Ditch Social Media While on Vacation

Oh, the excitement of going away on vacation. The beach, the mountains, the interesting foods and cultures, and all the great pictures you'll be able to share with your social media followers. You'll enjoy the scenery much more if you're not so caught up with social media, though. Plus, detoxing during your vacation can help you relieve stress and better connect with your companions. Take a social media detox by making arrangements ahead of time, committing to mindfulness, and implementing tricks to keep yourself accountable.

Steps

Planning Ahead

1. Pledge to upload your photos after you return. If you tell yourself beforehand that you won’t be uploading photos during your vacation, you’re more likely to stick to your pledge. You might even tease your friends and followers about the onslaught of media you’ll have for them when you get back.
2. Schedule posts in advance, if you use social media for work. If your job requires logging onto social media several times a day, it may be hard to step away during vacation. But, you can. Most social media outlets let you schedule posts in advance. If not, there is extension software that will allow you to schedule posts on various media outlets at once.
   • Scheduling in advance can help you stay “active” on social media for your job while still taking an actual break. If someone is needed to respond to comments or post news updates, ask a coworker to step in for you.
3. Commit to limiting emails and other operations, too. No doubt, you have been conditioned to move to your favorite social media outlets after you do other operations on your smartphone. Paying a bill or responding to an email may inadvertently lead to you losing hours of your vacation time lurking on your friends’ pages. To avoid this, limit your smartphone use to its most basic functions—making calls, sending texts, and checking the weather.
   • Ensure that you stay off social media by logging out completely. This also helps so that you aren’t drawn in by nonstop notifications.
   • The point of a vacation is to take a break from work. Making this commitment might help you overcome your workaholic problem, if you have one.

Being Mindful on Vacation

1. Challenge yourself to be present in every moment. Practice mindfulness on your vacation and you’ll have a much better chance of ditching social media. No matter where you are, there is an abundance of sensation and experience if you open your mind to it. Use your vacation to reconnect with the world around you.
   • Really watch the sun as it sets. Take the time to read the little plaques at the museum or art gallery. Become fully absorbed in the music. Appreciate the smell, taste, and texture of the foods you eat.
2. Focus on your companion. It should go without saying that if you came on vacation with someone, they should demand most of your attention, not your social media feed. Whether you’re with friends, a partner, or your family, be sure to attend to your present company.
   • Social media can wait, but a vacation offers a unique opportunity to connect with those you love away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
   • Unplugging helps improve conversations, boost eye contact, and even makes you appear more approachable to others.
3. Sign up for a yoga class. Yoga is a great activity that naturally promotes mindfulness. Plus, it is such a universally practiced exercise that you’ll be able to locate a class virtually wherever you are. Most resorts, spas, and retreats offer yoga classes. Plus, if you’re in a city, you can catch a class in a local studio.
4. Sigh with relief about how relaxed you feel. You might initially miss checking in on your friends and followers. Hopefully sooner than later, however, you’ll truly notice how much you have been missing out on by being absorbed in your phone. A social media detox can help relieve tension and make you remember the things in life that are truly important—like running into the oceans waves with your bestie.

Staying Accountable

1. State your intentions publicly. Studies show that social accountability has a major impact on you sticking with a commitment. Let everyone know that you are planning to stay off social media for the duration of your trip. If you happen to slip, they’ll help get you back on the right track.
   • You might simply tell your companions “I won’t be logging onto social media while we’re away.” Or, you might tell the world by updating your status, “Sorry, guys, but I’m headed on vacation. Won’t be posting until I return.”
2. Download a detox app. Technology is quite helpful when it comes to staying accountable. Lucky for you, there are numerous applications you can download that help control your smartphone usage. You can block your access to the internet for a short time with apps like Freedom or Self-Control. Or, you can stop yourself from using social media apps specifically.
3. Bring an actual camera. Another conditioned response many people have is uploading photos immediately after taking them. If this describes you, it may help to depart from your smart phone camera for the trip. Slip your smart phone into your bag, and use a real camera. You may even get better photos.
4. Don’t take your smart phone to every activity. Checking your phone is almost like second nature. Keep yourself accountable and resist the urge to log back in by leaving it behind. If you’re with someone else who has a phone, you’ll still have contact to the outside world.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Block Someone's WeChat Moments on Android
• Post WeChat Moments on Android
• Stay Off Social Media
• Clean Up Your Social Media Image
• Deal with an Internet Troll
• Defeat a Social Networking Addiction
• Use the Functions of WeChat
• Avoid Being Stalked on Social Media
• Deal with Not Having a Facebook or MySpace
• Use Tumblr

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