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Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

We live in a world where instant responses are the expectation. Texts are supposed to be answered within minutes, emails within hours, and if someone calls? Well, you better pick up, because if they had to resort to calling, it must be urgent. But what happens when you’re just … not available?

It’s a funny thing, stepping away from constant communication. At first, people notice. They wonder why you haven’t responded, why you’re not showing up where you usually do. They might even send a second text, a “???” message, or, for the truly bold, a “Did I do something?” inquiry. But eventually — brace yourself for this — they move on. Life keeps happening, and the world continues spinning, with or without your immediate input.

And here’s where the lesson kicks in: We are all unique, wonderful and valuable, but we are also replaceable. That work email you stressed about? Someone else handled it.

The event you couldn’t attend? It still happened. The group chat? It thrived without you. And while this realization might sting a little, it’s also incredibly freeing. It means that you can step away. You can take a break. You can go off the grid for a bit without the world crumbling.

Before you go all mysterious traveler and vanish into thin air, do yourself (and everyone else) a favor: let people know. There’s a big difference between taking a step back and making people worry you’ve fallen off the face of the earth. A simple “Hey, I’m going to be offline for a bit” or “I’ll be slow to respond for the next couple of weeks” can do wonders.

This isn’t just about being polite — it’s about managing expectations. When people don’t know where you’ve gone, their minds start filling in the blanks. And let’s be honest, most people don’t assume the best-case scenario. They don’t think, Oh, she must be relaxing and living her best life. No, they assume you’re either sick, mad at them or have been taken hostage by an international spy ring.

Pre-planning helps, too. If you know you’ll be out of reach, wrap up loose ends ahead of time. Set an out-of-office reply. Make sure people have what they need from you before you disappear. That way, when you do take a break, you can actually enjoy it instead of returning to chaos.

Because let’s be honest — there’s a huge difference between intentionally stepping away and ghosting everyone into a state of concern. One is self-care; the other is just inconsiderate.

When you stop making yourself constantly available, you realize how much of your energy was being drained by things that weren’t actually your responsibility. And when you return, you’ll do so with fresh eyes, a clearer mind and a lot less resentment.

But here’s an extra surprise — sometimes, in your absence, things actually improve. Maybe someone else stepped up in your workplace. Maybe your friends found new ways to entertain themselves instead of relying on you. Maybe your family learned that, yes, they can function without you answering every single question immediately. And that’s a good thing.

So, take that break. Step away. Just maybe, you know, send a text first.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams. Her column appears every Saturday.