I’m terrified to know what my screen time is.

Between checking Outlook and Teams for work, doomscrolling on social media and playing countless games on the New York Times Games app, I know my screen time must be beyond what is recommended by health professionals.

I say that jokingly but with seriousness, too, because besides reading books on my Kindle, it’s embarrassing to admit how much of my life is dictated by little screens. (Though I do think reading gets a pass — I am, after all, a writer and editor, so reading is 100% excused in my book!)

Reports online are mixed — some say Americans are spending as much as 6 to 7 hours a day on their screens. With apps built specifically to keep us locked in and streaming services that allow us to watch one episode after another, it can be hard to break away.

According to Kostadin Kushlev, an associate professor of psychology at Georgetown University, unplugging even just a little bit can have positive effects on well-being and mental health. Of the 500 people he recruited for a study, during which participants decreased their internet usage, those who succeeded in doing so for the two-week time period found they were less anxious and stressed and slept an average of 20 minutes more per night. They were also shown to maintain their attention spans for longer.

So, what does going offline have to do with RVs? Well, we all know there’s been a rise in off-grid RVing, and studies have proved the benefits of getting outdoors. With all of this evidence pointing us in the direction of getting off our phones and going outside, RVing is there to make that happen.

The ability to truly unplug in an RV is possible thanks to all the ways OEMs, suppliers and aftermarket companies are creating products that allow us to escape the hullabaloo for longer periods of time and go farther out into the wilderness than ever before. Embracing the quiet, getting lost in the dark skies where you can truly see the stars shine, connecting around a campfire — those are the fantasies of everyone who needs a break from the stresses of everyday life. It’s a privilege that our industry gets to help those dreams come true.

The next time a family, a couple or an individual comes into your dealership looking for a chance to get away from it all, consider yourself lucky. You have the chance to help them connect to nature — and to each other — in ways that will build memories that last a lifetime. And I hope you find some time to put your screens down and enjoy the outdoors, too.

As always, thanks for reading!