Eliminate Time Traps 2

Eliminate Time Traps Part 2

There’s no turning back and stopping technology, nor should we stop it. It’s fantastic. We’re accomplishing great things these days. We’re increasingly free from offices, boring meetings or down time. But what is the itch that our electronic devices scratch? Why do so many of us crave being in touch everywhere all the time? What’s in these thousands of messages that is so important? Why can’t they wait? Afterall, they always used to. Why do we allow ourselves to become so frantic and busy answering emails, keeping up with the latest info, stock quotes etc. rather than putting our feet up and reading a good book, enjoying a lasting kiss or just staring out the window?

Most messages can wait. We act like we’re going to go into withdrawal if we can’t log in or dial. When the plane lands everyone reaches for their cell phone or BlackBerry. It’s a kind of feeding frenzy we’ve been deprived of email for the length of the flight. Ask yourself, “why am I so busy?” “What am I avoiding?”

The first step to recovery from our addiction to technology is to admit that we have a problem. There’s a reason BlackBerrys are called crackberrys. Like people in AA. it’s time to admit that we have a problem. Let me here you say it, My name is______and I’m a technoholic. We have to admit that we are powerless in the face of our BlackBerry’s cell phones, pagers and that our lives have become unmanageable as a result.

We have to take the pledge like someone in AA and do whatever it takes to break our addiction to our electronic devices. Just as in AA the first step to recovery is to acknowledge that you have a problem. Once you do that it’s time to take action.

Ladies and gentlemen, turn off your cell phone, telephone, BlackBerry etc. Limit the time you will take calls. For example my doctor will only return calls one hour each afternoon. Other than that she takes only emergency calls.

Put an alarm next to your computer that will signal when you’ve used your allotted time. Or you may train yourself to work for a certain period of time before you allow yourself a screen break to check email. Whatever you do make a commitment to break the screen sucking habit.