I like to think that I know what I’m doing. Heck, I keep humans alive for a living (RIP to my plants). I decided to have a more ‘go with the flow’ vacation this summer. Part of that attitude included going paperless & keeping everything on my phone – which I then, unfortunately, lost. All my info, disappeared into the abyss.
I had to quickly get to grips with life beyond the digital, and in the end, I was able to truly unplug and connect with my surroundings. So, what do you actually do when travelling without a phone? Well…
Don’t panic
These kinds of things happen all the time. Yes it’s frustrating, and oh does it ever suck. But just take a breath, be glad that you didn’t lose your wallet or your passport. At the end of the day, you can count on that there will always a beer/wine/shot/etc waiting for you back at the hostel.
Go exploring
You’re on vacation! Go outside, enjoy the fresh air, go treat yo self. Sadly your Insta stories & Snapchats will suffer for a couple of days, but it’s nothing worth crying over (too much). I actually had an amazing time in Paris, got to see some amazing views from the Arc de Triomphe, got lost in the Louvre, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, & drank beers along the Montmartre as I watched the sunset.
Start a travel journal
Instead of taking a thousand pictures (half of which I’d never look at again) I decided to journal all my activities; what I ate, who I met, the places I went to. Little details I can’t simply recall (hyperthymesia). Try buying trinkets, key chains, coins, postcards. Things that you can fill up your wall with so you’ll always have something to remember the good times you had in places that you might never see again.
RELATED: HERE’S HOW KEEPING A TRAVEL JOURNAL CAN SUPPORT YOUR WELLBEING
Talk to people
If you’re from a small place or haven’t left your home province/country, it’s pretty boring to feel like you know everyone & nothing ever changes. Getting out of your bubble means you’ll meet new people, and while you’re bound to meet some people who you wish you hadn’t met (annoying hostel roomies), every new interaction you have is bound to teach you something new. Learning how to interact with strangers, break the ice, diffuse a hostile situation, barter at a flea market or test out a new language only helps you grow and makes for fun stories.
Do it all over again
So here I am, back in Canada where it’s a warm -1 with light snow. Looking back at the amazing time I had, drinking champagne on top the Eiffel Tower, driving through the highlands in Scotland, exploring museums and skybars in England, and singing along to the music at Temple Bar in Dublin. I have some great stories and memories that I’ll always cherish, and a newfound respect for living without technology.
Have you had a digital detox by travelling without a phone? Share your stories with us here and you could see your work published on six-two…