Alright, this may sound like crazy talk, but I decided to do a thing as we packed up all the stuff to haul our family of six to the beach this year.

I grabbed all the goggles and the sunscreen and planned out coordinating outfits and even new PJs for the kids, but I decided to leave one big thing behind: Instagram. And why not Facebook and Twitter, too?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to Insta-albums and Insta-love and sharing all the filtered fun with family and friends, but I decided I needed a break and some breathing room to enjoy these precious people of mine, living in the moments we share.

I still had my phone, and I still took loads and loads of pictures, but I left behind that instinct I’ve developed over the recent years to instantly upload them for all to see.

And you know what —

It was hard.

So much beauty and wonder and joy all around me. I wanted everyone to bask in that same sunshine, too.

Yet, it was so refreshing.

Because I took back my timeline and my story and won over that temptation to pause my real life to post about it.

And I don’t regret it.

And the cool thing — I can still share those memories. On any social media platform I want. At any time that’s more convenient to me.

And I have proved to myself that I don’t have to live life on an Insta-screen to live my best life.

Now, I’m back home. And I’m back on Instagram and social media and sharing my story and my lessons and my life - when I want to. And I’m enjoying and appreciating the encouragement and support and community we have.

But I’m glad I took a break.

Friends, it’s okay to take a vacation and take a break.

Jaclyn Warren is a stay-at-home mommy of four on mission to encourage parents to savor the meaningful in the midst of the messy. Take your 15 minutes; it's your turn for timeout. You can find her at www.mommys15minutes.com or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/Mommys15minu... or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mommys15Minutes-543229312706302/.

Related video: