How to Tell Your Laptop “Lo Siento” (And Actually Mean It)
Your laptop has been there for you. Late nights. Early mornings. That one spreadsheet that almost broke you both. It’s loyal, it’s reliable, and, let’s be honest, it’s a little clingy.
Sometimes you need space. Not forever. Just long enough to remember who you are when you’re not answering emails.
Here’s how to break the news gently, and how to make the break actually stick.
Step 1: Have “The Talk” (a.k.a. Your Out-of-Office)
Every good breakup starts with clear communication. Your out-of-office message is your boundary in writing, so make it clear and kind, and keep it free of “but I’ll still check in occasionally.”
Try something like:
“I’m away from [date] to [date] with limited access to email. For anything urgent, please contact [name]. I’ll respond when I’m back. Thank you for your patience!”
Notice what’s missing? Any promise to peek. Your laptop will respect you more for it.
Step 2: Tie Up the Loose Ends
The best breakups don’t leave unfinished business. The week before you go:
Hand off what you can. Brief a coworker, a partner or a friend on anything that might pop up.
Make a “when I’m back” list. Write down everything rattling around in your head, then close the notebook. It’ll all still be there. Promise.
Pay the bills and schedule the reminders so future-you doesn’t panic mid-sunset.
Step 3: Don’t Pack It “Just in Case”
This is where most of us crumble. “I’ll bring it, but I won’t use it.” Sure you won’t.
If your laptop comes along, it will whisper to you from your suitcase. Leave it home. If you truly need to check in, your phone can handle a quick message.
At Yandara, the beachfront retreat center in Baja where we host Baja Soul Sanctuary, unplugging is part of the culture. The center runs on solar power, so you can charge your phone and small devices, but it’s not exactly built for your full work setup. Cell service is good if you need it, and Yandara offers short Wi-Fi vouchers when you want to check in with home. Most guests find they barely use them.
Step 4: Expect a Few Withdrawal Symptoms
The first day or two might feel strange. Totally normal symptoms include:
Reaching for your phone during every quiet moment
Phantom notification buzzes
A sudden urge to “just check one thing”
Mild panic that the world is ending without you (it isn’t)
Here’s the trick: when the urge hits, do something else with your hands or your breath. Take five slow breaths. Grab your journal. Walk to the water. The itch fades faster than you’d think.
Step 5: Fill the Space With Better Things
Breaking up with your laptop leaves a gap. Fill it with things that don’t need a charger:
A morning that starts with movement instead of an inbox
A real book, the paper kind
Long meals with no screens on the table
Conversations that wander without anyone checking the time
Doing absolutely nothing, which is a skill, and you’re allowed to practice it
Bonus: there are no bells at Yandara, so you’ll want a watch or a little travel alarm. It’s surprisingly freeing to check the time on your wrist instead of a screen covered in notifications.
Step 6: Plan Your Reunion (On Your Terms)
When you get home, your laptop will be waiting. Probably dusty, definitely a little jealous.
Go easy on the reunion. Block off your first morning back for catching up instead of diving into meetings. Keep one habit from your time away, like no phone at breakfast or no email after 8 PM. That’s how a break turns into a real change.
It’s Not You, Laptop. It’s Us.
Taking a break from screens isn’t about rejecting work. It’s about remembering there’s more to you than your to-do list. And there’s nothing like ocean air, nourishing food and a week without notifications to remind you.
If you’re ready to say “lo siento” for real, that’s exactly the kind of space we created at Baja Soul Sanctuary: A Mindful Women’s Retreat, March 28 – April 3, 2027, at Yandara in Baja California Sur. Daily yoga and breathwork, three nourishing meals a day, a small group of women and a whole lot of permission to log off.
Learn more at Waypoint Travel. Your laptop will understand. Eventually.
-Sally with Waypoint Travel
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