And it begins again . . .

[fidgiegirl]

I was just in Costa Rica for a fantastic 2.5 weeks. I was feeling very purposeful and fulfilled as I visited the school I was at and got to know people and the culture. I will write up a separate post with some of my doings in my journal. I had online access for most of the time, but most of that was spent writing up items for when I came back. It wasn't a time-kill, it was a purposeful use.

BUT! I have only been home one day and I already find myself slipping back into my bad, bad habits of spending waaaaaay too much time online. I have three time dumps: Facebook, my e-mail accounts, and (only sometimes, when I'm checking compulsively and not giving anyone else time to actually have added something) SL forums. I think of all the time I fritter away online that I could be using to read or something. Now I'm not talking about purposeful online use. I'm talking about procrastination or avoidance of other tasks kind of use.

Anyone else struggle?

[Anne Lee]

Yes. Which is why I'm going to start a FB fast in September.

[fidgiegirl]

Anne Lee: "Like"

[loosechickens]

definitely, which is why I've instituted internet rationing for the month of August......I'm allowing myself very limited time online, so have to make the time count, which has helped a lot....I come on the forums, do my moderator duties, which at the moment, since the forums have been quite mellow lately, is mostly wading through the spam registrations every day, running every potential registrant through IP location and spam checker sites, etc., trying to separate out the genuine new members from the ones just determined to sell us Viagra, timeshares, bogus Rolex watches and various and sundry other things. Only if I have some alloted time left can I post anything........I allot so much time for these forums, so much time for email, so much time for perusing news sites, etc. It helps. Because without that timer set, I can wander in the wilds of the internet and argue politics on Public Policy to the detriment of lots more useful things.......

I managed to read two books this past week in the time I would have been online........

I miss Costa Rica.....I'm jealous. It's one of my favorite places, fidgiegirl......

[ApatheticNoMore]

There is lots of stuff offline that has appeal, but if I'm just going to spend the time offline doing another boring task on my "to-do list", then I think I'll keep "surfing". :P

[Stella]

I can totally relate. Yesterday the stars aligned and all four of my kids had a quiet, easy, well behaved day. Did I finally sort through all of those old cooking magazines? Did I get the boys' room cleaned? No. I sat on my butt and read blogs and, to be fair, a book.

I've been getting better for the most part lately. It's a silly thing, but I am finding that if I leave my laptop closed I am less likely to just get on to check one thing.

[Float On]

I wondered where you were. CR sounds so enjoyable. I have friends who just relocated there from Alaska. They'd been vacationing there for years and made the decision last year to make the move. They homeschool 8 children and he can work from home.

[reader99]

When I was having that trouble I made myself a policy, no internet before noon. Mornings are when I have the energy to get things done, so I got things done and then after lunch went on the internet.

[razz]

I have cut way back as well. Only online twice a day for short stints, never signed up for FB for that reason. I also decided to get up at 6am or earlier without fail and get an early start on my busy part of the day and only then go online which is usually around 10-11am.

[artist]

I do as well. I am currently working on preparing for a major decutter, clean out and deep clean of our house, garage and attic storage. Right now I'm in the planning stages, listing things on Craigs list and getting a "To Do" list started. We are driving our son to TN to college on the 19th (2000 mile round trip) so I hope to get started on this after we return. In doing this I will need to schedule my online time. I plan to stick to the scheduled time when we finish.