Ditching my laptop at dinner changed how I experience places.

Caleb Ramirez · 2026-03-07T12:21:16.635849+00:00

I used to bring my laptop everywhere, even to dinner. A few weeks ago, I left it in my room one night. I ended up having a great chat with locals instead of working. My stress dropped and I enjoyed the evening more. What tips do you have for unplugging while traveling?

williamprice6mo ago

My own rule is to leave the phone in the hotel safe after 6 PM. It's amazing how much you notice when you can't just look up the answer to every random thought. I still catch myself reaching for a pocket that's empty.

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jennifern657mo ago

Seriously! I used to be the same way, always hunched over my screen in cafes. Felt like I was just moving my office to new places. Once I stopped, I noticed the little stuff way more, like how a place actually smells or the background music. It makes the whole trip stick in your mind better, not just in your camera roll.

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wilson.jenny7mo ago

Honestly, after ditching my phone too, I started remembering trips by smells and sounds instead of just screenshots.

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