( CNN ) -- In the United States , we do n't vacation often . And thanks to our ever-growing cadre of mobile gadgets , some experts fear that we do n't vacation very well , either . Smartphones , laptops , tablet computers and other devices make it easier than ever to stay plugged in all the time . That 's not exactly news . But there 's a growing awareness , and concern , that the same items designed to keep us engaged and entertained around the clock can also make it harder for us to ever actually relax . Sure , we 're on vacation at the shore , or a peaceful lakeside cabin in the woods . But it ca n't hurt to whip out the laptop and check work e-mail real quickly , right ? You know , just in case something big happened back at the office . Maybe you ca n't resist peeking at your phone to see what your co-workers are up to on Facebook . Or , you know , to get in a quick round of Words With Friends , or a game of Qrank during that long sunset stroll on the beach . And never mind how many miles there are between you and the office . In 2011 , your boss knows you 're always just an electronic nudge away . As part of our No Vacation Nation series , we talked to two authors : Daniel Sieberg , writer of `` The Digital Diet '' and William Powers , author of `` Hamlet 's BlackBerry : A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age . '' Both books address finding a healthy balance in our use of technology . The authors shared some tips on how to keep your gadget in check while on vacation . On why it 's important . Sieberg : If you respond to one ( work ) e-mail , you 've just opened the floodgates . You 've lost that barrier -- it 's gone like a sandcastle in front of the ocean . Now that person knows that you 're really not on vacation . You are reachable and you will respond . Hold onto that . Otherwise , it 's just a slippery slope to just responding to everything . ... It 's not giving you that clarity in your head that you 're seeking from a vacation -- the reason you did it in the first place . Powers : It feels like a small thing we 're doing . `` I 'll just check Facebook '' or `` I 'll just go into this one little game I like to do . '' What we forget is that it actually takes you into a different state of mind . It 's a different type of consciousness , the digital one . That may not be true in 20 years , when we 've adjusted to it . But it is now . Create rules for when you can use gadgets . Sieberg : Say , 'Thirty minutes is what I 'm going to do . ' Then close it down . Put it away . Give it to somebody else . Powers : The No . 1 thing is to set up rituals for yourself and stick to it . It could be once a day . It could be twice in a week . But set those times ahead of time and stick to it . Get friends , family to help . Powers : Get other people , the people you 're traveling with , to work with you . Work with each other on it and support each other . You can make it a game . If one person takes the plunge back into 'screen life , ' it 's easy to follow them . Ban gadgets during meals . Sieberg : No throwing the smartphone out on the table if you 're out to dinner or just having family time . It 's really valuable keeping them put away for that period of time . If it has to be out , acknowledge it . Let everybody know why it has to be out . If you must get extreme . If you think no amount of planning will be enough to resist the urge to text , tweet , blog or browse , Powers suggests you try intentionally planning trips to places where coverage will be spotty -- or nonexistent . Or , he says , you can emulate a guy who called in to a radio show he was on once . Before he leaves on vacation , the guy gives all his passwords and user names to friends who he trusts . One person gets e-mail . One person gets Twitter . One person gets Facebook . They 're under orders , on the day he leaves , to go in and change the passwords . When he returns , they change them back . Do n't necessarily go cold turkey . Sieberg : Even if we say we 're not going to use them , we 're not going to leave them at home . You worry about an emergency . You worry about that work e-mail that you just ca n't miss . It 's not about getting rid of technology . It 's about managing your technology more carefully . Powers : These devices are wonderful . But spending all day ( staring ) into them does n't get you to a good place .
No Vacation Nation : Even when we 're on holiday , our gadgets can keep us from relaxing . Authors say setting rules about when to use phones , laptops and other devices is crucial . Score: 6 Ask friends to change your online passwords until you 're back .