The Benefits of Disconnecting from Screens on Your Next Trip

Try to visualize this. You’re at a serene beach, waves are crashing in, and the sun is warm on your skin. You should be unwinding, but your fingers are itching to check your notifications. That probably sounds familiar to you.

We’re so used to being connected that even on vacation, the scroll-swipe-refresh habit is difficult to shake. But unplugging from devices—even for a little bit—can be great for your mind, your body, and your view of the world. If you’ve ever wondered what a vacation would be like without the incessant screen light, here’s why you ought to give it a shot.

You’ll Remember More of Your Trip

There’s a difference between being there and being present. If you’re too concerned with capturing the perfect shot for social media, you’re not present. Your brain isn’t able to process what’s happening because it’s too busy. When you set down your phone, you’re giving your senses the space to take in the details—the smell of new street food, the rhythm of a foreign language, the feel of cobblestones underfoot.

Conversations Become More Meaningful

Have you ever noticed how people grab their phones during a conversation? It’s a habit, but it’s also a shortcut to shallow connections. When you disconnect, you listen more, you observe more, and you connect on a level that’s hard to reach when your phone is always within arm’s reach.

Your Stress Levels Reduce

Non-stop notifications, work emails, and the pressure to keep up can make it impossible to relax fully. A screen break is a break from all of that. When your brain isn’t wasting its time switching back and forth between apps, it gets a chance to relax.

You Begin to Notice the Little Things

When was the last time you just sat down in a cafe without a phone in your hand and watched the people around you? Or observe a whole sunset without the urge to snap a photo? Disconnecting makes you notice.

Travel Becomes More Spontaneous

When you’re on Google Maps and travel blogs, it’s tempting to over-plan. But some of the best travel moments happen when you let go of the schedule and see where the day takes you. Maybe you get lost and stumble upon a hidden café. Maybe you will hear music and end up at a festival you would never have found online. Screen time away from your trip leaves space for unexpected things to happen.

You’ll Feel Lighter

There’s a sort of mental weight to being constantly connected. Even when you’re not actively checking your phone, it’s still in the back of your mind—waiting. When you disconnect, that weight lifts. You remember what it’s like simply to be somewhere, to be there fully, without digital temptation pulling you in a dozen different directions.

A Little Digital Detox Won’t Kill You

Walking away from your phone may be strange at first. But after you’re accustomed to it, it’s freeing. And no, you don’t have to give up all entertainment. While there’s nothing in itself wrong with unwinding with a game of Spider Solitaire, breaking from digital distraction gives you the chance to live in the moment in its entirety and engage with the world.

How to Make It Work

If the idea of going totally screen-free makes you anxious, go gradually. Set certain times of the day when you keep your phone turned off. Leave it in your bag when you go out to dinner. Use a real map, not your phone, to find your way. The more you do, the more comfortable you’ll get.