Technology Overdose?

I found the following article in Healthcare Executive May/June 2009 to be very interesting and pertinent for our time.

“Technology has provided revolutionary devices during the past few years that have allowed us to perform many tasks once thought impossible. Unfortunately, too many people are overdosing on emails, Blackberries and online activities. Fortunately you can control how technology participates in your life. The following suggestions can help.

Evaluate the time you are connected

Emailing during off-hours is OK. The problem however, comes when you work a full eight-hour day, plus stay up into the wee hours of the night emailing. This is when you need to evaluate your “on” time.

Document the amount of time you’re connected each day. Is your cell phone always on? Are you regularly on the computer until midnight? Do you check you messages while you are playing with the kids? Is your email program always running in the background? Do you feel panicked when you are unplugged? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you should figure out why you are connected at certain times and why you can’t turn the device or program off.

List how technology tools should ease your life

Technology can be your friend, if you use it within boundaries and limits, and for the reason it was intended. Get back to the basics of why you need technology. Most likely, you wanted tools such as email and your cell phone to be convenience, not a burden. Map out how you can best use technology in a way that is convenient for you.

Stop blaming technology

If you believe you can’t get away from the constant ringing of your cell phone or the nonstop barrage of email messages, maybe it is time to take some responsibility for your situation. If you can’t turn your cell phone off for an hour (or disable your email for a half-day), what does that say about the way you manage your life? Remember, someone has to push the “on” button.

Get serious about time management

How do you spend your time? Instead of allowing incoming email messages to always pop up on your screen, check your email twice per day and schedule a cetain amount of time for each email session. If you allow your incoming office calls to go to voicemail, can’t you turn off your cell phone for certain hours of the day and let those calls go to voicemail? Schedule your technology-related items and priorities just as you would any other task on your to-do list. Make a schedule that includes time for everything—work and personal activities—and stick to it.”

Source: Adapted from an article by Carol Ring, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Rogers Cable