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Will You have an email detox this vacation?

Will you have a digital detox? This time of year sparks the age old debate about whether you should or shouldn’t stay connected to email when on leave. Recent studies have confirmed that email is the biggest drain on business people’s performance. So when it comes to holidays, those concerned with their own well being or that of their employees – should shout ‘Get a life’, disconnect as we all need time to discharge and recharge our batteries properly.

Last year Daimler introduced an email programme which automatically deletes all employees’ emails whilst they are on leave. Digital detox holidays are now on offer. When you arrive at your hotel you can elect to have all Wi-Fi connections disconnected.  In the USA some psychiatrists have now suggested that internet addiction should be treated as a psychiatric disorder.

Technology alone will not cure email overload despite some software providers claims. The real cure lies in changing our email behaviour. It is about re-thinking how we use email and curing what has become the hidden disease of 21^st century working life – email addiction. It’s about learning how to use and manage our time and accept that it is OK to disconnect.

Even without such support, we can all self-impose other strategies including an email black-out.  This  will help while we are away  and when we come back from leave.  The benefit of your time away from the office it is vital to learn to how to wean yourself off your email/internet fix. If you can stop logging on or taking calls, you will relax more quickly and your friends and family will appreciate your undivided attention. You and they are worth it!

If you find it hard to disconnect then at least limit the distractions.

1. Switch of all you email feeds and at the very least the office one.  Remember we are all dispensable at the end  of the day!
2. Only log on once/twice a day and preferably at the end of the day – so you don’t ruin everyone else’s day.   Alternatively wait until the last day. Reward yourself for every day you do not log in.

Tags: Daimler, Digital detox, email free vacation, Holiday email backlog, Pack up your inbox

One response to “Will You have an email detox this vacation?”

1. Mike Bedford says:

   July 19, 2015 at 12:49 pm

   Thanks Monica. Excellent advice as always. I am due to go on Paternity Leave soon followed next year by Shared Parental Leave, so blogs like this are really helpful. Many thanks, Mike.