How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

[Paule]

Believe it or not, the internet has not always existed! For those of you too young to know a time without internet and for the rest of you who have simply forgotten, it is not only possible but also desirable to learn how to survive without access to the internet. This is an especially useful skill during holidays, when you can take time to rest, rejuvenate and relax from everyday habits, chores and pastimes. The internet is all three of these in its own way, so taking a break from it is good for you. Yet, as with anything we get very used to, it can be hard to let go. Here are some ideas for making your internet break a fulfilling and fun one.

1. Enjoy your holiday. It is best to approach your holiday looking forward to all there is ahead rather than pining in advance for the loss of your internet access. Before you awaits many days, maybe even weeks, of enjoyment of other experiences in life. Feeling down at the start is energy-sapping and will impact on others who are spending time with you. Sure, it may feel like cold turkey to you, but you remain as connected with humanity and the rest of the world as you think you are with the internet, even more so. For really heavy internet users, holidaying without the internet is a chance to reacquaint yourself with the reality of life surrounding you.
2. Get outdoors and immerse yourself in activities. This is a great opportunity to get out there and do all the activities that the place you are staying at has on offer. Be bold and try new things, even if you lack confidence. Try group activities if you are unsure of what to do - especially those that include a guide. This is a time to exercise the body as much as the mind and to stretch those desk-trapped muscles.
3. Get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Take time to enjoy the sights around you. If you are staying in a natural setting, listen for the sounds of nature, smell the scents and view the amazing sights about you. If you are artistic, take time to sketch what you see. If you are poetic, compose poems in your mind. If you love writing, do it in a notebook, one that you have the time to decorate as well if wished.
4. Rest and relax. This means relax totally. You can unwind and learn to enjoy the feeling of not needing to check the internet every half an hour. Check yourself - has the need for the internet become an ingrained habit that has you agitated and needy? Challenge this feeling by allowing yourself to do nothing.
5. Converse with others. This is a great opportunity to sit down with friends, family and other vacationers and to talk. Tell yarns, swap tales, share information and just chat about anything and everything. Reconnect with the wonder of conversing with people without any electronic medium in the way.
6. Play board games and card games. Yes, the old-fashioned and traditional way of playing games. Board games and card games are also a great excuse to connect with those staying with you and having a good laugh together.
7. Write on paper. Rediscover the old art of handwriting and put your pen or pencils to paper! Create comic strips, write stories, write a descriptive letter to a friend you haven't connected with in ages or scribble down numerous postcards to family members for a delightful surprise (everyone still loves to receive real mail through the snail post). If you are a writer, take time to write stories, poems, descriptive pieces. If you must, write down that blog piece pr e-mail text for adding at a later date when you return home.
8. Appreciate being offline. Think about how good it is not to feel compelled to check your e-mails every twenty minutes or to jump every time the message ping sounds. Consider the refreshing feeling of not being able to rush to the internet for a quick solution but having to work out answers in your mind, drawing on your memory, experience and learning and having to ask others to help also.
9. Plan ahead. Taking a break from the internet while on holiday is a great time to make plans for the next few months, year or even years. There is nothing to distract you.
10. Limit occasional internet visits, if possible. If you do have internet access available during your holiday, do not give into the temptation of sitting on it all day long. Be considerate of others who may need to use the same terminal but more so, be considerate of others you are holidaying with. It is highly unlikely that they want to see you glued to a computer the entire time that you are on holiday.

The internet is but one facet of our lives, not the be all and end all. Look at it this way - if you have lost the ability to holiday without internet acces, it's likely your need for a holiday without internet is very high.

Don't succumb to the PSP, phone or other gadget access to the internet. That will prevent you from enjoying all the holiday experience has to offer.

[theGobbyOne]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

Believe it or not, the internet has not always existed! For those of you too young to know a time without internet and for the rest of you who have simply forgotten, it is not only possible but also desirable to learn how to survive without access to the internet. This is an especially useful skill during holidays, when you can take time to rest, rejuvenate and relax from everyday habits, chores and pastimes. The internet is all three of these in its own way, so taking a break from it is good for you. Yet, as with anything we get very used to, it can be hard to let go. Here are some ideas for making your internet break a fulfilling and fun one.

1. Enjoy your holiday. It is best to approach your holiday looking forward to all there is ahead rather than pining in advance for the loss of your internet access. Before you awaits many days, maybe even weeks, of enjoyment of other experiences in life. Feeling down at the start is energy-sapping and will impact on others who are spending time with you. Sure, it may feel like cold turkey to you, but you remain as connected with humanity and the rest of the world as you think you are with the internet, even more so. For really heavy internet users, holidaying without the internet is a chance to reacquaint yourself with the reality of life surrounding you.
2. Get outdoors and immerse yourself in activities. This is a great opportunity to get out there and do all the activities that the place you are staying at has on offer. Be bold and try new things, even if you lack confidence. Try group activities if you are unsure of what to do - especially those that include a guide. This is a time to exercise the body as much as the mind and to stretch those desk-trapped muscles.
3. Get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Take time to enjoy the sights around you. If you are staying in a natural setting, listen for the sounds of nature, smell the scents and view the amazing sights about you. If you are artistic, take time to sketch what you see. If you are poetic, compose poems in your mind. If you love writing, do it in a notebook, one that you have the time to decorate as well if wished.
4. Rest and relax. This means relax totally. You can unwind and learn to enjoy the feeling of not needing to check the internet every half an hour. Check yourself - has the need for the internet become an ingrained habit that has you agitated and needy? Challenge this feeling by allowing yourself to do nothing.
5. Converse with others. This is a great opportunity to sit down with friends, family and other vacationers and to talk. Tell yarns, swap tales, share information and just chat about anything and everything. Reconnect with the wonder of conversing with people without any electronic medium in the way.
6. Play board games and card games. Yes, the old-fashioned and traditional way of playing games. Board games and card games are also a great excuse to connect with those staying with you and having a good laugh together.
7. Write on paper. Rediscover the old art of handwriting and put your pen or pencils to paper! Create comic strips, write stories, write a descriptive letter to a friend you haven't connected with in ages or scribble down numerous postcards to family members for a delightful surprise (everyone still loves to receive real mail through the snail post). If you are a writer, take time to write stories, poems, descriptive pieces. If you must, write down that blog piece pr e-mail text for adding at a later date when you return home.
8. Appreciate being offline. Think about how good it is not to feel compelled to check your e-mails every twenty minutes or to jump every time the message ping sounds. Consider the refreshing feeling of not being able to rush to the internet for a quick solution but having to work out answers in your mind, drawing on your memory, experience and learning and having to ask others to help also.
9. Plan ahead. Taking a break from the internet while on holiday is a great time to make plans for the next few months, year or even years. There is nothing to distract you.
10. Limit occasional internet visits, if possible. If you do have internet access available during your holiday, do not give into the temptation of sitting on it all day long. Be considerate of others who may need to use the same terminal but more so, be considerate of others you are holidaying with. It is highly unlikely that they want to see you glued to a computer the entire time that you are on holiday.

The internet is but one facet of our lives, not the be all and end all. Look at it this way - if you have lost the ability to holiday without internet acces, it's likely your need for a holiday without internet is very high.

Don't succumb to the PSP, phone or other gadget access to the internet. That will prevent you from enjoying all the holiday experience has to offer.

You are kidding me right??????????????/
Missing internet on holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Did i mention my 5* holiday to Egypt this Sunday 16th March with noooooooooooooooooooooooooo kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Internet last thing on my mind:tinysmile_aha_t:

[Sapphire]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

It's 11 weeks and 4 days till I get on that big bird in the sky and fly off on a 5* Adults Only, 8 of us in total, All Inclusive holiday (2nd June) for 18 days to Mexico.

I've checked and the hotel has internet access, hmmmmmmm do I take my lappy with me ................ decisions, decisions ...................

Dare I risk the wrath of himself if I do..................

Would it be rude of me to ignore our friends that are going with us...................

I'm thinking about it ..........................

[enaid]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

I'm shaking just thinking about it, but then again I'm not going on a long holiday only 4 days

[Sapphire]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

I have a possible answer hmmmmmmm 'Cancel the holiday' ? Nope not doing that.

[Nattie]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

Sapphire, what do you mean by "ADULTS ONLY"? Is it one of those kind of "swinging" the bat type things?
And does 5* mean you will have to -put up with that 1980's group?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0G_...eature=related

[Sapphire]

Re: How to Survive Without the Internet on Holiday

Oh trust you to think of Swingers Holidays Nattie ffs you pervert hun pmsl. No the terms Adults Only means that we don't have to worry about loads of ankle biters running around, screaming and crying whilst we get on with the serious job of errrrrrrr Relaxing, Chilling, having a nice meal or two and possibly embibing in the odd liquid refreshment, without having to pay for anything because it was all paid for last week (all inclusive).
The 5* bit means that we get our beds made for us, clean sheets and enough sunbeds to go round without having to get up at stupid o'clock to put our towels out before the Germans get there first.