From August 6th through September 3rd, I’m giving up the internet. This has become my summer tradition: a detox from Facebook and Buzzfeed lists, compulsive e-mail checking and scrolling Instagram before I get outta bed. I did my first internet detox in 2010, taking one week off, and last August went for the full month. A huge nota bene here is that I have the entire month of August off from my job, so it’s relatively easy to avoid the internet.

My rules for this year’s detox will be the same: one hour of e-mail checking every Sunday, plus permission to hop online to submit book reviews and other freelance projects. I’ll make a hard copy of all the resources and guidelines I need for upcoming residency and fellowship applications. And I’ll be allowed to binge on episodes of The Lying Game on Netflix. But mostly, I’m just gonna read and write and ride my bike and bake and see friends and stare out the window. I’m someone who’s madly in love with the internet, but also seriously lacking in self-discipline. I walk around with my nose tucked not in a novel but an iPhone. It’s lovely to take a big break.

Photo from Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, SC.