On my family adventure this summer, I gave into the unreliable cell reception throughout several national parks from Yellowstone down to The Petrified Forest...and UNPLUGGED.

When adults arrive at Camp Grounded, the first thing they do is turn in their phones. During the four-day retreat, campers assume pseudonyms, do not mention work or the word "J-O-B," and interact with one another like kids. It's a way of stepping off the grid and reconnecting, face to face.

Unplugging from the online world to spend more time in the real world is essential for our well being.

Virtual reality started as recreational and utilitarian but grew into a digital leash we cannot take off.