Slave to Communication

I have decided to stop using my Blackberry as I think it was turning me into a slave, rather than the other way round.

I could be sitting down playing with the kids, but my mind would be elsewhere. “has somebody sent me an email”, “have I received another wedding video enquiry”, etc. The temptation is always there to go over to the mantle piece and check the Blackberry for messages.
I think many people are in the same situation as me, and it is very hard to be without a device like that when you are so used to it. I took the sim out of the Blackberry this morning and put it into a normal basic mobile phone, a phone without email facilities. Then I went out to shoot a wedding. I was very surprised with the way I actually missed not having it, but as the day went on, I realised that I had been given a lot of freedom back. I was no longer obsessing over who was trying to email me etc. I think I will stop the email subscription tomorrow.

After all, if it is really urgent, somebody could ring the mobile, rarely do I see an emergency wedding video enquiry! I will just stick to a routine of checking email once or twice a day. I must cut back on this aswell, but one step at a time!

This entry was posted on December 7, 2007 at 1:06 am and is filed under Personal. Tagged: . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Slave to Communication”

  1. sports Says:
    December 7, 2007 at 8:14 am

    Guess who just brightened up my day? :) Thanks a lot!

  2. Sibh Says:
    February 2, 2008 at 12:01 am

    I know what you mean John! I had the mobile e mail for a while but also decided to get rid of it. I have my mum check the e mails for me and she decides what’s urgent and what’s not! very handy

    enjoy your extra spare time - you’ll need it now with the new additions!!

    Siobhán

  3. Leon Costello Says:
    April 27, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    Hey John,

    I’m 100% behind you on that one. I was the same, constantly checking mails, answering calls at the dinner table or when out playing with the kids, when it should be just time with the kids. My wife now takes the phone off me when we go out as a family and to be honest I’m delighted as I do find that I get good quality time with them, I suppose the trick is just learn to switch off from it. I’m not the best at that, so I get the eye from herself and that’s enough :)

    Leon

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