No time for the Price is Right

I have been sick for the past several days from a cold that seems to be making it around the city. While I was at work the other day pale as a ghost I was told to go home and rest before I make others sick as well. Rest sounded great as it is exactly what I needed to help get rid of this cold however, my Blackberry that I love so much has become my greatest enemy in my quest for rest.

I have been told by people to ignore the Blackberry or shut it off when I am outside of work, seems like simple good advice. In reality if you own a Blackberry you know it’s nearly impossible to shut it off. I use it to receive emails, I also use it as my home phone, cell phone and buzzer to let people into my building - something that many people who live alone are doing.

Now as I lay here struggling to breath properly I can see all the emails and all the action items I have building up for when I return on Monday. On the flip side I also see problems occurring that I have the ability to solve before they escalate into major issues that we all know can happen fast in this industry. With a quick email I can either answer a question or delegate the issue to someone I know can solve it alleviating future stress. That last sentence my friends have heard many times as I find myself justifying why I carry it to her and is the reason why I am unable to rest on sick day.

Sick days use to be about laying on the couch watching the Price is Right and smelling like Vicks. Now thanks to the Blackberry sick days are spent glancing down every few minutes thinking “why so many emails today?” and how busy I am going to be the first day back. Do others suffer this type of Blackberry addiction as much as I do?

Comment by Will Branning on March 8, 2010 at 11:59am: I can relate to the Blackberry quandry...when I am sick or on vacation I do continue to read and respond to emails - its both a curse and a blessing.

Comment by Rick on March 8, 2010 at 4:24pm: Hi Chuck

This is something that many of us struggle with, don’t feel alone. You have got to learn to let it go every once in a while. None of us are that important where you cannot take a little time off. If you don’t, you will surly burn yourself out. I have been there before and it is not a fun place to be.

Go on an electronics free long weekend once a quarter. Personally I recommend and enjoy remote location fly fishing or ice fishing. No Phones, Lap Tops or TV’s. Go to a spot where you cannot get a signal if you wanted to and leave all of the electronics at home. Spend this time with a spouse, your children or trusted friend or family member. It is a great way to develop and enhance your relationships. You will be surprised how refreshed you will feel when you get back. We only have one life here on earth, live it, don’t be consumed by it. When you’re dead and gone, how will you want thought? As someone who is always connected on the blackberry or someone that was truly connected emotionally and spiritually. Best of luck!

Rick

Comment by Sean Ryan on March 9, 2010 at 12:10pm: I feel your pain... I took a vacation last year about this time last year - but it was no vacation.

I made the mistake of keeping my blackberry on, and laptop at an arms distance - and it got the best of me.

Suddenly, new work needed to be done - including a big power point presentation I had completed before I left needed tweeking (My incompetent boss could have easily have fixed it - but instead, my blackberry blew up with "This needs to change" messages).

All told, I ended up working late nights, getting 3-4 hours of sleep, and getting sick... I was sent home my first day back.

At the end of the day - I decided if I am taking a vacation, my phone/laptop is off - or I act as if it is :)