I can't say I have it all figured out, but I know there's an answer to the balancing game and it's mine to find.
Sometimes I like being at work better than I like being at home and other people have commented on this phenomena to me as well. At work, responsibilities are somewhat orderly or at least defined in some way, whereas all kinds of crazy things can go hay-wire at home. Mates, spouses, kids, cooking, household appliances, neighbors, "inventory" - all kinds of surprises can be waiting for you upon your arrival back at your happy home.
Granted, all kinds of surprises can be waiting at work, too, not all pleasant, but a person can say, "at least I don't live here".
Well, that's only sort of true.
We all know we spend more waking hours at work than we do at home. And depending on where you are in your life, home can represent a near equivalent (given your situation) of the stress represented at work.
So why do we do this? Because work provides income we can use to feather our nests, or perhaps to enjoy a vacation: those blissful hours and days spent away from the office and sometimes away from the routine at home, too. It's not that you can ever really get "away" from your responsibilities, but you can hold them at bay for some defined period of time.
That is, unless work calls you away from vacation, or you just can't resist logging on to your manufacturing ERP system from your BlackBerry or home computer. It happens to all of us at some time ("Honey, I just want to check my email real-quick, just give me a few minutes"). Your BlackBerry can deliver your email to you anywhere and it can deliver your Manufacturing ERP to you anywhere, too (ex., EnterpriseIQ for the BlackBerry). Is this a blessing or a curse?
Communication is undeniably more efficient than every before and we rely on it. Is it so bad to take a call when you are supposed to be "off"? If you have the information available to make the necessary decision in the most efficient manner, you can avoid a bigger problem to be waiting for you later upon your return to the office. If you can access information while sitting by the pool or on a beach, does it alleviate your worries? There may be no nicer place to check the status of your orders or your meeting schedule in CRM than pool- or beach-side.
It may seem that you missed part of your vacation time, but to avoid problems lurking, I don't mind. I have an investment in my work, and work supports any time I can get away from it, whether at home or away, so I'll take the benefits along with the drawbacks. Don't take away my vacation and don't take away my BlackBerry!
