Tactical screen breaks

If there’s a downside to being constantly connected to the outside world by a smartphone or a tablet, it’s being constantly connected to the outside world by a smartphone or a tablet.

Don’t get us wrong – we’re not raging against progress. Who wouldn’t be in favour of a piece of equipment that lets us read any book, hear any song, or watch any movie (and, even make the occasional phone call)?

But there’s no denying that new technology can get in the way of family life. The modern cliché of a room full of people looking at their phones rather than talking to each other is a modern cliché because it’s real.

A new survey reveals that almost half of Scottish workers will check work emails on Christmas Day this year. If ever there was an argument for the case that we should spend less time online, this is surely it.

Of course, it may be that the 43 per cent of workers who say they’ll be logging on for work reasons have no intention of doing so.

Constant access to the internet may have its downside but “having to deal with an urgent work matter” is pretty good cover for a half hour breather from the in-laws.