No Phones, Please!

I know, I know... I just told you to remember to keep in touch! And trust me I understand that you've never been, wherever you are, so you need to take all the pictures. But, put your phone down!

Take a 2:1 ratio on the phone usage 2 hours free from the 1 photo session upon arrival. Then repeat. Savor the moments and yes when you are amazed take the photo but then walk, look, and talk without taking a picture or a selfie. Trust me, everyone important in your life knows that you went on a incredible vacation you were looking forward to. Or when you get back, I'm sure you will be telling someone what amazing experience you just had. Travelers can be so excited that there first reaction to take a picture becomes a habit. Rather than focusing in on the space there is a focus on capturing the time exactly but phones cannot show you everything. So take a break from the electronic extension of yourself and just soak in your surroundings. Don't use it as a crutch to pass the down time between tours or waiting for your food. Intentionally putting the phone down, being engaged, and taking a "picture with your mind" will challenge yourself to remember the details. Maybe music in the square, the smell of food cooking, the freshness in the air, the city lights outside the window, noticing the details in the buildings, or the vast beauty of the landscape.

And now there is no need to create photographic stories everyday of your travels to share. Companies like Chatbooks can link to your social media to make a physical copy, like a book, so you can keep those memories together to look at over again, send them to loved ones or save them for fond memories to share in the future.