As we previously told you, folks hate disconnecting on vacation so much that many would consider having no Internet access a vacation disaster. But is it really a good thing to disconnect anyway? Well, a new study sought to find out what happens to a person when they disconnect while on vacation, and the answer is basically yes.
The study, out of the University of East Anglia (UEA), University of Greenwich and Auckland University of Technology, had 24 participants from seven countries disconnect for 24 hours while they were traveling, looking at the participants' emotions before, during and after their disconnection.
For the most part, those in the study felt anxiety frustration and even withdrawal after first disconnecting, but eventually grew to not only accept it, but feel enjoyment and liberated. Many enjoyed it so much that they said they’d consider another detox in the future. Not having devices also improved the trip experience for some, since it forced them to talk to locals, which helped them get great recommendations they wouldn't otherwise get from guidebooks, with many noting those destinations were trip highlights.
- Interestingly, results did depend a little on where folks were traveling. Those traveling in urban areas felt more anxiety and frustrations since didn’t have their tech for things like navigation and recommendations, while those in rural and natural destinations felt more frustrations for things like being unable to report safety or not being able to use tech to kill time. In addition, couples, or those traveling in a group had an easier time disconnecting than solo travelers, with solo travelers feeling more vulnerable without their tech.
- Remember, folks only disconnected for 24 hours, so when they reconnected things took a turn. Many reported feeling overwhelmed when they got back online, especially due to all their incoming messages and notifications they missed.
Source:Medical Express