We have become a society that is completely dependent on our devices. It is second nature to have a phone constantly in our hands. We can now look up virtually anything online. We can get up-to-the-minute news alerts, sports scores, and converse with groups of like-minded individuals around the world – at any hour of the day. The world is truly in the palm of our hands and it is addicting for most of us. In fact, it is nearly impossible for many to disconnect while on vacation from this form of instant gratification.
For many of us, this connection is vital to our work and our daily communication. It’s a different story when we’re on vacation. This is a time to spend with family and friends. It’s a time to share new experiences and bond with the ones we love. It can be challenging to do that if our nose is buried in our screen. Now is the time to unplug from the digital world and enjoy the world through your own eyes. In this article, we’re going to help you learn how to unplug while on vacation.
Unplugging doesn’t mean quitting cold turkey. You should still keep your phone handy for emergencies, tickets, travel info, etc. However, before you go, decide on the least amount of connectivity that you can get away with and stick to that plan.
Saying goals to others tends to make them more real. Plus, bringing it up in conversation will let others know what your expectations are, and hopefully, they will make the same goals. It becomes easier to meet these goals and disconnect while on vacation when everyone has the same expectations.
For some people, abruptly unplugging can be stressful and a vacation should be anything but stress-filled. Consider weaning yourself off your device slowly before the vacation. Try going 30 minutes between checking messages. Then bump it up to an hour, etc. By slowly decreasing your connectivity beforehand, you’ll be ready to function stress-free without your device when your vacation rolls around.
If we’re honest, we have all turned into Pavlov’s dog, eagerly waiting for the next ‘ding’ of an incoming message or notification. If you want to have a more enjoyable vacation, turn most, or all, of your notifications off. Don’t interrupt a beautiful day by getting an unnecessary notification.
One of the reasons we find our device so addicting is that it delivers bold, vibrant colors which gives our brain these wonderful little rewards that it soon wants more of. When you switch to grayscale, the entire screen experience becomes less compelling, which can make it easier to unplug.
There are plenty of apps that work similarly. Basically, you set a time limit for the amount of that you can be on your phone. The app keeps track and lets you know when you are about to hit that limit. Some will even lock your phone for a time if you go over.
You can do this for your email address and record a message on your voicemail that you are on vacation and you will get back to them when you return.
If you truly want to enjoy your vacation, consider unplugging. Unplugging reduces stress and anxiety, empowers you to enjoy life and it allows you to connect with nature, as well as thoroughly enjoy your loved ones. Follow these tips and recharge your own natural batteries this year, not your device’s.
