Disconnect occasionally for cryin’ out loud.
When’s the last time you were in a meeting and absolutely no-one was checking messages or tweeting on their cell phone?
Or the last time you went out with friends and at least one of them didn’t start texting or uploading a photo to Facebook right in the middle of your sentence?
Maybe it was even you. (“Guilty as charged” myself, so I’m not casting any stones here.) Maybe you’re reading this right now while in the midst of tuning some other conversation out? [Sidebar: By all means keep reading this one though because I’m sure this is WAY more important than whatever else it is you’re supposed to be doing.]
It just seems that more and more these days, cell phone usage – at any and all times – appears to be becoming acceptable social etiquette. I know, it’s irresistible. It’s like an addiction. Heck, it IS an addiction. PING. Who could it be? Maybe it’s an important client. Or my next meeting postponing. What if it’s a new Pinterest post, or my daily inspirational message? Gotta check it. Now. Can’t wait. Gotta gotta now now now!
Well, as Emily Post says:
“Back in the day, before cell phones or caller ID, when we invited friends over, they never brought their landline phones along with them…”
[read more sage advice from Emily Post in Telephone Manners]
Seriously, disconnect occasionally! Turn off your cell phone, or at least put it away for a while. Enjoy your meeting, that presentation you paid big bucks to attend, and the lively banter of your friends unplugged for a change. It can wait. (Unless you’re a surgeon or something of course, then by all means, please do stay plugged in.)
But before you do, please do go ahead and share this with your friends or colleagues sitting at the table with you right now.
Image credits: Illustrations © 2007 Sharon Watts | Content © 2007 The Emily Post Institute, Inc.