Trying to find a balance

[bratfarrar]

Pros of limiting myself to only 1.5 hours daily of "free internet time" (7:30-9PM): got a bunch of chores done, read a book, took a nap, didn't touch the computer until 6PM for a (not-work-related) meeting ... generally felt like I was on vacation because there just wasn't any desire/drive to get on the computer

Comments

[amberdreams]

The curse of the internet age! I feel you. It’s difficult when you have stuff that can only be done online - for me it’s keeping contact with my mum and talking to online friends, for which I need to be connected but then that also means my attention jumps erratically and I end up doomscrolling on Twitter or enjoyably scrolling art on Instagram both of which are bottomless pits of time wasted. LOL

[bratfarrar]

I think what helped the most was actually giving myself a certain timeframe when the internet is "allowed". Obviously, some websites get an exception, like email or LJ, but I think blocking EVERYTHING outside of the 7:30-9pm block and then whitelisting 'safe' websites was definitely the right move to make. It's a little annoying sometimes, but I've mostly adjusted to it, and it's crazy how much more productively I'm spending my time now.

(Work laptop has the more standard "distraction websites" blocking turned on, which works well enough so far.)

[raloria]

I hear ya. There's things I should do, that are important but...finding the motivation is tough. And spending lots of mindless hours watching youtube videos is soooo much easier. *sigh*

[bratfarrar]

It is SHOCKING how much time I was spending on YouTube without even realizing it. Seriously, so many chores/projects getting done just because of having a hard limit on that and AO3.