By Robert Chapski 

For those of you who become unhinged when you get on an airplane and lose wireless contact with the world for a couple hours, you can now take comfort in the fact that Wi-Fi service onboard aircrafts is expanding.  No longer will the liberating excuse, "I am about to get on a plane and won't have email access for a few hours" be viable.  Several airlines including Southwest, American and Delta, have been testing onboard Wi-Fi for several months.  AA just announced that it will expand in-flight Wi-Fi service to roughly 300 planes over the next couple of years. 

Whoopee?!

Don't get me wrong, I think advances in wireless technology are great, and I am the first one to jump on the bandwagon.  However, I think occasionally we need to be reminded of a couple of things with respect to mobile devices: 

1. It's inconsiderate to keep constantly checking your device (a) at a meeting or presentation with clients or colleagues, (b) at dinner with family or friends, (c) on vacation with your spouse and kids. 
2. There is such a thing as being "too connected."  (It's been a while, but this calls to mind the movie, The Lawnmower Man.) 

Try to set some reasonable boundaries, which serve to respect the needs of your clients, your employer, your family and yourself.  On vacation, for instance, you might limit email-checking to once or twice a day and tell your assistant to call you if it is a true emergency. 

Not learning how to balance your work, family and play time is the best way to put yourself as a younger lawyer on the fast track to burnout.