Free yourself from your cell phone

Cell phones are such a blessing in some ways. But when they interrupt your meals or bug you when you’re trying to finish a task, they can drive you crazy. If you’ve had enough, it’s up to you to change the expectations of people who call you. You don’t have to be available 24/7, even if they expect you to be. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Let friends and family know if you’re busy, you won’t answer. Tell them if it’s a real emergency, call back a second time and you’ll answer then. Otherwise, leave a voice mail and be patient.
2. Change your greeting frequently. Planning to work on something all afternoon? Change your greeting to something like, “I’m in the middle of a project so I’ve shut my phone off, but please leave a message or email meand I’ll return your call this evening.” Once you get used to changing your greeting, it’s easy to do on most cell phone systems.
3. Tell people you’re sick of your cell phone and prefer email. If email’s better because you can read it when you’re ready, just be honest about that. Tell people you’re better about checking emails than voice mails.

Just because we can be connected 24/7 doesn’t mean we’re obligated to be.

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Posted in Organization, Personal Development on April 13, 2008