Sometimes you need to go off the grid. But then you remember you have a thousand and one things to keep track of.
That’s where going off the physical grid but maintaining a virtual presence comes into play, instead of going off to a monastery with no internet connection.
It might surprise you to know that 1 in 5 Americans experience some form of mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental illness.
The most common cause of mental illness among everyday Americans is stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Going off the grid has the power to massively improve your mental health by helping you restore a sense of freedom and giving you a renewed purpose to live every day.
Yes, off-grid living comes with its challenges. It is, in fact, those challenges that ultimately enable you to regain control. Being in a situation where you are forced to rely on your resources and capabilities will improve your mental health.
Before you completely dismiss the idea of going offline, we’re talking about traveling to a remote location and still being digitally connected to the world. But on your terms.
You need two things in a nutshell;
- A Remote/Rural Location,
- High-Speed Unlimited Internet that works in rural areas.
When it comes to location, here are the things to do and/or consider;
- Purpose of Grid-cation
At this point, you’d need to ask yourself why you are going off the grid. Do you need some time off to rethink certain decisions? Or, are you taking some time off to rest? Perhaps, you feel exhausted at work and need to take some time off to unwind. Once you can decide why you need this grid-cation, you’d be able to choose the best location for yourself.
- Weather
It’s not just enough to know if the weather is “good” or “bad.” Find out if there are diverse seasons. Are there storms when it rains? How Humid is that location? You can take advantage of the seasons in various locations by staying away from extremely sunny or rainy. Also, knowledge of weather and seasons would help your packing process. If the location is cold, best be sure you pack all your jackets and gloves.
- Traveling Party:
Are you going alone, as a pair or in a group? It might be obvious to some of you reading that you’re going alone since you’re looking to go off the grid. But that’s not necessarily true. You might consider a family grid-cation as something worth doing. Or a Work Grid-cation, you can carry the team on a trip before or after a big project to brainstorm or cool off.
- Budget
Let’s be honest without the right budget; you may get stranded. Add up the possible cost of this trip and compare it with the money you are willing to spend. The cost of this trip should include; cost of flight tickets, accommodation, feeding, transportation, and miscellaneous. If your budget is too small to fund the location you have in mind, you need to go back to the drawing board and find locations that fit your budget. You can either do that or increase your budget by liquidating more money.
- Location
Choosing the best location for your grid-cation involves research. Find out how much you’d need and how you can make reservations for those activities you love. By researching the internet, you can find out so many things about a place, including its policies, food, culture, and hospitality. You may want to ask friends or family who has been to your chosen location how their experience was. Doing proper research would prepare you for possible best or worst scenarios.
- Amenities
Here we’re talking about what you need in your accommodations and environment if you plan to go to a mountain resort or camping in the middle of nowhere.
Can you live in a place without beaches? Do you need to live in apartments or hotels with gyms, and how much does it cost?
Make a list of necessary amenities, and ensure any location you choose ticks off everything on that list.
When you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there, let’s talk about how you’re going to stay online.
When it comes to your internet connections, your needs depend on staying connected to your work or your personal life.
Depending on how remote your chosen destination is, you would need varying internet plans and devices.
Nomad Internet provides up to unlimited High-Speed Internet specifically designed for travelers and rural residents. We can help you choose the best plan and device for your trip.