5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Going on a Digital Detox
If you've followed along on my adventures for any length of time, then you can probably guess that I'm the type of person who's used to being “connected” all the time.
In fact, you could easily call me a bit of an internet addict.
Along with publishing regularly here on my blog, I also post daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I've recently gotten into Snapchat (find me – dangerousbiz!), I add to my Pinterest boards regularly, and let's not even get started on how often I check my email.
Like many of my fellow bloggers (and, well, millennials in general), I've become dependent on my smartphone. On Google. On Facebook. On being able to be connected 24/7. In fact, I AM connected nearly 24 hours a day – as a travel blogger, it's basically my job.
But I know this isn't healthy. Along with getting headaches from staring at a computer screen so much and putting on extra pounds from working from my couch 10+ hours per day, my addiction to being connected affects my personal relationships, too. (I mean, my cat doesn't get NEARLY enough cuddles.)
So in March I decided to set a challenge for myself: I agreed to go on a digital detox trip and leave all my technology behind.
I teamed up with Intrepid Travel for an 8-day adventure in Ecuador. I was the only one of my group “detoxing” at the time, but the “Ecuador on a Shoestring” trip I went on is now offered as an official digital detox trip by Intrepid. I was basically the guinea pig asked to disconnect and experience pure, old-school travel the way it was meant to be.
For a whole week I didn't log in to my blog, or post real-time updates on Facebook. My Instagram and Snapchat feeds remained silent, and my email inbox built up in my absence. I even traded in my Kindle for a paperback book (yes, they still make those!), lest I be tempted to spend more time behind that screen.
And yes, it was difficult. I struggled with being disconnected, and I struggled with shifting my focus from documenting every aspect of my trip to just living it.
But I survived, and I learned a lot, too.
Here are five things I (as a tech/internet addict) wish I had known before going on a digital detox trip:
1. Ignoring social media is easier than you think
I thought it was going to be difficult for me to ignore Facebook and Instagram and my fledgling Snapchat channel for an entire week. Social media is such a part of my day-to-day routine that I expected to really feel a sense of withdrawal without it. But you know what? The easiest part of my digital detox was ignoring all of that.
I didn't miss the constant notifications, the Twitter check-ins, or stressing over which photo to share on Instagram. I didn't miss frantically trying to find good wifi to upload my snaps, or obsessing over how many likes my Facebook posts were getting. After the first two days, I found myself not caring about any of it.
2. You really WILL feel disconnected
It was easier than I imagined to ignore my social accounts for a week, but ignoring them made me realize just how much I rely on social media to stay in-the-know. After a couple days of not checking in at all online, I began to realize just how truly disconnected I felt. Without Facebook, in particular, I felt totally out of the loop with what was going on in the world. (Not that this was a completely bad thing – I got to spend a whole week without hearing about Donald Trump!)
When I got back home, though, I realized that I didn't really miss that much. Even though I *felt* very disconnected, the Internet (and the world) went on without me and I was able to get caught up pretty quickly.
3. The “downtime” is when you'll struggle the most
I won't say it was all easy. The “downtimes” during the day – that hour before dinner or the 30 minutes you spend waiting to board a bus – are the toughest. Usually, when faced with some spare time like that, I'll pull out my phone and check my email, get caught up on what my friends are doing on Snapchat, or scroll through my Facebook newsfeed.
But without my smartphone to fall back on, I found myself at a loss for what to do during those downtimes. Those moments were the ones when I was most tempted to sneak a peek at my phone or jump on the hotel computer in the lobby.
4. I NEED photography in my travels
I was supposed to go into this digital detox without a camera. And I DID leave my baby – my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II – at home. But I secretly brought along a little point-and-shoot, because I had a feeling that I would regret it if I didn't come home with any photos from a trip to a brand new country (and continent).
As a blogger, I know I have a different relationship with photography than the average traveler. My photos are not only my memories, but they also help me tell and share my stories with others on my blog.
And, as I learned while trying to part myself from my camera on this trip, taking photos has actually become a part of my travels – the two are not mutually exclusive any more; I don't truly enjoy one without the other.
In fact, after three days of not taking any of my own photos, I actually found myself becoming resentful. Even though I understand the theory behind banning cameras on a digital detox trip (we ALL have met the traveler who sees everything through a viewfinder, right?), not being able to capture scenes as I saw them actually began detracting from my enjoyment of the trip as a whole. Which is why I DID take some of my own photos in the end.
5. Disconnecting will not change your personality
The whole idea of disconnecting from the online world during a digital detox is so that you can connect, instead, with the people and places you're experiencing without being encumbered by thoughts of Facebook status updates or Instagram posts.
And while I did succeed in disconnecting from my devices on this trip, I don't feel like I connected significantly more with people or places than I normally do on a trip. And that's mostly because going on a trip like this isn't going to change your personality overnight.
Not using my cell phone did not suddenly cure me of my introversion. Not answering emails after dinner did not mean I sat up late at night drinking chicha with the locals at the Shiripuno village in the Amazon. Instead, I spent more time reading a paperback book and writing in my journal. I still went to bed early and had my “me” time. Being away from my devices didn't change that.
Would this have been different if everyone on my trip was also disconnected? If we were all in the same iPhone-less boat? Honestly I don't know. Maybe we would have been more social as a group – but maybe not. My travel style is very ingrained, and I think I still would have sought alone time, regardless of whether or not we all had phones.
Am I the wrong kind of person for a digital detox?
When I came back from my disconnected tour, it took me at least a week to pull my thoughts about it together. I tried to look at it from an outsider's perspective – were my struggles likely to be the same kind the average traveler would face?
Was my balking at the no-photo rule normal? (My boyfriend, who hardly ever takes photos, certainly didn't understand why I was so upset about it.) Would the average person find it more or less easy to cut themselves off from Facebook for a week? Am I perhaps the wrong kind of person to write about a trip like this?
Because here's the thing: I know that I travel differently than most people.
While I AM usually connected on the road, I've learned some semblance of balance – being connected doesn't generally detract from my experiences, and I know when to put the phone and camera down and just enjoy the moment. In fact, as a blogger I think I'm naturally more likely to pay attention to things when I travel rather than be wrapped up in my smartphone. And that's because of you: my readers.
I want to know what that cacao fruit feels and tastes like so I can tell you about it later. I want to do that crazy adventure thing because it will probably make a cool story next month. I want to go on that hike because I'll bet you'd like the view at the top.
Would I care as much if I had no readers? I don't know. I don't know because I am not that person.
My travels are not just MY travels now – I take my audience along wherever I go. While my trips are still largely about me (about where I want to go, what I want to see, and what I want to write about), I still have you, my readers, in the back of my mind. Always.
It hearkens back to one of my very first blogging conferences, where somebody said “It's not about your trip – it's about your reader's trip.”
And I think it's impossible for me to completely break away from that way of thinking, digital detox or no.
Even on this trip, I was thinking about you. I was thinking about what I would tell you about a digital detox and what it was like for an internet addict like me to go a week without blogging and social media. And even though I wasn't talking to you at the time, you were still with me in a way.
Send the average millennial on a trip like this sans iPad and Facebook, and they may indeed have a completely different experience!
Would I recommend it?
Even though I'm not sure my digital detox experience reflects what it would be like for the average traveler, I DID learn quite a bit from my time spent disconnected. And yes, I WOULD recommend it, especially if you've never taken (whether intentionally or unintentionally) a disconnected trip before. It makes you realize a lot of things about your habits, and also can just be a nice break from all the online noise. Plus, it's good to challenge yourself once in a while, right??
I would be interested to go on a trip where ALL the travelers are sans technology, to see if that would change the experience even more. For now, though, I hope my lessons can help you decide whether a digital detox trip might be right for you!
If you want to check out the digital detox trip I did in Ecuador, you can find it here: Ecuador on a Shoestring
So what do you think? Would you ever try a digital detox tour?
*Note: I did receive a complimentary digital detox tour in partnership with Intrepid Travel. However, as always, all opinions are 100% my own!
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
A digital detox ideally sounds like a great way to fully enjoy a vacation, but I don’t know if I would be able to do it. When on vacation, I usually communicate in one way or another with family or friends back home, and this is something that I would miss. I sometimes go on trips for three or more weeks, and not being able to talk to them would be difficult.
I totally get that – it would be a long time to go without talking to anyone back home! (But it makes you think about how we survived back before texts and emails, doesn’t it?!?)
I feel like a digital detox would be very difficult for me. My favourite thing to do after a day out seeing everything is to sit in bed and go through photos, or whatsapp friends or my partner to see how they are and tell them about my day. Maybe I should start with a social media detox and build up?
Building up to it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea!
I don’t know if I could do a digital detox trip to be honest. I really like the idea of it and I know how beneficial it must be. And maybe in the future I’ll feel the want\need to do one. But at the moment, I really want to be able to take my camera and take awesome pics. And I can still leave all of my other tech at home 🙂 I’m only really interested in having my camera with me anyway haha
You should try to go a day without it as an experiment and see what happens! (I only lasted three days, and then I caved!)
I could certainly spend a week without internet, and I think it would be great for me to do so. No photos, though? Absolutely not. Photography is one of my main drives for travel, even before I started blogging. I feel I can balance experience vs capturing that experience well enough without having to leave my camera behind. I understand the reasoning behind it, but I think it would diminish the experience for me.
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who struggles with the idea of not being able to take photos on a trip! I think the overall idea of a digital detox is great, though.
I’ve never done an official digital detox, but there have been more than a few trips where I’ve found myself without wifi and it was actually a blessing in disguise. I was more aware of what was going on and I actually enjoyed being untethered. I’m not sure I could commit to a full week, but a few days here and there are incredibly enjoyable.
Kate
I’ve been there, too! Or been in places where I only have wifi at my accommodation, and therefore go all day without thinking about email and Facebook and all of that.
Detox is sooo important sometimes: we all get sucked into this digital parallel universe not even realizing it. I am so proud of you for doing it and, at the same time, so happy to know that you managed anyway to take some pictures on the way!!
Bon courage!!
Aww thanks, Arianna! I wasn’t sure I could do it, but now I’m glad I did!
I love this post! I am constantly attached to my camera, computer, and phone as well. I’ve never done a digital detox but am planning a trip to Myanmar at the end of June where I’ve heard the wifi can be pretty spotty/nonexistent. So, while it’s not something I am doing intentionally, it may end up being a digital detox all the same. Except for my camera! Just like you, I need photos for both my readers and for myself, especially in a place like Myanmar!
Great post! Thanks for much for preparing me 🙂
Best,
Sarah
Yeah, I’ve been on plenty of unintentional digital detoxes too! It’s good for us, though. 🙂
I have had a camera since I was 10 years old, and have taken pictures nearly every day of my life. I’d be willing to dig up an old film camera and technically be ‘digital-free’, but there’s no way I could travel somewhere I’ve never been with a camera. The internet, yeah no big deal, I can (and have) traveled without being connected.
I know these trips are new, but I wonder how successful they will be.
I’m curious to see how people will respond to them, too! The whole “digital detox” thing was predicted to be popular in travel this year, though, so I DO think there’s demand for it. (And being on a guided tour with other people doing the same thing would mean you’d be less likely to cheat!)
Love this! I honestly don’t know if I could do this, though. Haha! Maybe later on when I have the guts.
If I could do it, you could do it!! 😉
This was a really interesting read. I’ve thought of doing a digital detox, but I think because I am a relatively new travel blogger, that would be really really hard. It probably would feel pretty good in the long run though!
It probably *would* feel good! And, honestly, taking a week off doesn’t mean your blog will die. 🙂 There are so many tools out there to help you schedule things in advance, too – you can schedule blog posts, tweets, Facebook posts, and more!
Hi Amanda! I love your blog and can totally relate to needing a detox yet being hesitant. But….I’m dying to ask one question! Is your macbook cover with the Ohio “Home” a complete cover or is it a cover and a sticker? If it is a complete cover, where did you get it? I need one in my life!
Even if you’re hesitant, I would say give digital detoxing a go! Even if you end up hating it, at least you tried. And it doesn’t have to last forever. 🙂
And my computer has a hard shell and a sticker. I got the Ohio “Home” sticker (as well as a matching shirt) here: http://www.beohioproud.com/
I think you summed up our job very well! Letting go of social media is one thing, but foregoing pictures altogether is another entirely. I love how you mentioned that travel and photography are no longer separate things to you. Kudos on achieving this detox though!
Yup, the two are definitely irrevocably intertwined for me now – and it totally took this trip for me to realize that!
Like you I just love having pictures of the places I visit and little things that catch my eye. I had never thought that it ever affected how I traveled. I know I can do without social media as I have done a detox before but it’s tough as a blogger and especially in your position as a travel blogger.
I do think that if everyone had been on an enforced detox that it might have been different, obviously it wouldn’t change your entire personality but maybe it would have brought people together a lot more if they didn’t have the escape of their digital tech.
An interesting insight.
Yeah, I do wonder how the group dynamic would be on a trip where NOBODY has a phone or iPad or camera. Maybe I’ll have to do another detox trip to find out!
I would. I do take regular hiatuses from my social media (especially Facebook). I’m very involved in the political sphere and activist community so sometimes my timeline is angry and depressing. But I agree about the photography. On my first trip to Europe, I LITERALLY took 500 pictures. It was a two week trip! But I was 16 and excited. Since then, I’ve learned how to not live behind my camera. Trained myself to take in moments (stop, think about what I see, close my eyes and smell, is it windy or is the sun warm on my skin?). So when I do look back at those pictures, it just isn’t pixels, it’s a moment. I’d be worried I would forget all the little parts of a trip if I didn’t take pictures. I journal daily but (sorry for being tacky) a picture’s worth a thousand words!
I totally get that! Being “in the moment” and noticing your surroundings is important, but photos often remind you exactly how you felt at a specific moment in time, and that can be very powerful!
I think I would be okay spending a week without the internet.
But spending a week travelling and not being able to take photos? A definite no for me.
Something I love about travelling is going home and looking back at all of my adventures through the photos I have taken, so not having those would be SO difficult for me.
That was definitely the toughest part for me, too! Though I know what I do for a living definitely has an impact on that – I know plenty of people who would be absolutely fine traveling and taking no photos!