OK, I’m now convinced that I need a BlackBerry (thank you, everyone who weighed in on that debate). Here’s why…
Wednesday evening I was supposed to fly to Baltimore/Washington, DC to visit some friends and family. The plan was to scale back on marketing but still keep up with email and some ongoing projects from the place where I was staying. I didn’t even call it a vacation, because I thought I could just quietly board a plane, keep typing away on my laptop, and pop out in an hour and ten minutes to check my email and voicemail. Nobody would even know I was gone, because I’d be accessible via cell and email for almost the entire trip.
Here’s what actually happened:
I scrambled to answer emails and squeeze in one last phone interview before hopping a cab to the airport. When I arrived, my flight was delayed about an hour. But I didn’t think it would be a big deal, since flights are often delayed and sometimes you can make up time in the air. I diligently typed away on my laptop as we waited to board. Then we waited another THREE HOURS on the plane (during which we not allowed water, food or use of electronic devices) before they let us go back to the terminal. By this time, my laptop battery was out of juice and my mind was totally fried. It was my own personal purgatory where I couldn’t work and I couldn’t relax.
Waited in line at the ticket counter (meanwhile I also called customer service and waited on hold for what seemed like eons) and successfully rebooked for the following day. That flight was delayed an hour, so I arrived at my destination almost 24 hours later than anticipated.
Then my return flight was delayed several hours, so I went through that whole song and dance again in reverse, arriving home at 2am this morning. This time I reluctantly paid the $5/hour for internet so I could get a jump on projects for the week ahead. Even though I’m morally opposed to paying for wireless because so many places have it for free, I could justify the expense since I can earn several times more than that per hour. Plus, it kept me sane. By the time we boarded the plane, we were so desperate to get home that we were willing to overlook the water dripping from the ceiling (“that’s just the AC unit, it won’t impact your safety,” the flight attendant told us).
All told, I spent over twelve hours in airports this weekend and less than three actually in the air. Of course, had I been carrying a BlackBerry, I would have been able to check my flight status en route to the airport, looked up weather conditions in both cities, and checked my email and Google reader for free (sort of).
The other complication was that in the three days leading up to my trip, I had three people ask me to take on new projects. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! One of them was a rush assignment that I had to decline, but I was able to postpone the other two until I get back. Now I’m back and buried in work. But I supposed that’s better than having no projects coming in.
It seems to me that even with a BlackBerry, I can’t count on having the same level of productivity on the go as I would have at home under more controlled circumstances. But hopefully it will give me a bit more mobility. Any thoughts on staying productive during a trip? Should I just give up on work and try to relax? Or is it realistic for me to stay plugged in with the appropriate gadgets?
Monday, July 28, 2008
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11 comments:
Ugh, airports. I find those stress me out much more than actual flying does.
When I take vacations, I make it a point to dislocate myself from any form of communication. I LOVE the release from email and the telephone, and the only technology allowed is a portable radio. Maybe it's city life getting to me, maybe it's laziness... I don't know, but I certainly come back refreshed!
I feel for you. Maybe try Manchester next time? I don't see any reason why you shouldn't stay plugged in, wires or no. Though there's definitely a time to unplug for vacation, I guess probably not the summer in the first year of full-time freelancing.
Airline travel, what a racket. Blackberry, iPhone, go for it.
I love my BB, but I think I'm moving to the iPhone next. Since you deal in social media, the iPhone might be easier for you as it is much more Net friendly. Good luck!
Thanks, all!
@Christien: the reason a BB makes sense for me is that my family uses Verizon and if I stick with that, I can take advantage of IN-calling (most days I talk to some member of my family at least once or twice). I hear the iPhone is great, but switching cell phone providers introduces a host of other decisions and complications!
As far as productivity is concerned when you aren't allowed to use electronic gadgets - think of tools used prior to them such as pen and paper, paper files, books, paper organizers, etc. as a backup. I don't know of anything you can do regarding email and the like other than accept there are some things outside your control unfortunately. Relax is easier said than done under the circumstances you described so maybe a temporary resignation is a better way to describe it.
I travel a lot for work (I'm plan events across the US). The best thing is to relax. Read a book or a magazine. Heck make it a business magazine if it feels like you need to be "working". I'll often nap during flights knowing that I will be up late checking work e-mail in the hotel.
If you have to do actual work, go old school with pen and paper. I know it's odd, but I'll outline, write, and edit documents that I've printed before I left the office.
I used to try to do lots of work on the plane, but those tray tables are just too small for a laptop.
Just in case you don't get a Blackberry...
You can check stuff like weather and flight times using ChaCha, a free text service, from any cell phone. Just text "What is today's weather forecast for Phoenix, AZ" (or wherever you're going), and you'll get a text back with your response. And you can ask them ANYTHING. It's saved my butt more than once. ;-)
www.chacha.com
@angela: this is an awesome tip. Thanks!
Three hours with no access to water??? I think I could cope if I couldn't use my laptop or i-pod, but the whole water-denial thing that some airlines are doing these days is infuriating. If passengers have to wait that long so they can work on mechanical problems or whatever the delay is, they should be going out of their way to make people comfortable.
What airline?! Too many horror stories lately about being stuck for hours in the plane on the tarmac. I was once stuck on the Newark Tarmac in the summer, while the air-conditioning system was broken and wouldn't work unless in flight--they gave us wet paper-towels.
My sister works on the road and travelling constantly as a model, and she swears by the T-Mobile Sidekick.
And never get stuck at Chicago O'hare needing to back-up your power, it's a nightmare!
It was AirTran Airways.
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