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Simplifying internet usage

post #1 of 11
8/21/06 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Has anyone simplified their internet usage? I currently maintain a photo site and three blogs. This is in addition to several messageboards and blogs I visit. It seems like a disproportionately large part of my social life revolves around the internet. I also find I have little time for my book group books and for my knitting because I spend my free time online.

Anyhow, has anyone cut back on internet usage? I'm thinking about going to a system with a timer, abandoning my blogs (and just keeping up my photo stuff) and drastically cutting back on the number of blogs I read.

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post #2 of 11
8/21/06 at 2:05pm
i only do message boards. unless i have nothing to do that day (specificly), i limit my time on the boards to about 1 hour. thus, i do not get to all of the boards all the time.

my husband maintains a blog and only writes on it once a week (sometimes twice), and spends about 30 minutes a day on message boards and reading others blogs.

email takes up most of our internet time, though.
post #3 of 11
8/21/06 at 3:07pm
I've been thinking about doing this. We have dialup, so the more time I spend online, the more time people can't get through on the phone (it annoys dh to no end!).

Most of my time online is on bulletin boards about cloth diapering and the trading post/ebay. Now that I've simplified the diaper stash and have what we need, I have realized it's not as much fun to read about the diapers. It's actually more of a temptation because I read about the newest trend and think I need to buy it (thus spending money AND cluttering back up the diaper drawer!).

The last couple of days I've spent a lot of my internet time reading about de-cluttering and it's really inspiring. I might actually turn the computer off and do some organizing!
post #4 of 11
8/21/06 at 3:23pm
I do have that thought once in a while, but honestly most of my internet usage is MDC. I go back and forth about whether or not I should just stop posting, I do get something from it, but I also tend to spend a lot of time reading through things that don't really bring me much benefit, and even more time just scanning through bored.
post #5 of 11
8/21/06 at 9:00pm
Oh yes, sign up for Bloglines! You have an account where you input all your blogs that you like to read. Then it just shows new posts and you don't have to wait for anything to load or look at blogs with no new posts. It's saved me a TON of time.
post #6 of 11
8/24/06 at 9:10am
Personally I just limit my usage to 1/2 -1 hour in the am while drinking tea...then I TURN IT OFF...sort of like the TV for the kids ....
post #7 of 11
8/24/06 at 9:19am
I am struggling with this so much lately.

We are moving soon and the plan is to not have internet at our new home because I don't have faith in my ability to 'limit' myself. At the same time, I do rely on the internet to keep in touch with my family and for so much in general that I am more than a little panicked at the idea.

I don't think my internet usage is excessive in terms of the amount of time I spend online, but just that it fills voids that I personally feel would be better off filled with RL socializing etc. It tends to be what I turn to when I want to stave off boredom, and I'd rather find more productive things to do. Also, I find myself getting angry/tense/stressed over what I read online and then I think, 'Why do I do this to myself? why do I choose to log on and get put in a bad mood??'

So, I am subscribing! I am really glad to see this being addressed and I need some good tips. (I thought of maybe forcing dh to take the keyboard and mouse into work with him everyday.. someone told me about how she did that and it seemed like a good idea! )
post #8 of 11
8/24/06 at 2:36pm
can anyone tell me about a computer program that would require you to sign in and kick you off once you have reached your limit for the day? that would really help me, since i have no self control!
post #9 of 11
8/25/06 at 2:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamabain
can anyone tell me about a computer program that would require you to sign in and kick you off once you have reached your limit for the day? that would really help me, since i have no self control!
don't know if these are any good, but here are some links:
http://www.akrontech.com/
http://www.programurl.com/software/computer-timer.htm
http://www.pcmoderator.com/
http://www.kidswatch.com/
http://www.eyetimer.com/
post #10 of 11
8/26/06 at 8:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3inclothdiapers
I've been thinking about doing this. We have dialup, so the more time I spend online, the more time people can't get through on the phone (it annoys dh to no end!).

The last couple of days I've spent a lot of my internet time reading about de-cluttering and it's really inspiring. I might actually turn the computer off and do some organizing!

My DH gets so frustrated! Usually I'm able to get online in the evening, after the kids have had dinner and they are playing.. and DH is getting ready to come home from work. He can never get through

I agree about reading about decluttering, too, it has helped me a lot!
post #11 of 11
8/26/06 at 8:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRHS
Personally I just limit my usage to 1/2 -1 hour in the am while drinking tea...then I TURN IT OFF...sort of like the TV for the kids ....
This is exactly what I do.. if I shut it off all the way, it's not as easy to jump online for "just a minute or two"

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