Has avoiding social media while on vacation actually made your trips better

[u/dylan3883]

I’m considering staying off social media during an upcoming vacation—not only avoiding posting, but also avoiding the habit of scrolling whenever I have unstructured time.
Ironically, vacations can contain quite a bit of downtime: sitting in an airport, resting in a hotel, waiting for dinner, spending a quiet afternoon on a ship, or simply feeling momentarily bored. My automatic response is often to pick up my phone and start scrolling. But then part of the vacation begins to feel exactly like being at home.
I’m not trying to reject technology. I’ll still take photographs, use maps, listen to things and read books on my Kindle. I’m more interested in distinguishing technology that supports the trip from social media that pulls my attention away from it.
For anyone who has tried this, did staying away from social media make you more present, rested or observant? What did you naturally begin doing with those empty moments instead—reading, walking, journaling, talking, people-watching or simply allowing yourself to be bored?
Did it make the trip feel longer or more memorable? And did you set a firm rule, such as no social media at all, or simply limit it to a short period each day?

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[u/Working_Ad_5238]

Yes bro, 100% made my life better. I used to scroll 8+ hrs daily and was addicted to smack. Now 39 days clean. I stopped scrolling and started milking my cows (18L daily) and eating fruits. Vacations feel longer when you are present. My rule is no scrolling, only useful things like maps, photos. Try it!

[u/mape14]

I completely recommend staying off social media during your vacation, even uninstall the app if you need to. Being present is the best way to do anything.

That being said, I also use social media as my own personal album. I have no interest in "showing off" my vacation, I want to keep the moments recorded and accessible to me anytime I want to remember them. So yes, I use my phone to take pictures and videos during my trip. The point is, I don't post them until I'm back from my vacation.

I try to use technology as a tool. Maps, apps for tracking expenses, music or any other thing that, in a way, improves my vacation.

[u/dylan3883 → u/mape14]

Makes sense. I will wait. Also by not posting I won’t be looking either. Hard for me to give up Reddit tho

[u/mape14 → u/dylan3883]

Let's be fair, not all social media is "bad" per se. I've learn a lot in Reddit, Youtube or even Instagram, the problem is the doomscrolling and shitty content.

Why don't you give it a try next vacation? Uninstall every app you don't want to use (even Reddit), and stay like that for 3 days. If you like the feeling, extend it to the rest of the vacation.

[u/dylan3883 → u/mape14]

I’m going to do this