v-Fluence Blog

Laptop Detox: Seeking A Cure

I was sitting in the airport this morning, waiting patiently for my flight to begin boarding. My laptop was securely packed in the carry-on bag hanging from my shoulder. Suddenly, I heard the distinctive "bing" of my instant messaging (IM) program and my heart fluttered a bit.

I felt the familiar urge to run to my laptop for fear that I may have missed a crucial IM from one of my distant co-workers. It was during that brief second I realized it couldn't possibly be my laptop. My laptop was turned off, bundled up, and buried with an array of other items in my shoulder bag.

I surveyed the gate area; searching for another passenger with their open laptop to explain the recognizable "bing" I had just heard.

But there wasn't one.

Had I imagined it? Did the barista at Starbucks put an extra shot of espresso in my vanilla latte? Was it too early for me to identify real vs. imaginable sounds? Or was I simply just tired and worn-out?

Then it dawned on me: I realized I was experiencing "instant messenger anxiety"-a condition that compels me to invent IM sounds (and maybe even conversations!) in the event I am disconnected from my laptop. Other symptoms include sweaty palms, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and dry mouth. Apparently, the situation of missing an IM is so traumatic I was causing myself to undergo an assortment of physical responses.

Surely I couldn't be the only v-Fluence member experiencing this ailment; the only person who hauls their laptop alongside like a worn security blanket. It's become clear I am in serious need of a laptop detox. You know, where you sever the cord and experience a whole new series of symptoms associated with withdrawal.

So, in true v-Fluence fashion where our colleagues are often our best first resource for a question or problem, I decided to ask my fellow at-home associates how they cure their laptop addiction and deal with the impossible task of walking away from a portable office. Here's a sampling of what I learned:

• After a demanding day, Lynn and Chris Holden (1 of 4 Chris's currently employed at v-Fluence) both like to engage in a guitar jam session (separately, I presume, since one's in San Diego, the other in Washington D.C.).
• Nina likes to unwind at the gym.
• Rachel likes to play Scrabble with her husband to "prevent mental deterioration."
• Lance likes to tour the city via his bike.

Luckily, my recent IM and e-mail conversations have inspired me to explore new de-stressing options, alternatives to reoccurring instant messenger anxiety. Armed with these ideas, I'll soon be experiencing Chicago from a new angle-one that doesn't involve me peering over the top of my laptop screen.

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