5 Reasons To Connect With The World Instead Of Your Phone

At Outward Bound Costa Rica, they’ve adopted a “no technology” policy for their students – that means they won’t have their phones or any devices connected to the internet while they are on course, even for Semester Programs! The idea behind this is to help all of their students to get the most out of the one-of-a-kind adventure they experience when they participate on a course, whether it’s in the cloud rainforest, on the world-renowned warm-water beaches of Costa Rica or around the mangroves and coral reefs of Panama.

No matter if you are on an Outward Bound Costa Rica course or traveling on your own, here are the top five reasons why you too should disconnect to reconnect.

Connect With Nature

Wherever you are traveling, odds are you can discover natural or urban landscapes completely different from what you are used to seeing at home. Whether you are hiking up a mountain, sea kayaking or exploring a new city, you should be able to enjoy the experience without being distracted by your phone.  Use all your senses to get everything you can out of the unique opportunity and truly see that particular landscape!

Connect With People

Outward Bound encourage you to talk to new people every day while traveling – may it be locals or fellow travelers. Connecting with people on a deeper level can be one of the most rewarding things in life, and it is much easier to do if you are not constantly checking the messages of your friends back home. This goes both ways! Show people who you really are when you come out from behind your phone screen.

Develop Communication Skills

Learn to talk, problem solve, confront people and ask questions without the comfort of Google. Cell phones provide an easier form of communication and while it’s sometimes convenient, it can also cause you to lose interpersonal skills. This skill will benefit you now more than ever: as the world becomes more globalized, both universities and employers are searching for candidates who have communication and language skills that can cross cultures and continents.

Live in the Moment

Outward Bound believe that there is nothing better than living in the moment. Leaving your phone behind allows you to have both feet on the ground and not split between where you came from and where you are now. Where you are in each moment is right where you’re supposed to be, so enjoy it!

Break Your Bad Habits

Constantly checking the time, obsessing over social media, and texting friends who you often see in person creates bad habits surrounding technology. A phone detox on your next trip might be just what you need to break the patterns that consume your everyday life. By turning your phone off while traveling, you can take the first step and come back home with healthier habits.

 See what their instructors have to say about the no technology policy for students while they are on an Outward Bound course…

To find the perfect program for you, visit our website where you can learn more about our Gap Year and Semester Programs and our Summer Expeditions, including our 18+ programs in Costa Rica and Panama.