Non-connectivity Good for the Soul
Just returned from my annual “unplugged” vacation where I don’t check my email or phone for at least seven or more days.
Not having to check email for 10+ days is quite liberating, to be honest. I was talking with a friend once about how addicted we’ve all become to email. He said, “I brush my teeth, check email. Eat breakfast, check email. Do some work, check email.”
I realized over vacation that all this email checking means you don’t have time to do lots of other things. In fact, I made a list of all the things I used to do before the advent of email and computers. The result? Scary.
While on vacation, I took naps, read books, went kayaking with my son on the Charles River, toured the Adams Family home in Quincy, and outfitted my son for the upcoming school year. We also indulged in our secret pleasure: watching all the episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
In short, it was a fabulous and relaxing vacation — and now I’m ready to get back to work — but maybe not check email 20 hundred times a day.
How long have you gone without checking email? And, how did you overcome the initial anxiety?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
I had an old boss once–before email was a way of life–who had a theory about paper piles on one’s desk: that if you left them alone for a few days, the work load would diminish proportionally–by the time you dug-in, you could throw half the stuff away! She was right–and the same holds true for the whip-hand of email. If you don’t look at your inbox for –steady now–a whole day, a whole few days, or (I’m starting to sweat) a week most of it can be deleted on sight.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Lyn,
You are right. I came back to over 500 emails — I deleted all but a dozen or so of them.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I second that! The unplugged vacation should be mandatory. The email theory is also absolutely true. After a spell of a few days most of it can be deleted on sight.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Neil — Thanks for the comment and for stopping by!