How to Break a Blackberry Addiction

You often see them on the streets, these people with BlackBerry personal digital assistants, heads bowed and thumbs flying over a tiny keyboard. There are even studies that say you must treat your own BlackBerry addiction like other addictions to drugs or alcohol. Here's how you can break the habit without breaking your BlackBerry.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Estimate how much time you spend on the BlackBerry. Be honest with yourself. Notice if this time detracts from simple things in life, such as eating, walking, sleeping, reading the newspaper or getting dressed.

2. Ask your family when your BlackBerry use bothers them the most. Prepare for them to say it always does.

3. Set 3 hours in the day during which the BlackBerry is turned off. Sleep time doesn't count. Try replacing at least one of these hours by spending the time with your family.

4. Increase the number of non-addiction hours each day. Give weekends and family time special attention.

5. Give your phone number to people who need it. This can help you break your addiction. Then your colleagues can call you when an emergency arises.

6. Get over yourself. Sure, you are closing the deal of the century or working a big political story and have to stay on top of every development. This is important. Most other email isn't. Learn to tell the difference.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare for the fact you may not miss it once you've broken the addiction. You even may start to resent it when it's on.
• People who once reached you all the time and heard an answer right away probably should know you are in break-the-addiction mode.
• These tips also work for Treo and other similar devices.
• Read some blogs about BlackBerry addiction. You aren't alone.

Resources

• Sites such as The 4-Hour Workweek discuss BlackBerry addiction.