Tuesday, March 03, 2009

No Longer Working for the Weekends

So, as a follow up to yesterday's post about writing blog posts on the weekends, I've also changed something pretty dramatic about my weekend behavior as of late. And that's this: I no longer check my email over the weekends. Gasp! True, my Blackberry does go off, but I almost always just tune out the emails as soon as they come in. And despite my Blackberry, I make a very conscious choice not to open my inbox from Friday night until Monday AM.

And you know what? I totally freaking love it. I am not beholden to think about work for an entire two days, and as a result, on Monday AM, just with the blog posts, I sit down at my desk totally re-energized.

In this day and age of instant technology, I think it can seem scary to ignore your email (and again, yeah, if there were a crisis or whatnot, I have my Blackberry to warn me), but I'm telling you, the world does not stop for these few days or hours. I was someone who was sort of always on-call, and it feels so, so, so liberating not to be. Honestly, if you're feeling burnt out, try it! Just knowing that I can ignore someone's request for my time or thoughts or answers for a few days makes me feel empowered and more in control of my time and schedule.

Anyone else do this? Or thinking about it? Give it a try!

12 comments:

Heather Johnson Durocher said...

I think this is a fabulous idea, Allison. It's something I've done now and again, but definitely not on a consistent basis. I've had good intentions, but then I somehow convince myself I just need to check one little thing on email and next thing you know I've been online for a few hours. And you're right, that's how you end up feeling completely burnt out. So, you've inspired me and I think I'm going to seriously try to do this.

Maya / מיה said...

I do this every Saturday! I highly recommend taking a break from communication.

Maya

Trish Ryan said...

I try to do this at least one day a week, and it's great. We're in the middle of selling our condo and our agent communicates mostly by e-mail, so I have to check it everyday now. I'm excited to get back to days off once the condo is sold!

Debra Lynn Shelton said...

Wow, Allison - you're a brave soul. I'm still in the addicted-to-my-laptop phase of my life (which falls somewhere between the Terrible Twos and Mid Life Crisis). I promise if I begin to feel the slightest bit burnt out, I'll shut down for at least 24 hours. Thanks for reminding me there's a reasonable alternative!;-)

LarramieG said...

I've been doing this since the first of the year and except for "emergencies" -- i.e. getting one of my two posts completed and scheduled to publish early Monday morning --, this practice brings back the feeling of a weekend. Most enjoyable!

Lisa Bakewell said...

Yep, I do this too. I turn off the email on Friday when I'm done working and don't turn it back on until Monday morning. I've done it for awhile now, and I have to say, that I don't think that I've had one "emergency" yet that couldn't wait till Monday. :)

Amy Sue Nathan said...

I'm unplugging at night these days, even though my kids are teenagers and often in front of a screen of some sort themselves. I like being fully aware and available when they're around at night. Even if what's online isn't important, we all seem to zone out when we're there. I've been able to spend more time with them - I've (gasp) read a book or two - and even (gasp gasp) done the laundry.

And I love it.

Trish said...

I definitely think this is a worthy goal. Why not? What exactly will we miss by checking obsessively (other than Trish's condo sale, which is totally understandable).

I've been trying to be unavailable more for writing time and it does help when you know you'll check it in an hour or two. Calms me down.

Good for you, A!

Trish

http://www.trishlawrence.com/blog

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm impressed! But I don't know that I could break myself of the habit. I'm obsessed with email and my blackberry--very co-dependent. Anyway, you've inspired me, as you always do. xo, Sarah

Anonymous said...

Weekends are for rest, so my work emails and work phone go off and I blissfully ignore them for a couple of days...before hectically trying to rectify everything at work when I go back on Monday!

suzanneelizabeths.com said...

I've also been doing this and it feels great. I usually don't look at email or blogs again until late Sunday night or Monday morning. And like everyone else, it feels liberating!

kate hopper said...

Bravo! I think it's such a good idea. I have so little work time during the week (juggling child care and working during naps) that I often feel I MUST check email on the weekends, but on the days I don't I feel so much calmer.