Sometimes, when activities are meeting some need other than those they are intended to meet, you can become attached or addicted to that behavior. You develop a need for it to perform some function that regulates how you feel ... If you cannot be away from e-mail for some period of time to do something vital in life, like connect with your loved ones or take a walk or play golf, then something is wrong. If you cannot go to a social dinner without checking e-mail or responding to someone, something is wrong. If you can't go on vacation without constantly checking in, are you really on vacation? What about at home when you are supposed to be having downtime?