There’s more to travel than an Insta-life
As a fidgety, relatively anxious person, the thought of being without my phone is a bit terrifying. Not because I’m Instagramaddicted, but more because it gives me something to read (thank you, Reddit), something for my brain to focus on.
In recent years, I’ve become much more attuned to how constantly wired I am and have, without much success, tried many a mindfulness or meditation app.
In his column this week (page 6), Josh Martin writes about his forced digital detox while on a group tour in Egypt.
It’s not a new concept by any means, but what is new is how much of a key consideration it will be for holiday planners this year.
To use a slightly cringe-y, newly coined term, it’s called JOMO or the ‘‘joy of missing out’’. It’s the opposite to the better-known FOMO (fear of missing out).
Euromonitor, a data analysis firm predicts JOMO will influence many travellers in 2019.
‘‘Consumers are resisting the ‘always-on’ mentality,’’ the firm said in an end-of-year report.
‘‘Desire to unplug is spurred by a need for authenticity, privacy and the enjoyment of face-to-face, live experiences.’’
The folks at Expedia agree, stating that one-in-four Kiwis believe social media detracts from a holiday.
Kelly Cull, head of communications said, ‘‘Experiencing JOMO is up to the individual and could be as simple as not using social media during a holiday, or as extreme as staying in off-the-grid accommodation.’’
Cull predicts more people will embrace digital-detoxes when travelling, take less social media snaps, and look to connect in person rather than via a phone.
I might need a better meditation app to get onboard with JOMO. Any recommendations?