Like most responsible people, I grew up believing I had to finish my homework before I could go out and play. And, the homework never seems to end.
Especially now that we are so electronically-connected with each other, and with everything!
There's a strong tendency for humans to do everything they are able to do. Combine compulsion with constant connectivity and the workday need never end. Cellular phones make it too easy to contact anyone, anytime. With information always available online, we can keep clicking forever.
Back in the Philippines, I send and receive hundreds of text messages a day. I feel totally natural being electronically tethered to friends most of the day. A text message is a virtual shoulder tap among my peers. Now, my yahoo messenger window is more of a long-distance intercom. I'm on the Net for half of the day, often generating hundreds of instant messages while “chatting” to several friends in separate, simultaneous conversations.
I never really feel like I'm finished for the day. There's always one more task, one more call, one more e-mail. E-mail and text messages ratchet up our stress levels in ways we're only starting to understand. Each message requires multiple judgment calls that tax the neural network.
But as human beings, we have a choice. So, let us try to do the following in order not to be caught up with this “e-stress”:
Set limits
When I was a college instructress, I gave my students all my contact details. But I was firm in telling them that I may be reachable 24/7, but if it's past midnight, I have the prerogative to answer them immediately, or they might just wait for my response first thing in the morning. It also depends on the “urgency” of the message.
Make a task list
Being organized is a must in this day of multitasking. Having a list of priorities will help us in keeping track of what we have accomplished and what is still pending. In my case, I utilize the Notes section of Windows side bar to help me remember my “things-to-do”.
Stick to a scheduling
Military as it may sound; I really stick to a schedule. I make use of the alarm clock of my cellular phone to alert me of planned activities.
I also found out people who type an angry e-mail or text message, then hit Send, usually regret it later. In the days before instant communication, people had time to calm down, and I'm trying to re-create that cooling-off period.
Amidst the chaos of technology, we can still able to achieve a better balance in our life, between work, home and friendships.
