Full Disconnect From Technology - Highly Recommended!

bigredseo

bigredseo

HD Community Advisor
Staff member
Hey guys,

Just returned from an 8-day full disconnect from technology. Although now that I say it, the 15hr drive (each way) was heavily assisted by Waze for directions, police, and construction alerts :) but there was no email, Facebook or answering of the phones, so I think that counts a little?

It was our 10-year anniversary for the wife and I, and we had been planning the escape for almost a month. We notified our clients to let them know if they had pending work, it needed to be on our desks by the 15th so we could complete it before we left, and while we would be "home" on the 1st, we needed a day or two to catch up and would be back in full swing after the 4th of July holiday.

Every single one of our clients said "Enjoy" or "Relax" and various other phrases. It's something that each of our clients would love to do themselves, and after being available non-stop for some pretty heavily demanding projects, we deserved the break.

Now I know that our business in marketing is very different than a web host - that's primarily why we don't host our web design clients and advise them to work directly with the host - but this is not the first disconnect that I've taken. When I ran a hosting company, I took off for 3 weeks, but still had a satellite phone so employees could reach me if needed (they only called once). As a one-man hosting shop, it's impossible to truly disconnect for any period of time, but if you can find a reliable person to cover you, even if just for 24 or 48 hours so you can get away from things, take it!

For our trip, we ended up in a town with approx 300 people - Haysi, VA. Talk about a small town! One lane road that I swear was built for horses, and 1 stoplight. Early in the morning, late in the evening, it was really really quiet. Even during the day, it was quiet, but for the odd few trucks or cars that passed by about 400 feet away.

We killed the electricity and disconnected the wifi (except to order pizza as in the valley, even cell phones didn't have a signal) - it was such the perfect getaway. Those that know me, know I'm a pretty big train buff, and to find a getaway cabin that was a Caboose, well that's just icing on the cake!

Happy to be back to the city again and ready for work, but man.... a break that was sorely needed!
 

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Out of curiosity, I looked up Haysi on the map, just to see what the closest big town was and wow it's one remote location!

Good for you for taking that break! I've imagined a million times what it would be like to fully disconnect even for a week, but never had too much enthusiasm to actually do it, haha.

The cabin is epic. One of those unique Airbnb-type featured places to stay at. Do you have any pics what it looks like on the inside? Any cool preserved internal features?
 
easyhostmedia said:
Happy Anniversary to you are your better half Conor.
But as today is only 3rd July does this mean you broke your 'full disconnect from technology' period
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Nope.. we did our disconnect, and now we're in "slow build" mode :) Critical emails and issues, or things we "want" to do :) Then on the 6th (5th is a holiday since the 4th landed on a Sunday), we're back to business as usual.

Weekends for us, even Fridays, are usually slower on our end as most clients have resolved to not doing anything until the next week at that stage. It's an odd mentality, but that's people for ya ;)
 
Artashes said:
I've imagined a million times what it would be like to fully disconnect even for a week, but never had too much enthusiasm to actually do it, haha.
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Do it! I'm planning to do another variation later this year, taking the Empire State Builder Amtrak Train from Chicago to San Francisco. 52-hour train ride, spotty internet. Kim won't do that trip as it's too long on a train. So if someone wants to join me...... hehehe.....
Artashes said:
The cabin is epic. One of those unique Airbnb-type featured places to stay at. Do you have any pics what it looks like on the inside? Any cool preserved internal features?
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Yeah, if you do a hunt on AirBnB for unique getaways, there are all sorts of different things. We originally wanted a boat in South Carolina - docked at a private marina - but the week we wanted, someone booked a 1-night stay. So, we'll do it another time. Also found a tugboat on a private 6-acre lake in Virginia... that's on our list :)

As @easyhostmedia mentioned, they're on Airbnb. Here's a link to the Airbnb for inside pictures. I took my own too, but these do a pretty good job - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/45928152?source_impression_id=p3_1625336627_L49eaRSR/cAV1SR/&guests=1&adults=1
 
Sounds great, I think we all need a disconnect a couple of times a year. Even if it is just a weekend, switch all communication devices off on a Friday night and not back on until Monday morning and get out in to nature somewhere.
 
S4 Hosting said:
Sounds great, I think we all need a disconnect a couple of times a year. Even if it is just a weekend, switch all communication devices off on a Friday night and not back on until Monday morning and get out in to nature somewhere.
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Good on paper, but not in practice if you are a 1 man band.
 
Sounds fascinating. One of these days, I plan to escape for a while as well. It's always great when you can share some time off with a loved one.
 
@bigredseo They've done a great job with that cabin, thanks for linking to it.
I do "half a disconnect" about twice a year when I visit my sister's country house in North Hatley, Quebec. The house is so remote it gets the most spotty Internet connection. I never take my laptop with me, and it's not even fun using the phone, so I am pretty much just playing tennis and watching movies all weekend.

Oh but a a train ride sounds so much more fun, because you are in motion!
 
Full disconnection is quite good thing, as I remember, but most people, who are self employed or have small companies, also those not addicted to drugs or alcohol not always have such possibility. What I noticed is that the most important thing for brain to rest and recharge is to change an environment. And type of activity of course. But checking mail in the morning and turning on laptop in the evening during the period of that environmental change doesn't hurt that bad.
 
Can't imagine how to disconnect from digital technology. Especially from computer games, since that is my main leisure. But I am glad that you found an exit from these tech, heh :3
 
RokusMoc said:
Can't imagine how to disconnect from digital technology.
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Just switch any mobile devices off, put some hiking shoes on and get out in nature for a day. :)

I look at a screen when I wake up in the morning, alarm on phone and probably check mail before I go to sleep and am never disconnected in between all of that, but it feels so amazing to just ignore all of it and embrace nature from time to time.
 
S4 Hosting said:
Just switch any mobile devices off, put some hiking shoes on and get out in nature for a day. :)

I look at a screen when I wake up in the morning, alarm on phone and probably check mail before I go to sleep and am never disconnected in between all of that, but it feels so amazing to just ignore all of it and embrace nature from time to time.
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Hard thing to do if a one-man-band. when i ran my hosting business for 18 years i was at my PC from about 8 am to midnight 7 days a week (longer if i was helping a client), but at least once a month i would grab my fishing gear and travel to a little habour i know ( has poor internet reception) and spend the whole day fishing and the place still has a local community police house and it has been known me asking community officer (who i know personally) if he has a bed for the night because pub rooms are full
 
easyhostmedia said:
but at least once a month i would grab my fishing gear and travel to a little habour i know ( has poor internet reception) and spend the whole day fishing
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Exactly, when you are a small business or startup it's really hard to find the time to disconnect, but you have to manage it to make it happen from time to time just to recharge and preserve sanity.
 
S4 Hosting said:
Exactly, when you are a small business or startup it's really hard to find the time to disconnect, but you have to manage it to make it happen from time to time just to recharge and preserve sanity.
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yup, even my current business (which i started as a hobby business2 mths ago) printing mugs was slow, but with Christmas only weeks away i have not had time to breathe and as the mug press heats up to 250 C i sweat like a bull, but i have a few days rest while i wait for new stock of mugs to arrive.
 
It is true that you get very limited time off in the States? Of course if you are self employed it depends on your own wishes but in a typical non-covid year I'm usually away for one week skiing with friends and at least 3 or 4 weeks with my spouse. And probably a few long weekends as well depending on how certain holidays are scheduled in a specific calendar year. I guess I'm pretty fortunate in that regard.

Anyway I do really enjoy the feeling of disconnecting when I'm away. I do check my private e-mail every now and then but no social media and very limited time using message apps.
 
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