I would hate to add up the amount of minutes hours I spend on the Internet each day. When the weather is perfect, especially like it has been this week, it’s hard to justify the time we spend e-mailing, facebooking, blogging, tweeting … where do you draw the line between your online life and real life?

For me, it’s a really fine balance. But sometimes that balance is shifted, like when I’m on vacation.

The best thing about being on vacation in rural New Brunswick? No Internet access.
The worst thing about being on vacation in rural New Brunswick? No Internet access.

As my husband and I drive down Hwy. 102, nearing Halifax, I have a surge of mixed feelings — both excitement and dread at the prospect of getting online again.

When I crack open my laptop for the first time in a week, I have 50 personal e-mails and more than 60 work e-mails piled up. My Google Reader, which holds an embarrassing number of blog subscriptions, has hundreds of unread items. My personal blog, even though I set a few posts to pop up while I was gone, hasn’t seen any action in days. My Twitter feed is silent. My Facebook inbox has 14 unread inbox messages.

I’m completely overwhelmed. Where to begin?

If I had an iPhone or Blackberry, I could’ve kept on top of the steady stream of messages and updates. But is that what I really want? 

In theory, I’d like to go home after work, take a few minutes to write a blog or check Facebook, and then turn the computer off for the rest of the evening. This isn’t even close to reality. So, when I have the opportunity to take a vacation, I’m going to take a break. There’s really no need to check my accounts when I could be swimming in the lake or lounging by the pool.

But even the rural areas of New Brunswick are getting wireless and the next time I’m home for a visit, my families will likely have the Internet at home, which will definitely be a test of my shut-it-off vacation resolution.

How do you balance your online life and real life?

Originally from New Brunswick — though she now considers herself a Haligonian — Lindsey Bunin has a combined honours degree in journalism and political science from the University of King's College. She worked as special features editor for The Daily News until the paper's unfortunate closure in 2008. Some of her other publication credits include The Hill Times, Business Voice, Metro Halifax and The Weekly News. Lindsey came to Trampoline as Online Content Coordinator to lend her talents to our clients’ web content and assist in the development of social media strategy. Some of her clients include The Vault Jewelry, Saint Mary’s University, The Chronicle Herald and Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection. When Lindsey isn't busy writing or editing, she's usually doing something crafty or exploring the great outdoors with her husband.