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Do you ever feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Does the constant noise of news and social media leave you feeling tense and, perhaps, a bit apprehensive? When’s the last time you disconnected entirely and found peace, relaxation and tranquility?

Traditionally, summer is a time for family vacations, trips to both new and familiar places. It’s a time to catch a break and, to borrow an old expression, “get away from it all.”

These days, however, it seems like it’s harder than ever to do so. “Getting away” is one thing, but “it all” has a tendency to follow us into what used to be a time of retreat and solace.

A lot of that has to do with those tiny devices so many of us constantly hold in our hands. While cell phones have placed the whole of human knowledge at our fingertips, they’ve also created the expectation that we’re constantly reachable and available.

Maybe that expectation comes from work, or it may come from family or friends. Social media doesn’t help. The last time you went on vacation, how much time did you spend staring at the screen, interested in what was going on elsewhere rather than being present in the here and now? How much of that vacation was spent working?

If you’re feeling stressed with the world around you, and your anxiety is constantly through the roof, consider taking finding some time to unplug from all the noise. Remember that self-care isn’t necessarily selfish, and that those seemingly pressing things that you “should be doing” can often wait a little bit longer than you thought.

In a time when there’s so much bad news, so many constant distractions and the world feels increasingly heavy, it’s more important than ever that each of us finds some time “away from it all.” You just might find it refreshing to your mind, body and spirit. Who knows? You might never want to come back.