Sure, here’s a more conversational and streamlined version of the article:
We’re all hooked on our phones, aren’t we? It’s like they’re an extension of our hands. We use them for everything – work, sharing memes, watching movies, reading books, listening to podcasts, and so much more. Remember the times when you’re out for dinner, and everyone’s just scrolling through their phones? Or when you’re so engrossed in your phone that you walk into a glass door? (Not that I’ve done that recently…)
Back in 2006, when I started traveling, it was a big deal if a hostel had a computer. We’d take pictures and rush to internet cafes to upload them on MySpace or wait for our turn to check emails at the hostel computer. Traveling with a phone was unheard of. If you made plans to meet someone in another city, you just hoped they’d show up. Being disconnected was the whole point of traveling – to break away and explore the world.
But things have changed drastically over the years. Now, people are more concerned about whether the hostel’s Wi-Fi reaches their dorm room than meeting new people. Everyone’s glued to their phones or computers, watching Netflix, working, or checking Facebook. The charm of hostels, once the best places to meet people, has faded because no one’s really interacting anymore. It’s quite sad, really.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against technology or Wi-Fi. It’s made life easier, especially for someone like me who works remotely. We can now book rooms and flights, stay in touch, and communicate better, all from our phones. If your friend’s late to the meeting spot, you can just ping them a message on WhatsApp. Problem solved! Technology has also made finding cheap flights and learning languages easier. And thanks to the sharing economy, connecting with locals is easier too.
But, I feel we’ve lost one of the most beautiful aspects of travel – being present in the moment. We’re so distracted that we’re not really observing the place we’re at. We’re busy Instagramming the moment but never really being in it. We’re reading the news online or chatting with our friends back home instead of meeting new people. We’re at dinner, scrolling through Facebook, wondering how many people liked our last photo. Or we’re Snapchatting our once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
A few years ago, I read a book called "What Got You Here Won’t Get You There". The author, Marshall Goldsmith, talked about how if you’re doing something else while talking to someone, you’re subtly signaling to them that they aren’t important. That made me rethink how I interact with people. I learned to put away my phone, make better eye contact, and focus on the people around me. It was hard, as I was totally addicted to my phone.
Last year, I decided to cut down on work when I travel. When I go someplace new, I put the computer away. I remember when I was in Malta, I didn’t open my computer for four days. I didn’t write. There were a few tweets and posted pictures, but we reminded each other to put our phones down and enjoy the destination.
So, think about it. How often and how long do you go without your phone? When you travel, how many times are you distracted from the experience while commenting on someone’s last post? Did you travel around the world to check on what your friends back home are doing, or did you go for the adventure?
This year, let’s pledge to put our phones away when we travel. Let’s not retreat into our safe zone when we feel slightly uncomfortable around strangers or in silence. Let’s interact with the people and places we’re visiting. Observe the amazing scenes around you. Say hello to someone new. Give yourself 15-30 minutes max on your computer or phone, then step out the door and take in the world!
If you’re traveling with someone, tell them to remind you to put the phone away. If you’re traveling alone, leave your phone in your dorm when you go downstairs. You’ll be forced to interact with people. The magic of travel only happens when you’re fully outside your comfort zone. But if you’re always on your phone, connected to back home, you’ll never be unconnected. You’ll never be able to grow because you’ll never get outside your comfort zone.
The phone is the enemy of the travel experience. Let’s make this the year we stop curating our lives, cut the umbilical cord to home, put away our phones, and enjoy the moment and beauty in front of us. After all, that’s why you wanted to go away in the first place!
