Think You Might Be Addicted to Email? You’re Not Alone
AOL last week published an article on a survey they recently concluded looking at how Americans are using Portable Devices to check email from virtually anywhere…. in the Bathroom, While Driving and Even in Church!
From the somewhat scary results it seems that 83% of American Email users check email on vacation and 4 out of 10 users said that their ability to access email was a key decision point in selecting their vacation destination!
Now correct me if I’m wrong here but isn’t the purpose of a vacation to be to recharge the batteries and take a break from work?
If you take a look at Dictionary.com it defines vacation as:
1. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday: Schoolchildren are on vacation now.
2. a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
3. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
4. an act or instance of vacating.
So whilst the study is interesting from a statistical perspective it does disturb me greatly that so many people are checking e-mail whilst on holiday and even more dangerously whilst driving!!
There were some tips in the report on how to combat email addiction – I particularly liked the Rule of Three!
**Follow the Rule of Three: If you have emailed back and forth with the same person on the same topic more than three times, it is time to pick up the phone and have a conversation
