I took this foot selfie last month while I recharged on a European cruise.

 

It's been a while since my last newsletter. Did you miss me?  I missed you! 

 

Last month, I was away for a few weeks on a nearly tech-free, recharging cruise to Greece, Turkey and Italy. Many "aha's!" along the way. More on that in future emails. 

 

When I arrived back in Atlanta, I flew right out to Dallas where I presented Work-Life Balance Wisdom: Seven Smart Strategies for Less Stress and More Success for AT&T. Besides speaking to the employees there, they connected me with about a dozen AT&T offices around the country via a webcast. That was a great use of technology!

 

Whether we work for one of the world's largest communications companies or for ourselves, we all struggle with our dependence on our cell phones and other digital devices. While this technology allows many of us to work anywhere with anyone at anytime, that constant connection can take its toll. And, it often means we become disconnected from ourselves. 

 

Two of the seven strategies to improve balance are creating the space by clearing technical clutter and being more present. An AT&T executive shared that she and her husband have a "no technology rule" from 7 to 9 pm each weekday. No phones, tablets or TV. Instead, they spend time with each other and their two small children. She said it was prompted by her two-year-old son who asked her to put down the phone and talk to him.

 

At my program, I promised to share some enlightened technology that supports your intention to disconnect and recharge. Check these out:

 

• DoNothingFor2Minutes.com is a relaxing full-screen picture of an ocean sunrise and the sound of the waves crashing ashore. All you need to do is sit there and breathe and do nothing for two minutes. Simple but not easy.  
• Calm.com facilitates mini recharging vacations on your desktop or mobile device. Choose a soothing nature scene with spa music, and two- to 20-minute guided meditations. 
• Anti-Social.cc could be the cure to social media anxiety. Harvard researchers found that sharing information about ourselves on social media sites activates the same pleasure centers of the brain as eating food, receiving money and having sex. If you think you have a problem, this social network blocking software could wean you away from the virtual world so you can reconnect in the real world.