Internet Fast...sorta

[harmony]

Deleted.

[loosechickens]

I'm about to do the same thing for August......a limited time, twice a day, a few emails, checking in on these boards and any moderator duties necessary, a stop at a few news sites and then on to "real life". I've been spending WAY too much time on the internet, and other activities are being neglected. It really IS a big time suck, and all too easy, especially if there is stuff you don't want to do, to keep on there, avoiding stuff.

good luck!

[Anne Lee]

I did a variation for Lent. I allowed myself one devotional website and personal email which I don't use much but the rest was strictly work related. Next year, when I'm not working on a thesis my time away should be more of a fast rather than a tool to help keep me focused. I highly recommend it.

[Float On]

I did facebook for Lent. The only time I've ever done the giving up something for lent. It was good!

[Tradd]

Harmony, if you don't pay your bills online and just look at your balance and what things have cleared, you can easily do that via phone. Most banks seem to still have an 800# to allow you to check your balance and so forth.

[AmeliaJane]

That's a good idea--group Internet errands like you might group driving errands to save gas!

I also did a "screen-time" evaluation last spring, brought about by the Easter season. I took a bunch of shows off my DVR that I wasn't enjoying, cut back on the blogs coming into my blog reader, removed a lot of older games I wasn't playing anymore from my computer and phone. I don't have extended cable--I buy individual shows through Amazon or iTunes--so there's not much TV on right now. I thought about a full-on fast, but found those other measures cut back on screen time enough I didn't feel the need to do more. I also looked for things to do that didn't require screen time. Right now it is tough because I live in a part of the country with extreme summer heat, which means the outdoors things are impossible and many indoor places like museums are really crowded.

I do recommend a blog reader for controlled screen time. That brings together everything you want to read and strips out a lot of the other content, so you're less tempted to surf around.

[iris lily]

Well ya'll, when you figure out how to get off the stuff, clue me in.

IrisLily, web addict

[Spartana]

Well ya'll, when you figure out how to get off the stuff, clue me in.

IrisLily, web addict

Get rid of your home internet access - works for me (she says from her truck in the parking lot of a Starbucks picking up free wi-fi while on vacation :-)!). Since I don't have internet access at home on purpose (too addictive for me) so only go online occasionally. Check e-mail on my pay-as-you-go Tracfone and pretty much ignore the online bug. Not for everyone but it really does work for me. I find that even on vacation and staying in a motel or a campground with wi-fi that I use it MUCH more than I do at home just cause it's available. But at home I often go for days withpout ever going online. Don't miss it at all. Internet fasts are great IMHO. Same with TV fasts (which I also don't have at home). Getting rid of both opens up sooooooooo much free time it's unbelievable!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well ya'll, when you figure out how to get off the stuff, clue me in.

IrisLily, web addict

haha yea, an internet fast, I should do that ..... SOMEDAY .....

Yea but really not a good time, unemployed and even if I only went on the 'net for jobs, I'd lose my mind pretty quickly, just sitting around all day wondering if I'll get hired, yea may as well wave goodbye to what little remains of my sanity :laff: