Technology is great. Gadgets and software help us to get more done in less time. Most people spend more time at home in front of their computer than their TV. People relax with technology (playing XBox or listening to an iPod) get work done with technology (smartphones and laptops) and goof off with technology (MySpace anyone?).
Some of us have really tricked ourselves out with all the latest stuff. At home I use a bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse, smartphone for mobile email, laptop and desktop computers, iPod and surely some other stuff I am forgetting.
At work, it is a whole different story. Almost every piece of software I am using is “Beta” software. “Beta” means that the products are not final. My operating system is Beta. My productivity software is Beta. My instant messaging client is Beta. Several other apps I use are also in the Beta stage. In some cases, the back-end servers I connect to are also Beta!
I enjoy using the latest and gratest stuff. Even if all the bugs aren’t worked out, I really don’t mind. However, some days are worse than others. Today was (is) an extreme case. My wireless connectivity has been spotty at work. Some applications won’t run at all. My e-mail doesn’t seem to be working (using my phone, through Microsoft Outlook or through the Web).
For someone who is used to being as connected as I am, this type of situation is completely paralyzing. I probably wasted a grand total of 30 minutes today actually staring at a frozen computer screen waiting for my Microsoft Outlook Beta client to “unfreeze” itself. I wasted at least another 30 minutes rebooting my PC to help remedy other issues. I wasted at least 10 more minutes re-typing content I lost when Microsoft Word decided to freeze up mid-paragraph. I have no idea why all these issues are arising today, but am quite certain that by tomorrow many of the issues will be gone (magically).
After dealing with all these issues; I decided to leave work a bit early, beat traffic home and hit the gym near my house. It took me a good 2 hours to actually decompress from all the frustration of dealing with broken technology. Halfway through my workout I finally realized how co-dependent I had become. I mean really, if the power went out for 24 hours, could you still manage to completely productive? Of course! I could hand write important emails for later. I could think through big problems and projects I have on my mind. I could create and prioritize a to-do-list. I could clean my office. I could make phone calls to discuss issues with a few vendors I am working with. I could study/review trade magazines that are relevant for my job.
The challenge is not in coming up with things to do “offline”….. but in being able to “flip a switch” quickly when things start going downhill with your technology. The challenge is to detach yourself from the rapid fire/response mode of living in a full-connected world, and attach yourself to a more contemplative and focused state of mind that is completely free of any technology dependency.
Today, this switch took about two hours to make! In the process I had to deal with incredible amounts of frustration and not much productivity. I learned my lesson. In the future it will surely be much less.
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