Agreed. I don't give my cell phone number out to people, and when they get it it doesn't do them much good - I keep it turned off. I don't keep a pager if I don't have to, and if I do it's off by the time I reach the elevator to get out of the hospital. Sometimes, when I'm really busy, I let the answering machine screen my calls - if it's important enough to talk to me, it's important enough to leave a message.

You have to keep your work and home life separate if you want to stay sane. That's why docs have call schedules...

You have to keep your work and home life separate if you want to stay sane. That's why docs have call schedules...

Wise words my friend, wise words. Thanks for stopping by.

My work has been asking me to organise a pager but I keep delaying. I have a personal mobile phone and the people who 'count' have this number. This includes my managers, so I figure I don't need to be any more contactable than I already am. Like you, I am wary that a pager will mean people trying to get in touch with me at all hours, which is why I don't want one.

We seem to live in a society which encourages us to be the best. And to bring work at home is an expression of i am so dedicated to work that i do extra hours at home, i deserve a medal (and a promotion!). Well yeah, but that means you miss out on the most important times of your life: relaxing and indulging in the things we truly love!

I'm glad you didnt fall in that trap Blue Dev

>> Technology has made it possible for others to contact us at any time. And lately, it has me feeling pretty detained.

That is why I still don't have a cell phone. But there was a time when work required me to have one - I hated it.

I have a personal mobile phone and the people who 'count' have this number

Exactly. My wife and I were very reluctant to get cell phones (wrote an article about it a while ago), and once we did the number only goes to people who I won't mind using it. Family, a few close friends, and that is it. Makes it easy to keep track of our minutes though!

Well yeah, but that means you miss out on the most important times of your life: relaxing and indulging in the things we truly love!

I suppose it all boils down to priorities. What matters most. And while I like work, and care about it, I don't want to bring it home unless it is really, really important.

But there was a time when work required me to have one - I hated it.

I hear you Raven. I despise the pager. Oh well.

Thanks for the comments!

"I am not on call, I am not doing clinical work, and there is nothing they need to tell me that can't wait until tomorrow. But they still get upset when they try to page and nothing goes through. So they turn to email. Lab meetings on Monday morning lead to questions of "Didn't you get the email I sent?". And sure as shooting, they sent me an email, at 10:30 on Sunday night."

Yep, some people have no life. I've worked with people, (and still do) who believes that they should have access to you 24/7! They have a family yet, they're always at work. Not even vacation time is taken! They're supposed to be off for the day, they're at work, or they're calling in every second - no life! They deny themselves and their families a time for themselves. So I agree with you Dev, until it's that time, you make the time for yourself and family - that's important!

I agree Blue_Dev! Too many employers seem to take it personally if you expect your personal time to be personal!! ;~D

When I was a squad leader, I used technology the opposite way. The technology of choice for me was an answering machine. I told the troops who lived off post to make sure they get one. Not so I could get a hold of them for "hey you roster" details, but so I couldn't.

On Friday night, when my platoon sergeant called me for "hey you" details that weekend, I would call the barracks phone, then I'd head to the barracks. Oops, none of my on post troops to be found. So, I then tried to call the off post troops. Of course, none of them answered the phone, so I left a message on their machines... I then made the call back to the Platoon Sgt, letting him know that I couldn't seem to round anyone up. So he then called the 2nd Squad leader...

The whole time I was squad leader, I think there was only twice that a troop from my squad did weekend "hey you" duty. Both times they knew it was their fault that I found them. ;~D

------------------

For anyone who has a boss who can't seem to tell the difference between "on duty" and "off duty" time, just casually remind them off the $50 Million settlement against Wal~Mart for the same practices. ;~D