In the struggle for a relaxed vacation, technology is a major factor. It can be a plus or minus. In this posting, we will look at the negative, and then in the next one we will see it in a more positive light. The NBC Nightly News segment for which I was interviewed featured a person actually sitting at the edge of the pool with her Blackberry. Thus even taking vacation time can still feel like vacation deprivation and stress. The following two comments come from consulting clients with whom I’ve worked to improve their systems for paper management and time management. One focuses on a scenario such as the pool one described above. The other one agrees and offers an explanation of why this occurs in many cases. Do you see yourself in either of these as you struggle to keep up with your productivity levels?

• Even when I’m off or on vacation, or even out on funeral leave when my father passed, my manager will always call at some time or another with questions regarding something I was involved with, even though I give her an update or status on projects before I leave. So naturally, I never feel relaxed or totally on vacation. Some days I feel I really did not have any time off.
• Technology has also allowed corporations to reduce their need for administrative assistants who were once a staple for anyone in a management position (more and more Americans work from home even though they are employed by major corporations). Tasks that bring no value are being performed by highly compensated individuals. This leads to increased work in the evenings, weekends, vacations, etc. because high performing, driven people do what it takes to accomplish their job requirements.