Works for me and its great. I do this several times a year actually. As long as they have warning it usually goes over well. Autoresponders help on email as well to reinforce the issue.

1] Take 1 sabbatical every year. I just finished 3 weeks in Greece and checked my e-mail 4 times. A simple vacation message with instructions that you will only be responding in cases of emergency works wonders. People are extremely understanding and even envious of the fact you are able to do it. Some will learn the lesson and do it themselves.

2] Balance. The Chinese haven’t thrived for thousands of years without good reason. Europeans go to cafés almost everyday and they haven’t fallen apart. We all live on a planet full of people, places and things. Most importantly, you live inside one body and one soul - damage to which can’t be offset by the importance of any e-mail message. A little less e-mail/cell calls, a little more chill.

3] Training - If you respond to clients, partners and even friends at any time of the day or night, or from anywhere, then you’ve trained them to continue doing so. It is your fault. Respond to a non-important message from a client at 9:30 pm and expect major griping if you don’t respond next time. Respond to a colleague while you are playing in the backyard with your kids and expect to offend them when you don’t respond next time.

On the other hand, respond promptly during business hours and in cases of extraordinary matters - and expect to be labeled as a timely, dependable communicator.

In those rare cases where you have an attention seeking client, colleague or friend that won’t play by the rules? … Cut ‘em loose. You wouldn’t stand for them walking into your home, gym, date, etc. whenever they pleased, so why would you stand for the e-mail and phone calls?

The good news is that we have reached a tipping point. Most people are feeling digitally crowded and it will just take a few determined people to start saying “enough” and setting boundaries. The masses will welcome it with thanks and relief.

Digital Comm’s are the white elephant in the room that everyone is afraid to point at. I just did. Hopefully, it will cause just one person to do it and so on and so on.

Best,
George

p.s. I expect an immediate response from the cottage, overlooking the lake as you are barbecuing with the family and sipping from your Corona … I tend to be very demanding after I’ve posted a message !!