by Tim Chester | January 17, 2025
Source: AFAR
Is it even possible to travel unplugged in 2025? Since Afar ran a campaign to encourage travelers to explore device-free in 2018, smartphones have gotten smarter and even more present in our lives. Americans spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on them, up from just under three hours in 2022. It’s harder than ever to power down, but it’s worth trying: Studies show that less screen time can improve your mental health, provide more space for big-picture thoughts, and help you travel more deeply.
Disconnecting “resets your nervous system and allows you to be more present with your thoughts,” says Chip Conley, founder of the Joie de Vivre hotel chain and the Modern Elder Academy, which offers midlife retreats aimed at helping people find purpose and inspiration at a certain age. “It also allows you to be more present to cultivating awe—to see the world differently.”
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