Between the Lines: Always Connected

Remember the days before e-mail, laptops, mobile devices, and cell phones? Those were the days when you could truly be on vacation and not tempted to check phone messages, e-mails, etc.

Those were also the days when you would return to the office and be greeted by hundreds of phone messages, interoffice memos, snail mail correspondence, or e-mail when you didn’t have a way to check e-mail while traveling.

Today I’m in Dingle in Western Ireland, trying hard not to think about work. I return home on Sunday Sept. 13 and that’s when the thinking will truly begin. Chances are I checked my e-mail this morning as long as the Wi-Fi in our bed and breakfast was working.

How much better off are we today than yesterday in terms of not ever being completely cut off from work?

My response to that question depends on the day. I do know this, I spent two months prior to leaving on vacation making sure that the majority of my articles, both for the print version of ENX for October and November, and the weekly newsletter for the month of September, were completed so I could rest in peace while I was away, and then return to work with a minimal amount of stress.

The more I think about it, the more I appreciate having the option of remaining connected while on vacation if only for e-mail management. Just being able to log onto my iPad, check my e-mail, delete the junk, and respond to critical and non-critical e-mails so I don’t have to do it when I return can be a stress reducer rather than a source of stress. It’s not like I’m conducting interviews and writing articles. Those tasks and the part of the brain associated with them can use a break.

As for the e-mails, it’s not so bad dealing with the hundreds that arrive in my inbox throughout my average day while on vacation. I’d much rather manage them now then later.

Despite all my advance preparation and daily e-mail management will I still be stressed when I return from vacation?

You bet I will.

But I’ll be less stressed and better prepared to deal with everything else.

Thanks for reading.