JGA’s email-free day: Did we survive?
by Angela White
On Thursday, August 13, JGA had a new computer server installed by Port-to-Port Consulting. As you can imagine, this meant that we would have a disruption in our email service (as well as all other network services) for an estimated 24 hour period.
Even though we had ample advanced notice, there were some frightening moments leading up to our forced email sabbatical. How would we communicate with clients? What if we couldn’t view our electronic calendars? You get the idea. Well, I assumed that I would be one of the most nervous about this situation (you’ll recall my prior blog about my email addiction). Just the opposite occurred – I was actually excited about a day free of the constant checking of email and glancing at my iPhone at stoplights!
I wasn’t excited because of lessened client contact (all I had to do was pick up the phone and call my clients), but rather I was excited to have permission not to be tied to my email. Much to my dismay, our email was back up on working by 1:30 p.m., thanks to the good work of our tech providers at Port-to-Port. However, this email-free day did cause one of my colleagues to wonder if we should have a self-imposed monthly email-free day. Not a bad idea – a day free of checking email and more attention to the face-to-face contact and telephone discussions.
Have any of you tried this? Do you think it’s worth trying? Send me an email and let me know!