Unplug Recharge Vacation Tips for the Technology Addict

Unplug Recharge Vacation Tips for the Technology AddictUnplug Recharge Vacation Tips for the Technology AddictUnwind during yur time off with a tech detox.Hello, my name is Amanda and I suffer from SSA Smartphone Separation Anxiety.Okay, maybe I made that term up. But even when the Blackberry first came out, people referred to them as crackberries because they were so addictive. As the technology has evolved, the addictive nature of these devices increased as well. Now instead of just a smartphone, we also have feather-light laptops and tablets vying for our attention when were away from our desks.If youre like me and suffer from SSA, then you know how difficult it can be to put your devices down when youre away from the office. In fact, a survey by CareerBuilder found that 30 percent of workers planned to contact the office while on vacation. Here are three tips to help you unplug from your electronics, enjoy your time off and truly relax.Tie up loose endsStart preparing for your time off well in advance. Communicate your vacation plans to your team at least two weeks prior to your departure date so they can plan accordingly. Identify and train, if necessary, a point person for any major projects or weekly activities which need to be covered in your absence. Set up your out-of-office messages for your phone and email, detailing a point person for inquiries, and articulating communication expectations.Open one windowIf its absolutely necessary, choose one specific window of time each day to check in, taking time zones into consideration. Define which issues should be considered urgent with your colleagues and ask them to flag those emails with a specific subject line. This way you can quickly skim your inbox and identify which emails require your attention immediately. If you think of an idea or something you want to address after your time off when youre back in the office, write it down in a notepad or on your smart device.Document the item and quickly retu rn to your vacation.Lock it upIf you have a work-issued phone, turn it off and leave it at home or in your hotel safe. Unless youre in the middle of an important project, theres little reason to carry the phone around all day. If your personal phone is used for work purposes, change the settings so you wont receive work emails or simply set it to airplane mode. If you cant see the emails coming in, youre less likely to jump back into work mode.If you take these steps to unplug during your time off, youre sure to reap the benefits of being fully recharged and more productive when you return to work. Click on the following links to learn more about setting boundaries with your smart devices.