Seattle Times columnist Mónica Guzman wrote a piece last month about going device-free for a week while vacationing in Colorado:

It’s a culture shock, disconnection, if you’re as tied to your devices as I am. It slows time, amplifies your senses and actually changes how the world feels. If that sounds dramatic, try it, if you still can. I was surprised, too. Last week’s disconnection is the closest I’ve come to living in another dimension. When I came back, I knew I’d have to make some changes.

The more I talk to people about this– and one of the good things about doing lots of book signings and readings is that you meet a lot of people interested in these issues– I’m more convinced than ever that vacations should be a complete break from your normal routine, including your e-mail and other gadgets.

Unless you leave your mail behind, you’re not really away: part of the monkey mind, or the multitasking office mind, is still there, making cognitive noise and distracting you from whatever you’re doing right now.

Taking a screen-free vacation is good for two other reasons. First, it’s a time when it’s genuinely okay to go offline: the obligation of digital connection is more than balanced by the virtue of being with your family (or not wasting the money and time you’ve spent). Second, it’s an introduction to something you can do at home, on weekends, or even one evening a week. It’s a lot easier to power down your electronics than it is to get to the beach or campground, and in its own way can be just as rewarding.