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No cell phone. No iPad. No laptop. Are you able to take a completely unplugged vacation?
Mention an unplugged vacation to most Americans, and their responses range from amusing to the wistful.
Although it’s almost unheard of these days, heading off on a vacation without access to Wi-Fi or email is achievable. And, believe it or not, it’s worth doing. Some brave souls who truly understand that vacation means a respite from work are doing it so successfully that they return from their vacations rested and energized. What a concept!
“An unplugged vacation is where I completely go off the grid, preferably in a natural setting where I can get inspired and recharge,” said Jeanne Sullivan, much of whose 20-year public relations career has focused on the travel industry. She is now president of Sullivan Says PR, a travel public relations firm in the San Francisco area.
“That means no cell phones, laptops, iPads or any other gadgets that involve answering emails, making work calls or posting on social media. I turn those off because I don't want to risk someone pinging me or being tempted to research more data on my trip. Even if I resolve not to use these devices for work, I find that using electronics too much can wear me out or prevent me from being in the moment.”
More people are having a hard time turning off their cell phones, laptops and tablets and disconnecting from social media during vacations. NBC's Chris Clackum reports.
Sullivan has taken several unplugged vacations — a road trip to Yosemite National Park this summer, a 10-day driving trek though Scotland in 2010 and a 10-day cruise to Alaska three years ago.
Another vacationer who understands the meaning of time off from work is Jim Orr, a lobby manager of 34 employees at the busy Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Recently, he took a two-week vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, without laptop or smart phone.
“I'd rather be active and observing my surroundings,” said Orr, who also spent another unplugged vacation week in July on Hilton Head, S.C.
If you would like to relax when out of the office, take it from those who’ve done so well.
Schedule ahead
“Plan it way in advance so you have time to plan holes in your schedule and train either a coworker or partner to cover for you,” said Sullivan. “Block out time—perhaps a few days before and after—to give you the chance to wrap up loose ends before and catch up afterwards.”
Give your “work self” a break
“You have to commit to yourself that no matter how guilty people try to make you feel for unplugging, that you won't give in and schedule a call here and there,” added Sullivan.
Forget “false” emergencies
“There should always be a person somewhere who can fill in for you or take messages,” added Orr, “and others need to understand that ‘immediacy’ is a new thing in our lives and not all that necessary.”
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I have never, and will never contact work or have them contacting me when on vacation. That is my time away. I take my smartphone with me, but that is only for emergencies and maybe looking up directions to somewhere we want to go while on vacation. It is not for social media or anything remotely connected to work. You have to get away totally or else to me the vacation has been a waste.
Exactly, after all part of the word 'vacation' includes 'vacate', as in to leave.
I saw young tween girls on swings at a playground and all of them (in a row) were busy with their phones rather than laughing, talking and otherwise engaging in the moment of play.
First-world problems of the well-off...
I like to take my stuff on vacation because it's about the only time I have time to enjoy my stuff! I can read, play games, etc. I have the phone for emergencies, but not emergencies at work. I have no desire to go camping for vacation. Yuck. That's more work than it is play. Forget it.
If I am taking a one day vacation, I can usually get away with unplugging entirely but that's it. On extended vacations, I am using my phone for GPS & my Nook for bring a large number of books with me. I also am required to be on call in case of emergencies because I am the entire dept so there really is no one else for them to contact.
I never contact work while on vacation - unlike my sister-in-law, who schedules a conference call at least once a week during our European travels, and who checks work emails twice daily - but I do take both my cell phone and my iPad on vacation.
The phone is necessary as (a) I have an elderly mother in poor health and I want my brother to be able to get in touch if there's a crisis, and (b) when I travel without my husband, I like to be able to talk to him every few days. And I've moved entirely to e-books, so taking the iPad (I like the bigger screen and the white-text-on-black option in the Kindle app) is a must for early-morning, late-night and on-the-plane reading.
(Edit: I didn't vote above because, as usual, the options aren't very well presented. There is no "unplugged from work but using the devices for personal reasons" option!