By Jane Southward -
The notion of a digital detox isn’t new. However, for lawyers, the need to switch off is greater than ever before.
Andrew’s office is full of screens. There’s the PC, the iPad, an iPhone and a plasma for video conferences that connect him to clients in Europe. His meetings are organised by e-invites, his billing hours chunked into six minute blocks. His wife lets him know of sports carnivals and family invites via emails, which are plugged into his calendar electronically. His digital world is more important than ever. He’s connected to work 24/7. At night, he sleeps with the iPhone next to his pillow.
“I tell my wife it’s because the phone has my alarm on it but, really, I like it there so I can check emails when I stir in the evening,” he says. “When my wife emailed me to say dinner was ready I really knew I had a problem. She was a few rooms away but knew that email was the best way to get my attention.”
