In this modern age, schedule a vacation from responding

You might not realize you are always waiting to be interrupted.

This is not an anti-technology post. I LOVE technology. My gadgets have gadgets. And when it comes to increased communication, I'm a fan. I adore being able to keep in touch with loved ones all over the world whenever I want, price included. I still remember some of my long-distance phone bills from the olden days. Ouch. (Kids, ask your parents what I'm talking about.)

I also remember not having a cell phone. They weren't invented yet. When you left the house to go somewhere, no one could reach you. It was the Wild West. Going to the store? When will you be back? When you get back, that's when.

But now? Now people can reach you anywhere, anytime. It's fantastic for shopping. "I"m at the store, text me your list". It's fantastic for a change of plans, "getting an oil change on the way home, start dinner". It's fantastic for last minute get-togethers! (How many gatherings did I miss in college because our only communication device was a whiteboard on our door? Let's not count.)

It's also fantastic for creating an unseen pressure... 

...or maybe a sprint. When I was young and the phone rang I leapt footstools to get to it in time before it stopped ringing. Breathless. "Hello?" We had no caller ID then. It could be anyone.

One day someone said to me, "You know you don't have to answer it." 

"What?", I replied in shock.

"Just because someone has the time to call doesn't mean you have the time to answer. You don't have to pick it up."

It had never occurred to me. Not once. I assumed that when that thing rang it was my duty to drop everything and pick it up at all costs.

We don't have to answer every ring or text. We have that same choice with our smartphones but it's sometimes hard to implement. They are right there after all, in our pockets or bags.

To be honest, trying to decide with each call or text or message whether to respond or not is sometimes exhausting for me. I already make so many decisions. 

That's why sometimes I dedicate a whole day to not responding. A true day off in this modern age.

What does that feel like?

It feels awesome.

If you don't remember, give it a go. You might be surprised to rediscover what is truly worth jumping the ottoman for and just how much is not.