Manage Time on Computer
by Lora
(PA., USA)
My big health goal, and yes it is a health goal, is to get the heck off the computer! (sort of)
I am a writer, an illustrator, a guitarist, and all these things require sitting, but that is not a problem at all. The problem is, I have a website that for the longest time, I dabbled with. However, for the past... oh maybe six months or so, I've been really putting some time into it.
Now I find that I have become addicted to the computer itself! The first thing in the morning, I turn on the computer - I never did that! I turn the dumb thing on before I even start my coffee so that all the programs are up and running by the time I'm back with my coffee in hand.
"A few minutes," I say, but those few minutes turn into an hour, sometimes two. And most of the time I'm not even working on my website. I'm just clicking around aimlessly!
I want my mornings back! I want to not waste time "clicking" here and there and doing absolutely nothing!
I call this a health issue because, well, obvious reasons. The computer screen is not nearly as good for the eyes as the morning sun ;) and the fact that I've wasted time doesn't do my mental health all that much good either.
So, I am scared of actually saying this... I will not turn on the computer tomorrow morning - augh! That's scary to an addict!
I will do my chores and work outside and take my walk with the kids. In the afternoon, I will WORK on my Website - not click around here and there, getting sidetracked for hours.
Help, BB!!!
Hi Lora!
I can completely relate - I have the same situation! I'm also a writer, graphic artist and having a physical disability makes being at the computer very attractive.
What I've done to improve the scene is that I first acknowledged to myself that I really love the computer and the Internet because I use them to give and receive communication. I love communication!
With that realization, I was able to see that it was a matter of balancing out my time at the computer and away from the computer. It wasn't a matter of ripping myself away from something I love, but simply organizing my time a little better and using a bit of self-discipline to groove in better "computer habits."
Some of the things I do that help are:
- Get a general plan of what I want to accomplish during the day the night before or early in the morning; written down
- In the mornings, my first activity is also "making my rounds" checking my mail, site statistics and reading a little. It's challenging for me to try and focus on anything else at home until I've done that, so I do it but give myself a block of time, say an hour, to spend on that.
- I get my butt out of the computer chair and moving around - maybe doing the dishes or throwing a load of laundry in or "exercising" on my mini-trampoline for a few minutes - about every hour.
I found a cool little desktop timer that I have set to play one of my favorite tunes every 45 minutes. When the music plays, I get up and take a mini-break. This also takes a bit of self-discipline but gets easier the more I do it.
I found the timer at Time Left - a free clock, timer, countdown and more and it's freeware, never expires.
I've found that it boils down to deciding to do it - and then doing it! Find what works best for you by trying different strategies and keeping it a game, fun and enjoyable :)
Cheers,
BB
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