I bought a BlackBerry this week, or more to the point, our wonderful IT person Erica Rios bought me one. I’ve had a combination phone and email device for a few years, and love it, but for a variety of reasons, most of which are extremely annoying, my handheld device was never able to work consistently with our mailing system. I think of the number of hours Erica and I have spent on this problem and I know why technology sometimes has such a bad reputation.
In my current role as the CEO and President of a non-profit, it is important for me to stay connected with our community. I depend on access to email and my calendar to get things done. I am frequently on the road, and email is my primary form of communication and with the time differences, it is often a challenge to stay on top of all of the important correspondence.
I feel comfortable being able to stay attuned with the relationships that help us succeed, but it’s not hard to see the ways technology can also rule my life — if I let it. There’s an added level of distraction that comes from constantly being taken out of the moment by the ringing of a cell phone or the chime of an email appearing in your inbox.
Working effectively also means quieting the mind and technology doesn’t always support that way of being. The last few years have been intense for me and although I gain energy from work I also recognize that creativity comes from walking away from the computer, and focusing on other aspects of life, such as trees, mountains and other people.
Last summer I spent four weeks completely unplugged, in the Indian Himalayas, in an area of the world with no electricity. I believe passionately, that I need to completely disconnect in order to truly reconnect. Creativity happens on an unconscious level and the only way this can happen is to let my mind be less active.
I need access to email, and sometimes I am lost without my cell phone and I’m sure I’ll depend on my new BlackBerry too (thanks Erica). But I also know the importance of a walk or run in the woods without any connected devices when technology is far away. For me, what is important is drawing the line and being clear on my needs and taking the time each day to unplug.
Telle’s new gadget is a BlackBerry 7130e. When she’s not running, you can reach her at tellew@anitaborg.org