It could be a habit or maybe a fear that we might miss something. Perhaps we work in fields of technology or social media or have to be ‘on call.’ Some may stay connected because it gives us peace of mind.

I asked folks on my social networks if they will be unplugging for the holidays.  All but one person said no.

Mary Pratt, Business Development Consultant for The Patriot-News, said, “How could you possibly? I’d feel so out of touch.”

Many who work in an online field told me that unplugging is simply not an option.  Scott Thomas, Owner of S.W. Thomas Consultants, Inc.  said, “Not me, I’ll be working […] I am a 24/7/365 operation.”

Megan Barto, Internet Sales Director for Ciocca Honda, said, “NEVER!!!” William Duquet of INTEC said, “It’s not possible.”

I believe the reason we stay connected can encompass all of these things, but I do believe many feel like we are expected to be responsive 24/7.  The economy is still inching toward recovery and customer service is a defining factor in customer satisfaction. Most customers are going online to fulfill orders, complain, or make requests that we feel need an immediate response.

Moreover, our Smartphone is always available and our volume of email is so large that many feel the need to constant check it in order to stay on top of everything.

If we’re not unplugging, are we burnt out because we feel like we can never escape work?

In Germany, Volkswagen made the decision to shut down workers’ Blackberry email service at night to protect non-exempt employees from spending 24-hours around the clock attached to their work email. The reasoning behind this decision is to create a better work-life balance.

I believe burn out depends on our purpose for being online, who we are and where our priorities lie. Some of us actually enjoy being online and use the connectedness to fulfill our social needs. Others of us are workaholics, by nature. The online world only upped the ante. If we’re prone to working a lot, I think we would feel burn out regardless.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong and I don’t think it’s black and white. It’s about being who we are and being comfortable with it. I sincerely hope family life doesn’t suffer because of the online world, but I still think it’s an individual choice. Helen Szollosy, Owner of LAFOLOT, said, “LIFE is a holiday … I like staying CONNECTED …It’s all in how you look at it…. what’s great is … we HAVE a CHOICE!”

Will you be unplugging for the holiday? Why or why not?

Tyler, Santa, Stephanie and Amanda, 1994

Amanda Harrison, Marketing Manager:

My favorite Christmas memory is putting on our Christmas sweaters and going to Christmas Candy Lane to see Santa. We would always go to Hershey Chocolate World first and get the biggest chocolate bar my parents would allow. Then we would go into Christmas Candy Lane, ride rides and drink hot chocolate.  We would not want to leave till our little noses were bright red like Rudolph.

Anita Zook, Strategic Operations Manager:

My favorite Christmas memory is when my family would go out to “tag” a Christmas tree at the Tree Farm in the fall. Then go back after Thanksgiving to cut it down. We would go home and have hot chocolate while setting it up and decorating. 

Matt Hannaford, Relationship Manager:

Matt proposing to Erin, Christmas 2008

Every year at Christmas time…my best friend, Erin, and her friends from college would take a trip from Greenville, N.C. to Vanceboro, N.C., (about 45 minutes) to visit a house along the side of the road that set up a massive display of seasonal lighting and scenes throughout their large property. She and her friends had been going to “the lights” for several years and after deciding that I was going to propose I chose that as the place.

She set up the entire weekend trip from our apartment in Alexandria, Va., to Greenville. I hid the ring, and had to figure out an “excuse” to get my camera to one of our friends during our trip to the lights. I had him take a picture of us and attempted to propose – but like any guy who has proposed can tell you- the scene you play in your head and all of the words you planned to use completely escape your brain and you don’t really have much going on. Finally after finding the words I asked her to marry me and our friend snapped a few pictures.

John Webster, Honorary Team Member and Website Guru:

As a child one of my best Christmas memories was of course when I got my first computer. That’s when it all began! Over 30 years ago, I got an electronic device that would change my trajectory forever. That computer gave me a way to learn and grow and build all sorts of wonderful things. 

Rachel Strella, Owner:

My family did not have much money, yet each year my parents tried to buy us a gift that we really wanted.  I’ll never forget the year I got my Jason® Telescope!  Despite their circumstances, my family always made our Christmas special. Christmas is the time of year when extraordinary things can happen!

What’s your favorite Christmas memory?

We knew we had to work together again and this time focus on an important issue for small business owners: when it’s time to hire help with social media efforts. Find out if your small business should be using social media, when it’s appropriate to hire a social media professional – either full-time or contracted –  and the most important advice we could give to a small business owner.

Click here to read this story on Tim’s blog!

In the past few weeks, I’ve seen blogs touting the 18-minute social media strategy and the 20-minute social media professional.

Hubspot offers an e-book called, How to Monitor Social Media in 10 Minutes a Day.

Marijean Jaggers recently indicated that a social presence could take 20 hours a week or more!

Jeffrey Gitomer says in his book, Social Boom, to allocate one hour a day, once you get your presence set up.

I think Gitomer’s approach is probably the most realistic, but it depends on a variety of factors.

Some spend hours a day on social media, but that doesn’t mean they’re effective. Others spend 15 or 20 minutes a day and are reaping the rewards.  So, how much time do you really need?

As the variety of opinions mentioned above illustrates, I don’t think any one person can fully answer that question for you, but I can offer a few tips that have helped me and might help you, too.

1. Think of social media as a networking event.  You’ll never get to talk to everyone, but you can talk to a few people and really get to know them.  At the end of the day, it’s still about building a relationship with other people.
2. Content is STILL king. It’s not just a cliché. Content is what keeps people coming back. But this is also why the time estimates vary so much. Content could take minutes to hours to develop depending on the individual and the business. Think about what you know, what you’re passionate about, and what you want to share.  Lay it out in an editorial calendar, schedule blog posts, and use blog post nuggets as social media content.
3. Work smart.  You don’t have to be everywhere, you just have to be active on the channels that give you a return on your time investment. Rather than set up 10 cumbersome accounts, set up one or two that contain your target audience and commit to having consistent dialogue with your audience.
4. Find the fun in it. Just as important as working smart is finding what you enjoy in the social media arena. If you enjoy it, you’re more likely to stick to it and spend time on it.
5. Make it a priority. With all the things competing for your attention, social media could be at the bottom of your list. If you add it to your planner – like going to the gym – you’re more likely to do it and make it a part of your life.

Remember, simply setting up accounts doesn’t count as time spent on social media. That’s just the starting point.  And, if you only have seven fans, you might need to think about how to increase your following before you set the time clock. After you’ve acquired a following, social media starts to become fun and rewarding.

You’ll likely find that a social media is not just a scheduled hour of your day… It’s something you weave into your day.

How are you spending time on social media? Have you found a way to streamline your time and get the most of your presence?