Digital detox: How to unplug on holidays
Here’s how to do a digital detox the right way.
1. Choose the right destination
It’s going to be very hard to switch off from your tech in the middle of Tokyo. If you’re looking for a digital detox, choose the right destination – a relaxing beach resort, villa in the countryside or a secluded adventure lodge are all great options. That way, you won’t even miss your devices because you’ll be too busy blissing out or challenging yourself.
2. Get everyone on board
If you’re travelling with friends or family, it will be difficult to stick to your guns if everyone else spends all their time online. It’s no fun just watching other people play on their phones and it’s impossible to remove yourself from the outside world if someone keeps reading you the news headlines at breakfast. Make it a group pact and use the time together to genuinely reconnect.
3. Tidy up loose ends
You won’t be able to disconnect if you know there are online responsibilities waiting for you. Before you go, get everything finalised – that means returning all those emails, setting your out of office or removing yourself from important roles in social media groups. That way, you can shut down without a worry.
4. Have some low tech alternatives
We’re not saying you have to stare at the ocean 24 hours a day. There are lots of ways to enhance your holiday that don’t involve a brightly lit screen. Bring along some books instead of your Kindle, pull out the old fashioned camera instead of snapping everything on your phone and buy the local newspaper instead of logging into your hometown news site.
5. Reward yourself
A digital detox might feel like a punishment, so make sure to reward yourself in other ways. That could be a spa treatment, a special meal out, a room upgrade or a special excursion. All these things will take your mind off the fact that you can’t look at Facebook and will remind you that there are lots of great things to do in the real world that don’t require any mobile data.