---
title: The Value of Unplugging - ViRTUS
description: I just spent two fantastic weeks in Italy with my wife and I think it's the first time in 10 years that I truly unplugged from work. This is what I learned.
---

[Skip to content](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/the-value-of-unplugging#main-content)

[![Logo-Black-Square-4](https://blog.virtusinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo-Black-Square-4.png?width=250&height=250&name=Logo-Black-Square-4.png)](https://virtusinc.com/)

- [Home](https://virtusinc.com/)
- [Approach](https://virtusinc.com/approach/)
- [About Us](https://virtusinc.com/about/)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Team](https://virtusinc.com/about/team/)
    - [Culture](https://virtusinc.com/about/culture/)
    - [Clients](https://virtusinc.com/about/clients/)
    - [Impact](https://virtusinc.com/about/impact/)
- [Expertise](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/)
  
  Show submenu for Expertise 
  
    - [Leadership Development](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/#leadership-development)
    - [Creative Strategic Planning](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/leadership-development/)
    - [Leadership Topics](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/sessions/)
- [Journal](https://virtusinc.com/journal/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Home](https://virtusinc.com/)
- [Approach](https://virtusinc.com/approach/)
- [About Us](https://virtusinc.com/about/)
  
  Show submenu for About Us 
  
    - [Team](https://virtusinc.com/about/team/)
    - [Culture](https://virtusinc.com/about/culture/)
    - [Clients](https://virtusinc.com/about/clients/)
    - [Impact](https://virtusinc.com/about/impact/)
- [Expertise](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/)
  
  Show submenu for Expertise 
  
    - [Leadership Development](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/#leadership-development)
    - [Creative Strategic Planning](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/leadership-development/)
    - [Leadership Topics](https://virtusinc.com/expertise/sessions/)
- [Journal](https://virtusinc.com/journal/)
- [Connect](https://virtusinc.com/connect/)

[Connect](https://virtusinc.com/connect/)

[leadership](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/leadership) [CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/ceo)

# The Value of Unplugging

 Published by [Mike Desjardins](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/author/mike-desjardins) on Sep 22, 2010 12:35:54 AM

![](https://blog.virtusinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/going-green-unplug-tv-ss.jpg?width=295&height=214&name=going-green-unplug-tv-ss.jpg)\[read time: 1 minute\]

I just spent two fantastic weeks in Italy with my wife and I think it’s the first time in 10 years that I truly unplugged from work: no email (the caveat is that I did have someone on my team checking my email and deleting, reply, etc. to anything time sensitive), no vmail, no Yammer, no Twitter, no Linkedin, and no work related reading.

On the plane home I was thinking about the times that I’ve had the biggest epiphanies in my business: not during the work day, in between meetings, or driving to a lunch. The most creative times I can remember have been while I was on vacation, on a plane, or completely relaxed and disconnected from the day to day.

As CEO’s part of our role is to be the chief dreamer. Scheming and dreaming the future of our organizations is the part of our job description that comes before the strategic planning and operational plans. The challenge is that our busy day-to-day environment is not conducive to creativity.

So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you’re out for dinner or relaxing on the weekend and reaching for your favourite RIM or Apple device ask yourself this question: do I really need to check my email right now?

###### Related News Articles

[leadership](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/leadership), [human resources](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/human-resources), [coaching](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/coaching), [hiring](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/hiring), [CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/ceo)

#### [Finding a Mentor or a Coach](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/finding-a-mentor-or-a-coach)

 One of the first questions I get asked by entrepreneurs, CEOs, and executives interested in...

[leadership](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/leadership), [development](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/development), [CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/ceo)

#### [Empowerment Framework for Decision Making like a CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/empowerment-framework-for-ceos)

CEO’s and Entrepreneurs who are interested in delegating decisions to their team need to setup a...

[leadership](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/leadership), [human resources](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/human-resources), [development](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/development), [CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/ceo)

#### [Ensuring Success When Transitioning into a New Role](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/ensuring-success-when-transitioning-into-a-new-role)

As a leader with ambition one thing you will being doing a lot of in your career is dealing with...

[leadership](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/leadership), [CEO](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/tag/ceo)

#### [Should CEOs Blog?](https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/should-ceos-blog)

Since I started this blog a number of CEOs and Entrepreneurs have asked me questions about the...

# ViRTUS Inc.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3166 Vancouver, BC V6B 3X6 | P: 604.519.7000 | F: 604.648.8320 | E: info@virtusinc.com

© 2026 ViRTUS Inc.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Mike Desjardins",
    "url" : "https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/author/mike-desjardins"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-06-26T15:34:29.693Z",
  "datePublished" : "2010-09-22T07:35:54.000Z",
  "headline" : "The Value of Unplugging - ViRTUS",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.virtusinc.com/virtus-inc-leadership-journal/journal/the-value-of-unplugging",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.virtusinc.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(2).png"
    },
    "name" : "ViRTUS Inc."
  }
}
```