Stumbling into Sustainability: Unplug This Holiday Season

As we hit mid-December 2025, with holiday lights twinkling and the scent of pine in the air, it's easy to get caught up in the rush. But it’s also the perfect moment to pause and reconsider our constant companionship with screens. Those endless notifications and quick scrolls can quietly steal away from the warmth of real conversations and shared laughs, leaving us feeling more scattered than serene. Intentionally setting aside our devices, creating digital distance, can help us rediscover the simple joy of being fully present. From my own recent getaway and some thoughtful reads, I've come to appreciate how unplugging can recharge not just our batteries, but our relationships too.

Family holiday game time. Photo by Liz B.

A Vacation Eye-Opener

Back in October, I headed to Salem, Massachusetts, for a week with my best friend. Salem is a  place steeped in history, autumn charm and a little magic that removed me completely from my daily grind. This wasn't just any trip; it was the first since 2017 where I dared to leave my laptop behind. Working in social media, I'd always lugged it along "just in case," imagining some viral disaster that only I could avert. The fear was real (to me anyways): one unchecked notification, and poof, no more dream job. But this time, I made the conscious decision to leave the laptop behind, trusting my phone only for genuine necessities like navigation or emergencies.

Visiting the "Samantha" statue in Salem, MA. Photo by Liz B.

The shift was liberating. Without the laptop's tether, imaginary or otherwise, I immersed myself in wandering historic streets, enjoying lore, savoring east coast dining and even a few themed libations…these moments made every second feel richer and more vivid. I realized my attachment wasn't solely to work; it was this insidious habit of needing to be connected to the wider world at all times. Why? What is this compulsion to check in on distant friends or global news while I am having a bucket list (for me) experience? It made me really think about how technology has woven itself into our psyches, turning "availability" into our default.

My friend, tied to a high-demand job (that she loves and worked hard to get), couldn't unplug as easily. She squeezed in hours here and  there, which really highlighted my own privilege in being able to step away. She would need to finish up some things while I explored near our hotel, finding the cutest coffee shops, searching for the perfect breakfast pastry. It sparked a wave of gratitude and perspective, reminding me that not everyone has the luxury of boundaries in a world where bosses (as a generalized statement) assume constant access via ever-present devices, especially one they have provided and foot the bill for. These observations got me thinking: if certain settings can coax us to let go, why not intentionally create them during the holidays? After all, this season is about reconnection, not refreshing feeds.

Even my dad, who clutches his phone like a lifeline in most places, transforms in Hawaii. Perhaps it's the ocean's rhythm or the island's laid-back spirit that encourages letting go. Photos by Liz B.

What the Research and Experts Say

While pondering all of these thoughts, I brought it up with co-workers; both the gratitude for not being tied to my phone and the questions as to why we allow it. One of the great things about working where I work is my co-workers are always there with an opportunity for dialogue as I ponder my thoughts out loud, or a word of encouragement or best of all, a resource to help me out. Our Executive Director, Quinn, recommended some sources for me to check out. And while I fully admit I did not delve as deep into the books she recommended as I would have liked (yet), I did get to at least flip through some or check out some notes online (my attachment to technology reveals itself).

Research like the "iPhone Effect" underscores this: simply having a phone visible during a chat or even family meals can erode trust, empathy, and connection quality, as if the device silently competes for our attention. It's a subtle thief, making interactions feel shallower even when we're trying to engage. With this electronic tether how do we create new connections and relationships, when our current ones already struggle from lack of attention?

This resonates with Cal Newport's insights in Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World (2019), where he advocates for curating technology to serve our values rather than dictate them. Encouraging us to trim the digital fat to make room for what truly sustains us. Adam Grant builds on similar themes in Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things (2023), showing how fostering focus and resilience unlocks our inner strengths, free from the distractions that fragment our days. And Brian Johnson, in A Philosopher's Notes: On Optimal Living, Creating an Authentically Awesome Life and Other Such Goodness (2010), distills ancient and modern wisdom into bite-sized nudges toward presence, reminding us that authentic living thrives when we prioritize real experiences over virtual ones. Please check these out, I know I will be spending more time exploring these philosophies we already know, but lack either the discipline or motivation to truly embrace.

Even in fiction, Ernest Cline's dystopian Ready Player One (2011) offers a clever nod: the story's heroes mandate weekly shutdowns of their virtual world to push people back into reality, a fictional fix that feels eerily applicable, and disturbingly necessary today.

Book covers of the books referenced above. Image created in Canva

Embrace This Holiday Season 

Unplugging doesn't mean going cold turkey…who am I kidding? I've tried that and ended up "just checking one thing" more times than I'd care to admit. Start with manageable steps:

• Designate phone-free zones during meals or family games, letting conversations unfold without interruptions.

• Create a communal "device basket" at gatherings, turning it into a lighthearted ritual.

• Take unplugged walks to soak in holiday lights or nature, rediscovering the quiet magic around you.

  
  

These tweaks can gently redirect our focus to the laughter, stories, and warmth of the season. Sure, it's tempting to sneak a peek (guilty here), but the payoff in feeling more connected is worth the effort.

Get outside, see the beauty. Photo by Nora W.

Final Thoughts

This holiday, let's gift ourselves a bit of digital distance. My Salem trip, backed by the "iPhone Effect" findings and the fluid wisdom from Newport, Grant, and Johnson, has convinced me that unplugging fosters deeper bonds and personal growth. It's not about perfection but being better about prioritizing the moments that matter. Here's to a season filled with genuine presence and joy.

Wishing you a peaceful, technologically disconnected holiday.

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