If idle hands are the devil’s playthings, he must be bored given the amount of texting, typing IM’ing and emailing today. Technology has made us available 24/7/365. Texting and checking email is so prevalent that it is no longer rude or a faux pas to IM or check “CrackBerries” in the middle of meals, meetings or mid-conversation.

While most people believe technology has simplified their lives, the constant barrage of messages can be overwhelming. In Silicon Valley, companies are now requiring BlackBerry, iPhone and PDA free meetings; the number of MySpace suicides is on the rise and even Reader’s Digest is offering articles on how to manage information overload. This month’s Details magazine offers “being tired is not a status symbol” as much as it is “insufferable”.

What is underlying this backlash? There is an epidemic of people who can no longer draw boundaries between work and home. Late night emails and messages aren’t always perceived as a sign of hard work as much as a lack of balance. Consider this, we see and have to process more information in a 72 hour period than our parents did in one month.

On which side of the line do you and/or your company fall? This may be an issue that highlights the digital divide; those under 30 are far more comfortable with constant access than those over 35. Regardless, we expect to see an increase in the number of people opting to opt out or power down at various times throughout the day and at night. Expect to see an interest in simplicity and escape as people reclaim their down time and draw the line.

stay tuned.

june 2008