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Foliage Enthusiasts
Unplugging is also beneficial for your mental health. We can’t have it all, and sometimes social media tricks us into thinking we should. By not constantly updating yourself on other people’s lives, you can focus on yourself and even learn to accept yourself more. Going on social media less helps decrease feelings of envy and loneliness, and allows us more time for self-reflection, mediation, and other things that are important for our mental health but often lie at the bottom of our priority lists.
They’re called leaf peepers, a term that’s both embraced in their community and poked fun at by the general public. Foliage enthusiasts, if you will. The stereotype screams hipster and middle-aged Americans who flock to the upper Midwest to view the changing of the seasons, often from behind the wide lenses on their cameras. They gather in groups – be it droves of RVs, local guided tours, pull offs on the sides of roads, camping excursions, or hosted Facebook events - they are simply very enthusiastic about the arrival of autumn.
There are also physical benefits to unplugging. Your eyes are often strained from looking at a screen and having excessive blue light exposure. Your neck will get a rest from constantly looking down, and even your posture may improve. Your hands will have a break from perpetual scrolling and typing. Additionally it will free up more time for movement and exercise!
But before you laugh at their expense, they aren’t the only ones with this form of fervor once the summer blues fade. Those of us in four-season states often cannot contain our excitement from late September through October. There’s the humorous pumpkin-spicedeverything culture that surrounds this season. Orange, red, yellow, and brown make their way off the trees and into fashion and décor. It’s an appreciation of change that isn’t scoffed at by many, and you don’t have to go as far as Northern New England to find it.
THE HOW:
Maybe we’re not all as ardently enthusiastic when it comes to autumn, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the changing of the seasons with zest. Besides, a trip through nature is still a trip after all, and we could all use a little escape before the chaotic holiday stretch that seems to begin earlier and earlier every year.
Ok by now you’re probably thinking this is a lot easier said than done right? Well luckily here is the part where I give you some tips to help diminish that “I’ll be swamped when i get back next week if I don’t check my email twice a day” feeling. We all know this feeling too well, but in fact you can’t get that much done for work on your phone so really you are just stressing yourself out by checking.
When it comes down to it, knowing when to plan your leaf peeping journey, even if you just use it as a casual hobby or an excuse to travel, is the most important part.
First, before you leave for vacation make a to-do list so you have a good idea of what awaits you when you return. Of course there are things that are going to pop up, but by organizing your work it will give you mental relief. Then let your boss and favorite co-workers know that you plan on unplugging and will not be consistently on your email so if they NEED (emphasize need) you to call. You can also schedule check in times with them so you don’t have to worry about the unknown until that designated time. By simply doing these things it will help keep your mind present rather than wondering who needs what from back home.
This map is a general guide of what to expect by region. Foliage changes differ annually and are effected by rainfall, temperature, and sun. Foliage maps are released with predictions based on the weather annually toward the end of summer.
This next part is where is gets a little scary. Turn off your notifications. Well at least the ones that are really unnecessary and just distracting. Who cares what Karen is doing, you’re on vacation! Decluttering your device actually is a great way to cut back on screen time. This also means unsubscribing from the pesky promotional emails you have really never bothered reading. You might be pleasantly surprised with all the time you will free up by doing so. Technology is a gift, but sometimes we forget that it also has an off button. I think you’ll find that by powering down you are not really missing anything, but instead will be gaining a lot. Sometimes it is more important to be truly present.
Resources: https://www.businessinsider.com/a-majority-uses-mobile-as-second-screen-2013-5 https://www.becomingminimalist.com/unplug-please/
-Shared by S.Vennie
https://globalnews.ca/news/3657382/brain-holiday-vacation-unplugging/
