Tips for Digital Detox on Vacation

If you’re like many people, the thought of going a couple of days without checking your email or even a single day without your phone can trigger alarm bells. That tiny, useful, and time-warping device has been the culprit behind many missed conversation details and delayed trips to the land of dreams. While a little digital detox can be useful at any time, it is especially pertinent when traveling.

Start slow by eliminating phones during meal times.
One of the greatest parts about traveling is getting to experience and enjoy a new culture through its cuisine. Food is meant to be savored--whether you are eating alone or dining with company, you and everyone else deserve to appreciate the meal free from push notifications.

When you go to bed, keep your device in another room.
With the lights out, it can be difficult to gauge how much time you’re spending online. Update your friends and family on where you are or what you’ve been doing, post a photo or two, then leave the phone or laptop out of easy reach. This is one way of staying present; you’ve worked hard for your vacation time, so you owe it to yourself to be fully in the moment instead of dividing your mental space between home and vacation.

Cut back on your phone use for navigation.
No, I’m not saying you should wander blindly through a city’s streets at night, but do allow yourself to get reasonably lost during the day. If you’re staying in one location for a while, let your curiosity guide you. Stroll about, mapless, and find a bakery or breakfast nook. Walk around the place you’re staying, turning down streets whose buildings intrigue you. I love a good map app as much as the next person, but if you’re so focused on the destination or on fielding the emails you get while looking at your navigation, you might miss the wonderful things around you.

Technology is a fantastic thing, but it can also impede our ability to enjoy the present. Keep it in check and give yourself the ability to more thoroughly engage in your vacation.

Have you ever done a digital detox? Have you ever gone on vacation without your phone or laptop? I’d love to hear your stories of how it worked out!