Could You Disconnect?

Last night as a group of us were getting ready to leave work, I was talking with one of my peers about where she was going on vacation for a week. Then I noticed that she was packing up her laptop to take with her. One of the things that I have been thinking about lately is whether or not I could take a Technology Break. What I mean is could I go three days without a cell phone or computer, really disconnect. I started thinking about this a few weeks ago when I was taking my mom the fair and as I left the house I realized I didn’t have my cell phone with me. I gasped and actually considered turning around to go back and get it. Now is that an attachment or what. The first thing I do when ever I get in my car is check to see if I have my cell phone with me. There are many statistics out there that say that business people don’t really leave the office any more, they are always connected via phone or email, even at night and on vacations. Why do you think most resort hotels offer Hi Speed Internet or Wi-Fi now, it is for the business person on vacation.

So I asked my peer if she was planning on using her computer on vacation, she said she would be checking emails and try and only do it every other day. I told her I wanted her to try and not do it and I would buy her lunch if she stayed off of email. She said no she didn’t think she could do it. Then I offered her $100 if she could stay off of work email for 5 days. Guess what she turned me down, knowing she wouldn’t be able to do it.

So here’s the question, am I that important that the company couldn’t get by if I didn’t check my email or carry my cell phone for three days? I think not, so the next question is could I not be connected for three days? What about you?