A co-worker of mine got her new iPhone last week. I’m jealous. It’s pretty. But I don’t want one. Sorry Apple. Don’t get me wrong, if someone gave me one and paid for the plan, I’d use it. I just don’t want to do it. I don’t want to be that connected.

I recently had a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago and they were debating whether to change from their BlackBerry to an iPhone. I made the comment that I didn’t want to be that connected. I’m still on a basic cell phone with texting. Nothing special, but I like it that way. It really is hard to remember life before a cell phone. How did I ever know what my mother was doing for lunch 400 miles away?!

I think technology is great, but at what cost. In my latest PR Tactics magazine, Megan Slabinski, executive director or the Creative Group, warns, “While periodic updates may provide peace of mind, being overly connected can detract from the benefits of time spent away from work.”

The article also suggests to take a real vacation. Make plans to not get email and voice-mails and make sure every one of your clients and co-workers knows this. There is value in getting away.

Last year Nathanael and I took a vacation to Colorado for a week! We made it a deal between us that neither would check our e-mails and we’d have our cell phones with us, but off most of the time. It was, honest to say, the most peaceful I’d felt in a long time. But this is even more intersting: I was longing for e-mail and phone calls. We’ve been programmed to be interrupted.

I didn’t like the feeling. Therefore, it’s time to re-claim your personal time. When work is done, so are you! Leave work at work. Very few of us work in places where we need to be connected 24-7. If that is you, limits still need to be set. Have one set way someone can get a hold of you in an emergency and only have that one available when you’re away from work.

Your home, your car, your vacation needs to be a place for YOU… not an extension of the office.

(photo courtesy of Life As Art via Flickr)

Related posts:

1. Another E-Mail
2. More Thoughts on E-Mail Management
3. Live First – Work Second

Categories: Column, Life, Personal Development
Tags: Life, stress, technology, vacation