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These are challenging times for monotony. The world has transformed into a swift and noisy environment, and our minds are engulfed by an overflow of details and diversions. Finding a moment of tranquility is hard to locate – or endure. There's always something happening. If it's not the newest clip from your preferred content creator, it's an untried podcast episode or a series you've missed. Time for simple self-expression gets lost in the mix. More and more individuals, primarily men, aspire to disconnect from this whirlwind of disruptions, if momentarily. They're promoting a fresh travel craze, "Unplugging".
The phrase "Unplugging" once referred to disconnecting from an electrical source. However, this new travel fad isn't a resurrection of this carelessness. "Unplugging" isn't about joining the Mile High Club, nor is it about forbidden love on an aircraft or any form of intimacy. Instead, it's about a spiritual act, voluntarily surrendering nearly everything except breathing. Unpluggers are recognized for gazing into emptiness for hours.
"Unplugging" or the Rejection of Interruptions
Like many trends, "Unplugging" thrives chiefly through social media. Videos of individuals gaining viral popularity on TikTok or Instagram depict them utilizing their flight time solely for gazing at the seat in front of them, not chatting, reading, watching, or listening. Some even abandon meals and visits to the restroom. They've dedicated themselves to rejecting all interruptions for the duration of the flight, occasionally for hours. The detox is considered to purify the mind and promote more seriousness. The trend appears to be based on determination, resilience, and self-regulation.
Damion Bailey, a 34-year-old American, shared on Instagram in early August that he had shattered his personal record. He claimed to have endured a 13.5-hour flight without any form of entertainment. Australian music producer Torren Foot declared to have lasted 15 hours, and even renowned footballer Erling Haaland boasted about effortlessly navigating a seven-hour flight without a phone, sleep, water, or food. Haaland has also participated in the controversial "Lip Sealing" craze. Men are chiefly commending these "brave" individuals, with the most persistent being the one who survives the longest.
Laughable Travel Obstacle or Sensible Distance from Digital Media?
It's been scientifically proven that persistently consuming social media and an unending news feed can adversely impact health, such as lessening our focus span. Chronic stimulation can induce stress and even jeopardize empathy. The blue light from screens can cause symptoms like headaches and dry eyes.
Interval is essential for the mind, beyond question. Alex Soojung-Kin Pang, among others, advocates for downtime to permit the mind to recoup, process data, and establish links. A genuine break, he contends, boosts our creativity and productivity. The scientist has penned the book "Reprieve". As early as 2015, neuroscientist Imke Kirste showed that significant new cells can be developed in the brain in absolute silence.
There are also studies suggesting that a break from the digital realm can assist in improving well-being, relax, and upgrade sleep quality and concentration. It creates room for self-reflection. However, there are also indications that a digital detox can lead individuals to develop apprehensive feelings, worry about missing out, or feel excluded. The research on digital detox isn't yet robustly grounded in science.
"Unplugging", initially, signifies raw, unfiltered experience. In the event of traveling, for instance, it would comprise consciously perceiving what it feels like to traverse thousands of meters above the ground from A to B. The view outside the window, offering a bird's-eye view of the world. Tasting the food on board, which tastes different up in the air. Keeping a fixed gaze at a point for hours, like a deactivated robot, not even permitting a muscle twitch, and pushing the bladder to its limits, is ultimately: preposterous nonsense. In the most severe scenario, one risks a thrombosis.
Source: Max-Planck-Institute, International University, Study on Digital Detox, Durham University, Wirtschaftswoche, BBC
In light of the fast-paced world filled with distractions, some individuals have embraced the concept of "Unplugging" during travel, choosing to disconnect from entertainment and interruptions during flights. This voluntary detox is believed to purify the mind and enhance seriousness, with notable figures like Damion Bailey and Erling Haaland sharing their achievements on social media.
Following this trend, one can argue that traveling offers a unique opportunity to engage in "Unplugging", immersing oneself in raw, unfiltered experiences, such as the sensation of flying thousands of meters above the ground or tasting food differently in the air. However, prolonged disconnection may lead to physical risks or uncomfortable feelings of exclusion, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to digital detox.
