Your phone is ringing and emails keep piling up. Fine – except when you’re on holiday. Here are six ways to digital detox when you need a break.
It’s no secret that technology has made our lives far easier in a lot of ways. But sometimes, the need to be constantly connected wherever you are can get overwhelming. What better way to finally enjoy a much-needed digital detox than when you’re on holiday?
Whether you’d like to simply minimise the amount of time you’re online or go cold turkey altogether, here are six different ways to disconnect.
1. Set up a detailed out-of-office message
The more information you put into your out-of-office message, the less likely it is that someone will still attempt contacting. It will also limit the amount of dreaded backlog that you’ll have to deal with upon your return.
Explain the dates of your departure and return, then include the contact details of anyone in the office who can handle some of your workload while you’re away, whether it’s Barry in payroll or your manager, Evelyn.
2. Tell people about your tech-free plans
Whatever you decide to do, set the right expectations in the office by making sure your boss and colleagues are aware of how little or how much they’ll be able to contact you while you’re away.
And if you’re travelling with friends and family, let them in on your digital detox plans so they know what to expect. You might even want to set some ground rules between you all. For example, taking time out to respond to work emails in the morning or at the end of the day might be OK, but checking them while you’re lazing by the pool is not.
3. Delete social media apps from your device that you want to avoid
Remember the days when we were able to enjoy a holiday without humble bragging about every step of the trip with hundreds of our so-called friends on social media?
If you’d like to avoid the onslaught of information on Facebook/Instagram/SnapChat/Twitter while on holiday, just get rid of the apps from your devices.
You might struggle for a few days, but it’s likely that you won’t even miss your newsfeed when you’re relaxing on that beach in Koh Samui or sipping your fifth wine during a tour of the Barossa Valley.
4. Share your accommodation details with a select few
If you’re planning on a full digital detox without the use of any devices or any wi-fi whatsoever and you still need a way of people being able to contact you, you could give your accommodation details to just a few people for real emergencies.
Chances are, your colleagues will think twice before contacting you. They’ll probably find calling to interrupt your holiday to be a much more laborious task than simply firing you an email while you’re gone.
5. Set up a check-in schedule if you have to read work emails
Rather than simply going cold turkey (ie leaving all your devices at home), this is a good in-between option. Set aside time during the day where you’ll focus on your work emails or voicemails and share your plans with your colleagues as well as your travel companions.
6. Charge up your devices … but don’t bring any chargers
This method might induce some anxiety, but you’re guaranteed to keep the usage of your devices at a minimum during your trip this way. Of course, if you get really stuck, depending on where you travel, it’s always possible to drop into a store and pick up a charger.