Are you secretly checking emails on your BlackBerry? The first thing you do in the morning is checking for new mails? If somebody confronts and suggests that you are addicted to your BlackBerry you reply and explain in detail why the BlackBerry Smartphone is the best device on the market?

If these situations sound familiar to you, you are probably very close to or are already addicted to you BlackBerry Smartphone. While it is good that you have found your favorite smartphone, it is essential that you reflect whether your BlackBerry has a negative impact on your productivity, relationships and ultimately life.

Who is the Boss: You or your BlackBerry?

The BlackBerry can indeed make you really productive but you have to be careful whether it is getting too much in your life. You have to remember that you probably bought your BlackBerry not just for the sake of owning a BlackBerry but instead because you want to achieve your goals with the help of a BlackBerry.

The essential question is this: Is your BlackBerry helping you to achieve your goals, or have you become a worker for you BlackBerry?

If you want to be slave to your BlackBerry then go ahead and set all alarms on your mobile so you are immediately notified whenever you get a new message. If you want to change this you should take action today and get rid of your BlackBerry addiction today.

 

Here are some tips how to break your BlackBerry addiction.

Turn off your notifications

You are not Pavlov’s dog that creates saliva whenever he hears a bell ringing. So the first step to break your BlackBerry addiction is to turn off all notifications whenever you receive a new email or text message.

Reduce the number of our emails on your BlackBerry

You don’t need to receive each and every email on your BlackBerry, especially not the spam emails that you won’t read anyway. If you receive them on your BlackBerry it is not only spam but it also steals your attention. So instead of being a slave to important emails (probably the reason why you bought your BlackBerry) you become a slave to spam emails or other email newsletters that you once subscribed to. Create a filter for the emails that you forward to your BlackBerry.

Take control of the times when you check your BlackBerry

Resist the urge to continuously check for new emails even if you have turned of notifications. You should initially start by checking your BlackBerry only every 15 minutes and try to extend to check your emails whenever you have a few spare minutes to quickly check your emails i.e. while you are waiting for your coffee at the coffee machine.

Consciously turn off your BlackBerry

Even if you are scared that nobody can reach you if your BlackBerry is turned off, you can simply switch off data services which means that you can be reached on the phone, but your emails will not be delivered. To do this you can turn of data traffic on your BlackBerry but leave GSM functionality on, go to Applications > Options > Mobile Network > Data Services On/Off. Additionally you can turn on and off your BlackBerry at specific times (which is also helpful to sustain battery life. To do this go to Applications > Options > Auto On/Off.

These are the most important tips and tricks to break your BlackBerry addictions – do you have any other experiences in dealing with BlackBerry addiction? Let us know in the comments!

And remember: The ultimate goal is to have your BlackBerry working for you, rather then you working for it.

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While some people love their BlackBerry because it helps them save time and gives them back life, others feel that the BlackBerry is taking away their life and makes them addicted (hence CrackBerry).

 

How about you? Is your BlackBerry a time-waster or a time-saver?

 

 

Some statements via Twitter:

JDahveed @BBProductivity Both, depending on what I’m actually doing vs what I’m supposed to be doing. More time saver though.

 

 

inger @BBProductivity BB is a definite time waster for me - but mine is personal not business. It does provide some GREAT conveniences though.

 

mapel_uc @BBProductivity enjoy my life. With my baby - 8700C

 

 

gstylemagazine @BBProductivity It is both lol. It can save you time in handling business, but it does waste time away from family, friends, lovers lol

 

bbunderground @BBProductivity both, its save me countless amount of time, while allowing me to waste time when i need too, best of both worlds

 

kmullett @BBProductivity so far my BlackBerry = time waster. Looking for apps, config, new toy smell, but I can quit anytime I want. do not want!

 

 

Share your opinion in the comments!

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What is "The Blackberry Underground", well it is unique Social Network built strictly for Blackberry Users and Abusers, gone are the days of Just PIN clubs and Messenger list, The Blackberry Underground is a full fledge Members site somewhere between a Facebook and a MySpace. At The Blackberry Underground each member gets a unique profile with changeable features as well as templates to make it there own. Each member can add music, video’s, photo’s, blogs and discussions, as well as start events, and create and participate in the bbu forums. There are some 100 widgets that can be added to each members page from weather widgets to specialized buddy pokes, there is a built in Online Chat, as well as a status update feature and a Built in Blackberry Store for Accessory Purchases at great prices. There are Free Themes, Wallpapers and Ringtones and a special Free Games page as well.

Andrew Duchesne (better known as Mr. Under on the site and bbunderground on Twitter  http://twitter.com/bbunderground ) the creator of The Blackberry Underground says his dream for this site and his addiction has been to bring in a one stop place for all blackberry Users and Abusers to meet, chat, share and even buy the things they and their Blackberry’s could need. Its a big goal but its starting to come together, they have just reached there first Millstone of 1000 plus members and they achieved this in Under 2 months and well ahead of their scheduled time line.

What’s next?, well Mr. Under has been talking Blackberry App and has been developing an application similar to the Facebook / MySpace blackberry app that will allow Blackberry Underground users to communicate and carry on their Blackberry Underground lifestyle while mobile, while no date has been given, he assured us it is forth coming and at the top of his list.

But for right now making sure his users have the best Social Blackberry Experience is his main goal and continued daily task.

Check out BlackBerry Underground.

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