Love Unplugged: The Gift of Time and Attention

It's almost Valentine's day and I've been thinking a lot about how I express love to my partner, my friends and family.  The digital age has allowed us to shop virtually and make online reservations in a matter of seconds. It just takes a quick search and click to buy a cute thank you gift, a present that says I love you, or to make a dinner reservation that shows you remembered their favorite spot.

A thoughtful gift is a thoughtful gift regardless of whether it was bought on Amazon. That's not the point I'm trying to make. It's this... As we all struggle with feeling busier and busier, and with the convenience of virtual shopping and planning, I've begun to appreciate and value handwritten and handmade gifts more than ever.

I'd argue that in today's attention economy, where and how we spend our time is the new currency. The most loved I feel is when my friends, partner and family spend time with me unplugged and present. Attention and time are two of the greatest gifts we can give each other.  If that resonates with you, check out our tips below for an unplugged Valentine's day with whoever you choose to spend it with!

Regardless of whether you celebrate Valentine's day, show your love this week by gifting your time and/or attention to someone special. A little bit goes a long way and here are some ideas to get you started!

A Card: Maybe you buy it, maybe you create it. Either way, handwrite a personal note inside.

An Experience: You know we're huge fans of Microadventures - an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap; yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding - and it fits perfectly into this week's challenge!

A Handmade/Homemade Gift: This doesn't have to be hard, but feel free to push yourself outside your comfort zone and try something new! Bake some cookies or make dinner, draw a picture, record yourself singing a cover of a shared favorite song, etc.