Americans Can't Disconnect, Even in Off Hours
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Picture this... You're taking a long weekend hike with your family. You tell jokes, sing silly songs while admiring the trees and streams. You have no cell phone reception, no laptop; you haven't answered a call, responded to a text or e-mail missive all day. You have absolutely no idea what it is going on at work. Are you freaking out? Does the thought of this digital isolation make you tense? Is this the very opposite of what you consider relaxing? If so, according to a new study by the Solutions Research Group, you are in the majority of Americans, who are fixated, nay, borderline obsessed with being connected at all times. Sixty eight percent of Americans feel anxious when they're not connected in one way or another, they find, and this "disconnect anxiety"--feelings of disorientation and nervousness when a person is deprived of Internet or wireless for a period of time--affects all age groups, who described their feelings as dazed, tense, inadequate and even panicked. The study also had a several points of humorously embarrassing data, such as the fact that 63 percent of BlackBerry users admit they have sent a message from the bathroom, and 37 percent of laptop owners said they "frequently" used theirs in the bedroom. |
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Comments (4)
Get a life, people. Just because you HAVE a Crackberry doens't mean you answer every e-mail as it comes in.
I have instructed my colleagues to call me if they need my immediate attention, and I will be happy to respond. However, don't expect instant answers to e-mail. My laptop closes when I leave for vacation (and for the weekend), and I MIGHT open it up Sunday night just to clear the e-mail backlog so I can start the day fresh on Monday and address any action items coming out of the e-mail purge.
Are you people all afraid that your employer (or your client) might be able to get along without you if you are out of the loop for a week?
Posted by steve | June 3, 2008 1:20 PM
I have a life - a connected life. It is as natural as breathing or turning to one of my children to chat about the latest music. It adds quality to life as communication fuels life. Taking away the online form of communication is like taking away the ability to speak or hear - for your vacation period.
I guess it boils down to that boundary - is talking to work people about work, while you are on vacation work? My husband and I discuss work related issues at home or while on vacation - perhaps not as much, but we don't see that act as work.
Posted by Reet Cronk | June 3, 2008 1:30 PM
Reet: They have you just where they want you, thinking about work all the time. Sometimes I just need to focus on my family or friends, not multi-task to death.
Posted by Steve | June 3, 2008 2:22 PM
There I do agree, the multi-tasking does make one feel a little thin from time to time
Posted by Reet Cronk | June 3, 2008 8:27 PM