A quick look around you and you can see that it is an “always on” world. Computers, cell phones, portable game players, Email, Twitter: we seem to have this obsession with being in touch virtually, and being in touch all the time. It’s always good to keep these things in check. My father passed away about four years ago and since then I have really changed the way I manage my time with work and technology. I love technology, am blessed to be living in a time when technology is advancing at incredible speeds. However I have found that sometimes it is good to just walk away.

As a developer it is hard to walk away. You never want to leave your code in a state where it doesn’t compile, or is not working. Of course this happens more times than not. It goes back to the old saying “this will take five minutes”. By now we should all know that nothing takes five minutes. It sounds like a cheesy inspirational poster but there is so much happening outside of your computer. I work at home, so on very busy days it can be 4:00 in the afternoon and I have not had a chance to walk around outside. On the other hand, I get the luxury of taking my laptop out on the patio, to a local coffee shop, or where ever I wish to work for the day. I have started to take evenings and weekends for myself, with the exception of a few here and there when there are deadlines. I have forced myself to turn off the computer at the end of the day, and every Friday. This way I am less likely to turn it on for that one quick thing that will snow ball into two or three hours.

Cell phones are something I have not mastered yet. Cell phones are no longer just cell phones, they are very portable computers. Email, text messaging, Twitter; again constant communication. I have always been known to have my cell phone on me. I run a small business, and the point of contact for emergencies. However I have also learned this is not the healthiest thing, for me or the business. If I cannot delegate that responsibility to someone else, then the business is weaker. There is now a single point of failure. As for me, well it’s not fair to myself, those around me, and especially my significant other. That time together is extremely valuable, and there is nothing that should be important enough, work related, that should be able to interrupt that. If you cannot get 100%, truly uninterrupted time off from work, then the company is not doing its job and the system is broken. Think about it: we work to be able to provide and enjoy life. If we cannot enjoy life, what the hell are you busting your ass for every day? Working hard makes you value your time off, and your time off makes you value your job.
I am going to be out of the country for a week at the end of the month. I am bringing my cell phone for emergencies, like we miss a flight or something. Once we get to our destination, it’s being turned off. Not only because the rates are going to cost an arm and a leg, but because I and more importantly the people I am travelling with deserve that time uninterrupted. I have not had a true vacation in a long time, and if my work is going to fall apart while I am gone then something went wrong long before now and there is nothing I can do so I might as well enjoy my time.

There are obsessions, and then there are healthy obsessions. My only fear with technology is making life obsolete. A fear where my sons or grandsons will never know the joy of reading a physical book, rather obtain that knowledge in digital format. Or never know what it is like to see the world first hand, instead of just virtually.

So in all my rambling here I hope you pulled something. I challenge you to go take a walk without your cell phone or iPod or any other digital device. Turn off the distractions when you are at dinner later tonight with your family. Nothing is as important as those who are around you. Another summer is yet again almost over. Learn to walk away.

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