Would You Take a Digital Sabbatical?
Has the Globe & Mail been reading my blog?
You’d think so given a story that appeared earlier this week (”Technophiles Hit the Pause Button“) looking at people who had decided to take a “sabbatical” from e-mail, the Blackberrys, blogs, etc. At a time when being always-on, all-the-time is becoming easier and more ubiquitous, many people are struggling with the reality it’s challenging - if not impossible - to get away from it all.
One argument about being continually accessible/connected is it’s just a reality of work/personal life these days so just suck it up if you don’t like the idea of people being obsessed by e-mail, blogging, etc. The other side of the coin is more people are getting themselves out of balance by allowing/letting the digital sides of their lives to be ever-present.
So what do you do to maintain balance? How do you stay connected yet give yourself time to be unconnected? Maybe it’s about establishing boundaries. During certain hours/times of the day, you allow yourself to check e-mail, blog, etc.; while you also establish certain times (e.g. dinner) to turn off and tune out.
Somewhere in between being on and being off is making sure you’re focused on the here and now. Instead of checking your e-mail while having lunch with someone, for example, do the right/polite thing by waiting until afterward lunch is over. It’s not like an e-mail is that urgent that it requires your immediate attention. If someone really wants to get in touch with you, maybe they’ll do something radical and call you.
The bottom line is maintaining work/life and digital/non-digital balance is going to be a challenge more people are going to have to tackle. For some people, it may mean taking a sabbatical; for others it make mean giving yourself more structure and discipline; while others will simply concede digital defeat and stay connected all the time.
Post Script: It is somewhat ironic that I’m writing this post while vacationing at a cottage without Internet access. I had to come into town to do, which is enterprising and sad at the same time. Nevertheless, I do feel re-charged by focusing on the lake, family, food, cocktails and reading (newspapers, books, magazines) as opposed to blogs, e-mail, etc.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I would like to take a digital sabatical, but it would have to be managed in a way that meant no temptation - as in, a three day camping trip with no technology taken with. I think with some planning ahead it would be doable, most surely letting people know what was happening. But note: any more than three days and I might go insane…
July 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Hey, Mark. I have a three-pronged approach that has worked for me over the last 10 years.
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
!!
July 30th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I agree with AGORACOM. I am on the net just about every day with email and messaging etc. For me it is very simple.. I tell everyone that I will not be available from date to date and if they contact me that they should expect a few day late response. I then throw away any contact knowing that it will all be there when I get back. Anyone who gets pissy about you not replying at the specified dates you can say “As per my message I was unavailable, try reading your emails”
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.