Disconnect, drop out, take a real vacation

Now that spring is here and the summer is around the corner, many people will be taking vacations. Some will just stay at home and bask in the wonderful weather, work around the house a bit and relax, while others may plan trips away from their cities and towns.

But do we really go on vacation?

I’ve been thinking about this since my boss went on her vacation. She left town, but not without her blackberry. She sent e-mails daily, maybe from beachside or from poolside, but she still sent them. Even at my request to leave her blackberry at home, she just couldn’t do it. Too much to do, too many e-mails that need responses, it would bottle up her blackberry and take hours to go through them.

Before the blackberry, it was the laptop ... always connected. Yes, she has a demanding job and e-mails people all hours of the day, but sometime we all need to relax.

Before we were all electronically connected, we went on vacation and didn’t have any contact until we returned. No e-mails to answer, no voicemail to check, no cell phones for people to contact you on, no laptops or Blackberrys to carry around. You were actually able to do what a vacation is supposed to allow you to do, relax and rejuvenate.

So, why can’t we just turn everything off and have time for ourselves? It’s the way business is nowadays ... you should always be reachable, connected. It makes me sad and a bit angry how we perceive the American worker. If you aren’t reachable, you aren’t doing your job or you are afraid that someone out there who is willing to be on the job 24/7 will take your place. And if you do “dis-connect,” you feel guilty.

We need some “me” time to get away from the pressures of work and to become not only better people, but also better employees. Life is too short not to enjoy it.

Do yourself a favor, disconnect, and have a real vacation. You’ll be much happier for it.

Diana Eysie, Kingston