On Disconnecting

Yes, I'm writing a blog post about disconnecting from technology. No, the irony is not lost on me. ;)

This "vacation" thing is amazing.

— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) August 25, 2015

Disconnecting can be hard for a number of reasons, in my experience. There's the usual obvious stuff like the fact that we're literally addicted to the serotonin rush of social media's faux urgency, but there's also aspects that aren't talked about as much. Like, will I have a job when I get back?

I know it's silly to say (or at least, I think it's silly to say) but I still think about the day to day stuff at work and wonder "well, if I leave, who will do it?" Now, hang back, this isn't about me, it's about irrational feelings, so bear with the post. I'm certainly not irreplaceable, none of us are, but I think it's common to feel a combination of feelings like:

• Who will work on Project X without me?

This implies I'm either the only one, or the best suited. Then there's the opposite:

• What happens if I'm gone so long that they realize they never needed me at all?

Sometimes on vacation I feel both of these things. They are irrational, but that doesn't make them any more real.

The hardest part about going on vacation isn't the disconnecting, for me, it's the realizing that I'm supposed to go on vacation.

What do YOU think about vacation, Dear Reader? Am I alone in my thoughts here?

* Photo "Stormtrooper on Vacation by JD Hancock used under CC

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