How to Put Down Your Smartphone and Have a Vacation

Travel provides an opportunity to let go, disconnect and shift your focus to your incredible surroundings in a new environment. No matter how far away we travel, some of us still have trouble completely removing ourselves from our mobile devices, emails and responsibilities back home. So what does it take to fully cut off the phone that has become an extension of our hands?

First and foremost, set a limit before you even leave for your vacation. For example, commit to only checking your email once per day, maybe right when you wake up or before you go to bed. The same goes for social networks: Instead of posting to social media every single photo you capture during your trip, set aside some time during periods of less activity to post one or two to Facebook or Instagram, but make a promise to yourself that posting will be all you do. Spending time scrolling through other posts or photos will only lead to wasting your precious vacation hours and spending them wrapped up in someone else´s world.

If possible, leave your smartphone behind. If you feel as though you may be tempted to connect to any and every single WiFi connection available as your roam the streets or hike through forests, stash your smartphone in your hotel safe. Consider bringing a small mobile phone that can be used for calls only, and purchase a cheap SIM card once you arrive in your new destination. Having a phone on hand is wise for emergencies, but using a phone to constantly snap photos and stay connected with a world thousands of miles away is an emergency in itself.

Smartphones are effective travel companions, of course. They provide instant language translations; accurate maps and directions; and vital information with a quick swipe and tap. The challenge is to balance the utility of these devices with the value of a true travel experience. The next time you find yourself lost in a new city, ask a local for directions rather than consulting Google Maps. You never know what you might learn.