You’re likely reading this because you have no self-control. You want help, advice—anything to show that damn phone of yours who’s boss. You know how addictive it can be; how tethered it makes you feel, especially on vacation.
Well, dear reader, you’ve come to the right place. While I can’t solve your compulsion disorder or work-life balance problems, I can give you some ideas on overcoming both during downtime.
I wish you luck. You’re going to need it.
Step 1: Try It For Once
You can’t charge your figurative battery if you’re always online. This goes for in-between work as well as vacation. So give leaving the grid a chance. Letting go feels good. When you do, the sun will still rise. The world will move on without you. I promise. For some, that may be a humbling, if not, uncomfortable thought. But it’s true. You can’t dislike something you’ve never tried. And if you can’t stomach going offline for an extended period of time, you can always go back to your always-online ways.
Step 2: Set Boundaries Before You Leave
If you don’t decide beforehand how you’ll stay offline, you will fail. Willpower alone won’t work. Turning off all audible and visual phone alerts during designated times, either individually or with the catch-all “airplane” or “do not disturb” modes, should be your primary objective. If you’re really addicted, you may need to go old-school and ditch your phone altogether. Obviously, not having Google and other online tools can be a huge pain. But there are workarounds. You just have to decide what’s most important.