I recently returned from a week-long vacation in Cancun, Mexico, which was as a birthday gift – lucky me. Before boarding the plane, my son Jacob sent me a text that said – put your phone down and relax.

Jacob is not the average 21-year-old. He is much wiser than his years would suggest. So I decided to heed his words and do just that – relax and put my phone down.

I am proud to report, I did it for seven days. I didn’t check Facebook. I didn’t carry my phone like an extension of my arm. The result: I realized it’s just my phone and it does not need to be attached to me all day.

If there is such at thing called cell-phone addiction, I would easily say I had it, until my week off. And now that the week is over, I thought I’d share what I learned from this experience.

To back up a little: I started my vacation with no expectations at all. All I knew was that both Joe and I were in need of a vacation. We needed some serious downtime. And I needed to rest and breathe.

In the last six years I started and ended my own marketing business. I wrote two books, Life Happens: Bounce Back! and Divorce Happens: Bounce Back! I created and continue to produce a TV show on TempleTV.net called Bouncing Back!

Currently, I am the founder and CEO of Bouncing Back with Lisa Bien – a business entity that brings my motivational speaking to schools, businesses and organizations looking for some clarity and inspiration. I took on a full-time position with the local public TV and radio station and now, I am starting a new position as a VP of Communications for a healthcare organization. Oh, and I cannot forget teaching at Temple University and The Wharton School of Business.

Wow! I am a little out breath after writing that. So yeah, the vacation was needed.

I checked out.

Seriously, I did nothing.

The biggest decision I had to make was where to eat dinner and what to eat once I was there.

There is a lot to be said for not being connected 24/7. I realized that paying attention to the scenery was more important than looking down at my phone. I realized that looking and listening to my partner was more intimate than waiting for the next text to come though. It was clear that I had allowed technology to become more important to me. I guess you could say I had been having an intimate relationship with my cell phone.

But on vacation, I used my phone only to check in on my boys. That was it.

I loved the quiet time not having my phone around gave me for my brain, body and soul. It really made me realize the value of peace and quiet. Even though I often preach about it, I discovered I had forgotten the importance of alone time to rejuvenate myself. Maybe more important: I had forgotten that alone time meant turn off the phone.

I guess we all need a reminder to take care of ourselves – even me. Here I am, always reminding people to take care of their needs, talking about the importance of self care and yet I slipped….slipped way back. I was doing so much that I forgot to make time for me.

Vacation was a great reminder for me to take care of me. Vacation reminded me to make me a priority. To eat better, to work out more and most of all, to rejuvenate my spirit and my soul for me so that there is more of me to go around for my family, friends, and my passion of helping others bounce back!

I know everyone does not have the opportunity to go away and check out mentally. But something I used to do, and now will start again, is make time for me – just me.

Here are a few of my goals to do this summer, just for me.

1. Morning Routine –  Get back to my morning ritual which includes what I call – Appreciation Time. First thing in the morning, I like to thank God for my health, happiness and all that I am grateful for.
2. Healthy Eating – I know what it means to eat right and good. It’s time for me to pay attention to what I am eating and why? I am an emotional eater and need to really pay attention to why I am eating.
3. Cell Phone Free Time – No phones during any meals, alone or with others. No cell phone before bed.

I wish you a day filled of love and happiness.

Remember, self-love is the best love.