The Flex No One Talks About: Traveling Without Your Phone 24/7

I’ve learned something the hard way: traveling without my phone glued to my hand is one of the biggest flexes of all.

We live in a world where it feels almost impossible to put our phones down. Especially if you’re a business owner, a content creator, or someone who feels the constant pull of notifications - email, Asana, DMs, text messages, whatsapp...all the things. The world doesn’t stop when you leave on a trip. And yet… isn’t that exactly what travel is supposed to give us? A pause? A break? 

I’ve learned something the hard way: traveling without my phone glued to my hand is one of the biggest flexes of all.

It’s not easy. Honestly, it’s tough. But it’s worth it.

Why Presence Feels Like a Luxury

There’s this pressure in our culture to document everything. To prove you were there. To capture every angle, every meal, every laugh. And trust me—I get it. As a marketing agency owner, creating content is in my bones. I see the light on a café patio and instantly think, “Perfect reel background.” I hear my kids laughing and want to hit record before the sound fades.

But here’s the truth: sometimes documenting keeps us from experiencing.

Presence has become a luxury in our fast-paced world. Putting your phone down while you travel? It’s a radical act of self-trust: trusting that the moment is enough, even if no one sees it on Instagram.

The Family Reality Check

Here’s where it hits me the most. When I’m at home, I can sometimes justify being “half-on, half-off.” Laptop open, phone in hand, family nearby. It feels like balance, though we all know it’s not.

But when we’re traveling, it’s different. My family needs me to actually be there. Not half-present. Not nodding while my thumbs move over a screen. Fully there.

Because the truth is, my kids won’t remember the 20-second clip I didn’t record. But they will remember if Mom was distracted the whole time.

I’m not saying I’ve mastered this balance. In fact, I wrestle with it constantly. But I’ve realized that choosing presence is a bigger flex than any photo dump.

The Struggle Is Real (And That’s Okay)

Let me be real for a second: I struggle with this. A lot.

I’m an entrepreneur. I run an agency. I create content. I support clients. My phone isn’t just a toy—it’s my business, my income, my platform. And when you’re a business owner, that line between “on” and “off” is blurred to the point of invisibility.

So yes, I check my phone on vacation. Yes, I sometimes feel guilty for not posting more. Yes, I sometimes think, “This would make amazing content.”

But I also know this: every time I intentionally put the phone down and let myself just be, I win. My family wins. The memory wins.

What You Miss When You’re Staring at a Screen

The funny thing about phones is they make us feel connected to the whole world, while disconnecting us from the people right in front of us.

When you’re constantly checking your phone on a trip, here’s what you miss:

• The unspoken moments—the quiet smiles, the laughter you only notice when you’re not distracted.

• The chance to actually talk to strangers. (Travel magic happens when you look up and notice people.)

• The natural rhythm of your surroundings. The ocean waves, the café music, the bus ride conversations.

Phones create FOMO. But presence creates memories.

Why It’s Tough (But Powerful)

Putting your phone away while traveling isn’t easy, and let’s not pretend otherwise. Here’s why:

• We’re addicted to documentation. We want proof we were there.

• We fear missing out. What if a client needs me? What if I miss a trend?

• We crave control. Phones give us a sense of being “on top of it,” even when we’re not.

And yet… every time I set mine aside, I’m reminded of this truth: The world doesn’t end when you log off. But the moment does.

That’s what makes this such a flex. Choosing presence is harder than choosing distraction. But harder usually means better.

A Personal Challenge

On our last trip to Mazatlan, I gave myself a personal challenge: keep my phone in the bag for the first two hours of every day. No checking, no scrolling, no capturing. Just being.

Here’s what happened:

• Breakfast conversations with my kids got longer.

• I noticed the way the light shifted through palm trees in a way no filter could capture.

• I felt my nervous system slow down. Like I could breathe deeper.

And when I finally did pull out my phone to capture something, it came from joy, not obligation.

For the Entrepreneurs, Creators, and Dreamers

If you’re reading this and thinking, “But my business depends on me being online,” I see you. I get you. I am you.

But hear me:

• Your audience will wait.

• Your clients will understand.

• Your kids won’t stay this age forever.

As an entrepreneur, your brain will trick you into believing you can’t slow down. But slowing down is exactly what allows you to keep going long-term.

And as a creator, here’s the best-kept secret: when you live your life fully, you actually have better content to share later. Because you’re not fabricating moments—you’re living them.

So here’s my take: Traveling without your phone on you 24/7 is the new flex. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s tough. Not because it looks good online, but because it feels good offline.

My family doesn’t need the perfect reel. They need me.
And when I give them that, I come home richer in memories than any highlight reel could show.

So here’s your reminder:

• Take the photo, then put the phone away.

• Capture a clip, then capture the conversation.

• Share the story, but live the story first.

Because at the end of the day, the best memories aren’t found in your camera roll. They’re found in your heart.

What do you think? Are you ready to be a bit more free from your phone?