weird tweak that changed my life in 10 days [from Wombat of the Copier]

We'll see how long this lasts, but....

I don't have work e-mail on my phone anymore.

My chair, his secretary, and all of the adjuncts I supervise have my number.  If they need me they can text.

The reply-all fights about new policy and institutional vision can wait for when I'm at a computer.

The "I'm only 12 points away from a B+ and I was wondering if you could bump me to an A and maybe write me a letter for med school and some scholarships." e-mails can wait for when I'm at a computer.

The "Can u tell us what is on the test?" e-mails (that come in even after my scandalously-similar-to-real practice tests get posted to Blackboard) can wait until I'm at a computer.

I never actually answer any of that **** until I'm at my computer anyway - so why the **** have I been getting notifications on my phone?  What's wrong with me?  It's so stupid to choose to get them.

I got a new phone for Xmas.   I was carrying both phones around until I was comfortable with the new one (no phone service anymore, but in places where I could get WiFi it still functioned as a communication apparatus - i.e. work e-mail). 

I was as anxious as always through my whole holiday break.  I got a little *more* sleep, but I was still stressed and miserable.  The really horrible semester wasn't fading.

I didn't remember that work e-mail was only on the old phone and hadn't set it up on the new phone.  When I got comfortable with the new phone, I started leaving the old at home.  I got a few texts from boss man and coworkers.  I checked e-mail at work.  In the week since I returned to work I've felt more like I'm on vacation than when I was actually on vacation (I'm an administrator - so I've been back for a week).  I never look at my phone at red lights anymore - I just listen to my podcasts and smile until I get to work.

So this is the new thing.  I don't have a lot of data on it (the semester hasn't even started) maybe it was just a prolonged mental detox and this would have happened eventually with or without phone e-mail once enough time elapsed since the semester from hell - but hey, I will accept the placebo effect if it gets me out of having a semester as **** as last semester was.

So - if you can - turn off the work e-mail on your phone. 

Happy New Year

--Wombat of the Copier