When is the last time you really unplugged from your device? Can you make it through the day without your phone? Most of us can’t, myself included. I’ll admit that if I happen to leave my phone at home or at the office accidentally, I’ll go back and get it pretty quickly.
As a society we’ve come to rely on having that technology at our finger tips. The statistics I get each week on this email indicate that around 50% of you read this on your phone rather than a computer or tablet.
Can you really enjoy a relaxing vacation if you’re always looking at the screen on your phone rather than the stunning surroundings you are visiting? Or, is it because you are plugged into the office that you feel like you can get away for a week or more and not be buried under a pile of work when you return? The struggle is real, I get it, but when we talk to our kids we find out that their favorite parts of vacation aren’t necessarily the experiences or the sights. When asked, most kids will tell you their favorite part of a family vacation is the time they spend away from routines at home, the time they spend with you, no housework, no yard work, no phones, no email, just the family making memories together.
This week I wanted to share with you a few ways that you can ease into unplugging during your next vacation.
Sure, selfies are a great way to get the whole family in the picture, but some vacations deserve more than selfies. That’s why we have teamed up with the folks at Flytographer who have photographers all over the world. We handle all the details for you and all you have to do is show up and the photographers from Flytographer will capture your vacation memories and send you the link to digitally download the high res images from your photo shoot. The results are stunning.
Instead of turning to social media for restaurant suggestions why not ask a local where they eat. Better yet, we’ve also teamed up with suppliers who will match you with a likeminded local family with whom you can share an evening of conversation over dinner in their home. It’s a really fantastic way to immerse yourself in a destination and get a greater understanding of the differences and similarities of every day life.
Most of us would draw the line at actually leaving the phone at home during a vacation, but a day out on the water is a great excuse to at least leave it safely at the resort. Don’t get so caught up in nonstop social media posts that you miss the whale breaching beside your boat, or don’t quite catch the green flash as the sun sinks into the sea after a beautiful sail. Take time to really experience your destination as well as the time you are spending with the ones you love the most. The memories you make together on vacation will last long after you return to the office, and perhaps will provide you with the much needed mental fuel to make it to the next vacation.