Rest & Relax: How to unplug on vacation?

Vacations are for unplugging but thanks to our smartphones, iPads and laptops, we’re tethered to the office or the outside world by a technological umbilical cord that most find hard to cut away from their lives.

With constant connectivity available everywhere, it’s hard to give your full attention to the conversation or activity at hand when you’re constantly checking your phone for notifications and work emails.

Without a clear separation between office hours and relaxation time, your vacation may feel less like a vacation and more like a business trip abroad. In addition, your family and friends certainly won’t appreciate your devoted attention to your phone’s screen instead of their faces. And then you wonder why you return from vacation tired and frazzled instead of rested and rejuvenated?

If you find it difficult to disconnect from your electronics while on vacation, take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only one!

Below are a few handy suggestions to help you unplug once you get on that plane!

PLAN AHEAD

Give yourself enough time to tie-up loose ends and then schedule out-of-office emails so that your clients know you’re on leave and not ignoring them. If the issue is a pressing one, assign a subordinate or colleague to deal with the situation in your absence. This way, you can relax knowing things are being taken care of without your supervision.

TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE

If you don’t think you have the discipline to police yourself from checking your emails, put your phone on airplane mode. This allows you to make calls, take pictures and other basic stuff without having access to data plans or the Internet.

LEAVE YOUR PHONE BEHIND

Before you tech addicts balk at the mere suggestion, we mean to say that you don’t have to carry your phone to the beach or that amusement park visit. You’re there to relax and the presence of your phone will only tempt you to check it constantly. Live in the moment!!

BE FULLY PRESENT

Whether you’re catching up with family or taking in the tourists sites of your destination, its important to be fully immersed in the moment and not distracted by your phone. Aside from being rude, you miss the opportunity to fully connect with people and places. When you really decide to ditch the phone and focus on your surroundings, you’ll realize you won’t even miss it after awhile.

TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Your vacation is the perfect time to be adventurous and breakaway from the weekday routine that is your office life. Try out a new sport or activity that will invigorate you and require your full attention. You certainly won’t be thinking about work or your phone when you’re figuring out the ropes (literally) on that bungee jump chord!

Karen George