A few of you responded to my post about scaling back my blogging ambitions for the sake of my emotional and mental health saying you have similar struggles with spending too much time on the internet. In the immortal words of Sideshow Mel, "Applause is an addiction, like heroin--or checking your email." So I know I'm not the only one.
In that spirit, I thought I'd share a list article I wrote a few years ago, but then was too lazy to find a market for. Just staying off the computer altogether isn't an option for most of us in our modern world, but here are five tips for not letting the internet take over your life:
1. Make a list. We all know that if we go shopping without a list, we end up buying things we don’t need and spending too much money. Instead of running to the computer every time you get the impulse to look for a recipe or a deal on eBay, try writing down the specific goals you want to accomplish on the internet and add to that list throughout the day. Which brings me to...
2. Have designated e-mail and Internet time. You know how much time you truly need to be on the Internet each day. Give yourself a limit and stick with it. Use that time to accomplish the specific goals that you’ve written down. Set a timer if you need to and when time’s up, close the Internet and get back to your life.
3. Only open the Internet if you need to use it for something task-related. Get in the habit of closing your Internet browser when you’re not using it, the same way you turn off a light when you leave a room. That way when you get on the computer to enter receipts in Quicken, you won’t have tabs for e-mail and social networks open tempting you.
4. Set your homepage to something other than your e-mail. How many times have you wanted to look up library hours or the address of the recycling center and then see that you have messages and before you know it, the library’s closed and you’re still on the internet? Try setting your homepage to Google for easy information access. If your e-mail doesn’t automatically open up every time you open the Internet, you’ll be less likely to get sidetracked.
5. Don’t forbid yourself from fun. There’s nothing wrong with a quick chat with a friend or the occasional game of Text Twist. These can be great little breaks in your day. Just be sure you don’t get so caught up in the cyber world that you forget the real three dimensional world! So call your friend and meet for coffee instead of writing on her wall. After all, {{{HUGS}}} can never replace hugs.
Great post! -- But now I'm logging off. ;-)
ReplyDeleteVery good advice. Getting caught up in the cyber world is a real problem these days. But on the other hand, learning how others see things and incorporating certain aspects of those insights in your own life is a worthwhile pursuit. As always, though, moderation is the key. I always enjoy reading your blog and gaining from your perspective. Thanks for sharing such valuable information with the rest of us "out here."
ReplyDeleteDonna, you crack me up!
ReplyDeleteHi, Diane! Yes, balance and moderation are key, and at times tricky to achieve. So glad you find my blog valuable :-)
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