The Benefits Of Unplugging On Vacation

Your vacation is sacred time – time for you to rest and recuperate, to build your resilience back up before another stint of 9-to-5ing and 5-to-9ing. It’s your one opportunity each year to find something special in somewhere new, to soak up some distant rays and to rediscover your center. But there’s still your smartphone.

That computer in your pocket is a practical necessity for day-to-day life, and all the more important for managing the logistics of vacation travel. But it’s also a device designed to keep you hooked, via social media feeds and never-ending updates on personal and professional life. This is an exploration of why you need to mindfully break out of the doomscrolling cycle, at least for the duration of your getaway.

Reduced Stress and Improved Mental Health

There’s already an obvious incentive for you to unplug from your digital devices, even when you’re not on vacation. Doomscrolling, social media overuse and generally being glued to your second screen are all linked to negative mental health consequences; by unplugging on vacation, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance to reduce your stress and anxiety levels, allowing a mental break from the pressures of constant notifications and social media.

Given that a vacation is meant to be relaxing or even exploratory, the mental health benefits of leaving the apps behind can only be a boon to your trip. Which leads us to one of the more direct benefits of unplugging for your vacation.

Heightened Presence and Mindfulness

Spending less time attached to your smartphone means, invariably, spending more time directly engaging with the world around you. Increased mindfulness has its own mental health benefits, but also directly benefits your vacation by giving you more bang for your buck.

This is especially true for pilgrimage-style camino holidays that let you explore many locations in Italy; rather than seeing these off-the-beaten track locations through your camera app, you’re engaging directly with them. Being in the moment is also a hack for your perception of time, as active presence can make your days feel gratifyingly longer.

Enhanced Social Connections

Another major benefit to unplugging is that of direct engagement with the hospitality of your hosts, wherever it is you end up travelling. Leaving your smartphone behind (or, at least, in your pocket) encourages deeper, more meaningful interactions with travel companions and locals, fostering stronger bonds and richer shared experiences. This is an obvious benefit where you travel with family – but it’s all the more important when travelling solo and making new connections.

Better Sleep and Physical Health

Last but not least, spending less time on your smartphone is also linked to better sleep. Reductions in screen time, especially before bed, improve sleep quality by avoiding blue light exposure, leading to more restful nights and better energy for your daily vacation activities.

Author Profile

Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 7 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com