Embracing and Enjoying the Freedom is part two of our Unplugging series of posts. When being freshly unplugged it is natural to feel like something is always wrong. The iPhone or Blackberry you keep in a death grip can be replaced by a frosty beverage of choice. Americans are struggling with an addiction to technology. The term ‘crackberry’ is not without merit. CNN published an article exploring if Technology and the Internet are ‘addicting’.
Trying to go on vacation and going ‘cold turkey’ from your technology can be difficult. Discipline and structure of your time off can help free you from the technological chains that bind us and allow us to truly relax.
- Be active or engaged. Sitting around with nothing to do will cause your mind to drift back to things at the office. Reading a book in a hammock in the back yard might not be active but your mind is engaged.
- Before your time off, whether it is the weekend or a true vacation, create a list of planned activities. Creating this list will serve as a todo list and keep you busy. While your mind is focusing on these activities it is less likely to focus on things at the office.
- Defer incoming requests. Part one of our series discussed preparing others for your absence. No matter what you do some people will not respect that you are not available. There are some people who think that their requests are always an emergency. Screen your calls and send them to voicemail. Your voicemail should be set up with a message to remind people that you are not available and provide them with contact information of your backup contact.
If it helps, treat your vacation like a high importance project that can not be interrupted by anything or anyone. Keeping focus on enjoying a vacation will allow the stress of the office melt away.
Stay tuned for part three in our Unplugging series where we will discuss getting back in the swing of things when it comes time to return to the office.
