Travel News

Window Seat or Aisle Seat: Unplugging Family Vacations

Still having trouble seeing yourself absolutely unplugged? Dr. Chansky offered these tips to help ease the transition.

  1. Take the time to create auto-reply vacation emails. Yes, it’s a pain to do, but it gives you an instant buffer in people’s expectations that you will write right back.
  2. If you’re not able to unplug entirely for your vacation, designate a set time each day when you’ll check email. If you need to ease yourself in to it, designate 2-3 times a day, but then walk away from the phone so to speak during other times.
  3. Power in numbers: make this a group effort. Whether you’re traveling with friends or family, we’re all facing the same challenges. Make a pact for accountability and support to unplug together.
  4. The proof is in the pudding. If you’re not convinced that this is for you, try it for a day. Yes, a day. See how differently you think, feel and experience your life away from email, Facebook, twitter and the rest. The ease that you feel will sell itself.
  5. Don’t cheat yourself of the vacation you deserve and halfway it with your responsibilities. See how the world turns well without you and how much better you are able to participate in it when you return, a new person.

Are smartphones, iPads and other gadgets the unwelcome guest on your family vacation? Share with Kerri how you help your kids learn to unplug.

For more unplugging options, check out:

By Kerri Zane for PeterGreenberg.com. For more advice on health, beauty and travel, visit Kerri Zane on the Web at KerriZane.com.