Mike Urlocker has a posting on his blog about 7×24 accessibility versus downtime.
His conclusion merits discussion.
As a self-employed, independent consultant, one of the services I offer is always being available. As a result, I find that mobile access is an enabler of downtime, not a detractor from family time.
In my pre-Blackberry days, I can recall helping a client negotiate a contract during the weeks leading up to the school March break. We planned a vacation in Colorado with the kids. The contract wasn’t signed, but I had my cel phone and my client knew how to reach me.
On the slopes at Loveland, the phone rang and I stopped to deal with an issue that arose during the drafting of the agreement. 15 minutes later, I was done and got to enjoy the rest of the vacation.
The point: accessibility didn’t interfere with my ski trip; it enabled me to go on the vacation. The alternative was for me to stay in the city waiting by the phone.