011!
Merry Christmas! Keep up the good work. I look forward to more “Minimalist” (oops! Is “more minimalist” an oxymoron?) in 2011!
Merry Christmas!!! I hope your time off rejuvenates, refreshes and relaxes you!! You deserve it and much more!!! Thank you for everything you do!! :)
Thank you for your blog and your most wonderful book! I have taken a carload a day to Habitat for Humanity this week, and although my house would not have seemed cluttered to the casual observer before, I am on a roll. Less is more! I read a chapter a day of the book and am putting it into action!
Enjoy your break!
Enjoy your time off! Thank you, once again, for your inspiring blog, and all the best in the New Year!
The perfect gift – TIME.
Happy Holidays!
Hope you enjoy your break!
Thank you for all that you. I just bought your book, and am really enjoying it. I’ve also folded pages for action items :)
Enjoy your time off and all my wishes for a safe and happy holiday to you and your family.
Good for you! I will miss reading your blog for the next few weeks. Enjoy your time away from the blog.
Yeah, Francine!!! Happy Holidays to you and way to start off the New Year unplugged but far from unlived! :) You are an inspiration, time and time again.
All the very best,
Nina
I only discovered your blog a couple months ago… but devoured every single post in your archives! Although I’m a moderate minimalist (I will not live without my sofa LOL) who’s only starting to clear a path, it’s a wonderful feeling!
Thank you so much for all you put in your regular posts… They are gifts to all of us year round. You more than deserve this self-gift of a rejuvenating break. :o)
Happy Holidays!
Have a very happy and peaceful Christmas both of you and enjoy your time off. Great though the internet can be, it is lovely not to “have” to do it every day. But we shall all miss you! See you on 10 January!
Merry christmas and a happy newyear from the Netherlands!
have fun francine :) I know you’re going to have a stellar start to 2010
Have a wonderful break and a Merry Christmas.
See you when you get back! Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Have a great break! You’ve inspired me to do the same.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year from rain soaked Northern California!
You deserve it! We all need time for ourselves and loved ones. Have a great Christmas!
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year! Have fun and relax!
Looking forward to reading your thoughts and tips in the new year.
I’m actually doing the same. And I’m hoping that I can reduce digital footprint next year! Good luck with the sabbatical.
Enjoy your much deserved break!
Merry Christmas and enjoy your time off.
Enjoy your sabbatical Francine! I just got done with a week and a half digital sabbatical and it was wonderful. I feel refreshed and renewed. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us come 2011!
Happy holidays,
Tanja
Thanks for this awesome and inspiring blog! Have a wonderful “unplugged” holiday!!! xxx
I took a digital break the last two weeks of 2010 and loved it.
Enjoy!! I stayed offline last week…it’s good to shake things up once in awhile. :)
Hi Francine, I hope you are having a wonderful sabbatical! I took a small break over the holiday. I look forward to hearing about what you’ve been up to and following you in 2011!
Thanks to everyone for the nice words and holiday wishes!
I spent my digital sabbatical in Thailand and Vietnam, and had a wonderful time in the *real* world. :) But I’m refreshed, happy to be back, and looking forward to a great 2011 with you!
Oh, I’m so envious! I want to spend a digital sabbatical in Thailand and Vietnam!
I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you!! I’ve got your book on Kindle after finding your website and it’s one of the best things to happen to me. I’ve been stuck in a clutter-rut for years and your book and this site it just the prod that I need. Whilst I’m not sure if I can become a complete minimalist, I’ve set myself a bit of a challenge and in the words of one supermarket “every little helps”.
Hope Thailand and Vietnam were amazing!
“Every little helps” — you must be in England. :)
I really appreciate your nice words, and so glad you found my book helpful!
I read and reread your postings. I just finished a book on “tidying” by a Japanese lady named Kondo. She talks about respecting your possessions. One of the things she advises against is stocking up. Being a “minsumer” saves a lot of space and using very little means even a small size lasts a long time. I was told to only use a drop of shampoo the size of a dime to wash my hair and have done this for 40 years. The man who told me was a salon owner. I was also told to use 1/2 as much detergent as the manufacturer recommended, again, this was many years ago, the washer washes hard to get the suds out. I also have always cut the dryer sheets in half.
I went to a warehouse club with a friend. A 4 oz. tube of toothpaste lasts about 2 months and the smallest size the warehouse club had was 3 –6 oz. tubes which to me seemed like a forever supply. I never bought much and now I buy less.
Happy Thanksgiving!! I have never shopped on Thanksgiving or Black Friday and never will. 30 years ago I told a friend I was afraid of a parking lot accident and I didn’t like crowds. There is nothing I need that badly. My son makes Thanksgiving dinner and we bring whatever he asks for. for.