HELP-Computer Addiction
TV ClubHouse: Archive: HELP-Computer Addiction
Cdnjan | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 02:21 pm     Ok So I feel silly asking this but I must.[Seriously] I have this major addiction to computer [clubhouses/newsgroups travel talk forums etc,etc] Just can't seem to ever get enough, so I never get enough work done, cause I never get to it. Does anyone know of any software that will only allow me to surf on certain hours or similar. I know I could probably overide any settings etc. but hopefully it would be enough of a deterent to get me back to work. Don't laugh I think this is worse than a gambling addiction. |
Secretsmile | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 03:45 pm     Cdnjam, I would never laugh at your problem, I am a reformed addict. I used to spend every waking moment on line, and even then would get up after my hubby fell asleep to do more psp. ( paint shop pro) I was not able to just slow down, I stopped cold turkey. I got up in the morning and went out on the porch with my coffee instead of sitting at the monitor. Then I did my 'chores'. It may sound wierd but I really needed to pay attention to the life on this side of the screen, and it is surprising how much fun I actually have now. I've planted some major gardens, repainted my bedroom and redid the upstairs bathroom! I've reconnected with my family and with my neighbors. Live people are so much more interesting than I remember! LOL! Now I check my email, and do the BB thing, but I have lost my ability to be entertained for a long time on line. |
Cdnjan | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 05:16 pm     Hi Secret, Figured there was many more like me. Problem is I have to sit down at the computer to do work [Word, etc. have my own business so its anything from checking email for business correspondence to accounting to .......] But I get sidetracked way ttooooooo easy thats why I need a internet lock or?? I do still take time to "get out and smell the roses as they say" but would have much more time if I didn't get sidetracked on the net. I am just a poor scheduler of my time I guess. |
Whit4you | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 05:49 pm     Cd - I've been there.. my highest AOL bill was $1248 worth every dime and then some but - myself and may of my friends were spending 14+ hours a day on the computer... I can tell you some ideas that might help... or not but just sharing them... make yourself a few rules like After 1 hour on the computer that day.. I will not get back on until I've done 3 things, no matter how small that need to be done. Or - you could make a rule with yourself for every hour I spend online I have to spend X amount of time (half hour? hour?) offline. You could increase the time each week. Like the first week you could set it up like this... 1 hour online .. then offline minimum of 30 minutes... and so on... and then the following week you could say 1 hour online.. then offline minimum of 1 hour... perhaps adding 30 minutes each week until you've reached a point you can live with. Another thing you can do (might not help as you might just spend the free time doing other things on the net) but is to require yourself to spend 30 minutes a day making your online time more productive. Things like setting up your personal toolbar... Another possible idea would be to make some tough choices... and say choose one thing a week to give up (or 2 if this is a desperate situation for you) There is an endless # of things we can do on our computers - some help us in other areas of our lives and some dont. I think you should start by eliminating 1 of the most time consuming things you do on the computer that you can't see it helping you in any way with the rest of your life. For example - say you read the 'funny' pages every day - as long as your getting some sort of entertainment everyday - then give that one up. Another idea - if you can afford it .. print print print print out the stuff... the stuff you read - print it out... and read it while snuggling with the little one as they watch cartoons... Always try to find ways to make better use of your time on the net... like get a typing tutor program and learn to type way faster. If you spend alot of time typing online, and you double your typing speed.. you will save alot of time... Another thing and hopefully this isn't just one addict speaking to another, but try to not beat yourself up TOO much about it... at least don't count the time you spend that is truely beneficial to your family and your future... for example - I've spent god knows how many hours reading the 'tightwad' boards... and I've shared it with alot of other people which helps them... makes me feel good. Here's a big tip for you.. DONT TAKE ON ANYTHING NEW - write that in big letters and place it where you can see it anytime your online. If you concider doing any new msg board - or activity etc on the net... and you honestly want to have your time online being more manageable - make an agreement with yourself that no matter how interesting or fasinating something might be - that you will NOT even begin to get involved in it online unless your willing to give up something of comparable time. So lets say my 'tightwad' comment interested you and you now want to go to yahoo and type "tightwad' - don't not unless you can think of something else that you are willing to give up that takes up the same basic amount of your time each day. Finally - back to the printer.. print out stuff you want to read on the net - and sit outside... get fresh air... I have alot of ideas - as someone who went from ... spending up to 24 hours a day on the computer (PTSS days) to someone who rarely spends more then 6 hours a day now... I hope a few of these ideas help. For me personally - I decided to give up 4 hours a day (back when I lived on the computer) .. and then 1 hour per day per week till I got to a point that I felt comfortable.. used some of the above techinques to do so. Hope some of this helps... Whit's saying... I will strive, to improve my life, one step at a time, one step a day, what will be my step today? |
Cdnjan | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 06:25 pm     Wow Whit, You sure made me chuckle a few times everything seemed to hit home. Like your "'tightwad' comment interested you and you now want to go to yahoo and type "tightwad'" How did you know that was what I was thinking? I keep making myself all kinds of promises, no net till after 5pm etc [I work out of my home and I am the boss so I have no one looking over my shoulder or checking up on me] It is pretty easy to think of an excuse to go online. Geez I'd better check my mail or similar. I may have to really punish myself and go back to a dial up connection with ?? hours a day or month. Thanks guys/gals? for your tips all is welcome. I'll try to follow your advice. I think it is kind of like trying to quit smoking you really have to want to for it to work. So I need to convince myself that I really want to. Ok Am going to quit now before you send out the shrink. Thanks a bunch Jan |
Whit4you | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 06:45 pm     Cd - internet addiction is alot more common then anyone realizes since it's not something alot of people care to admit to... just like any other addiction. The net is highly addictive to certain types of people (like myself) Your right it's got to be something you really want to do... making those deals with yourself - and actually following through is tough. But start small. As small as you need to start. Trust me I know how tough this is to do - remember I spent $1248 bucks in just one month on line... There are so many little ideas that I have (took a heck of alot of different things for me to go from up to 24 hours a day online to around 6 hours a day believe me... didn't happen with just a few 'methods' lol. Making rules for youself and accepting that you will make exceptions is fine. Don't give up just cause you 'cheated' start again the next day. Another possible idea for you (one that wouldn't work well for me but it might for you) is to add X amount of time per week before you allow yourself to get ON the computer. Say the first week you don't allow yourself on the computer for the first 15 minutes... the following week 30 minutes... and so on... Don't think your alone in this - I was founder of CharterMember - over 400 roomies, the average one spent 12+ hours a day online.. and that's just that I was aware of... (of course some spent alot less time and some spent way more) but there were dozens of CMers who spent more then 12 hours a day online. Can't tell you how many marriages have split up over online addictions, and how many kids are being raised by their nintendo because mom's online 14 hours day. Make yourself a list - of the things you COULD be doing with the time you spend online. Try to think of all the things that might help your future that you COULD be doing with that time... just write the list - that's all it'll help you to see what your missing and perhaps help give you the insentive to try some of the methods I mentioned.. and not cheat too much. Reward yourself, just like any other recovering process it's very important that you reward yourself for your success's. Say you've gotten to a point where you're requiring yourself 1 hour offline for every two hours you spend online... reward yourself.. go get the biggest banana split you could ever eat... or whatever might be something fun you could spoil yourself on. Finally if your doing well allow yourself the occasional 4 hours of guilt free computer time. Well anyhow I could go on forever on this... good luck - share your successful baby steps if you care to it'll help those lurking in this thread getting tips vicariously through you.. and trust me there are lurkers lol. |
Cdnjan | Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 08:33 pm     Thanks Again Whit for your most helpful posts! OK Made my first step. I unhooked my new videocamera from the computer, I have been making mini mpg's of my recent holiday to email to my family, very time consuming.[with the help of How do I do this ?'s to my newsgroup helpers] Also now will hide the old family photos that I am trying to restore.[with the help from Adobe ONLINE tutorials.] Maybe dig them out on the weekend for my reward. [its not just the net for me I have many other ways to waste time on the computer.] Now tomorrow morn back to work on my editing of a 50 page WORD manual. [That I will not go online until after 5 even if I feel the urge to go to a WORD newsgroup for help] But for now outta here as OH Dear Amazing race will be on soon. PS What is your best guess on how many lurkers are following this post and nodding their heads? Cheers + Thanks Jan |
Sia | Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 04:18 am     Hi, CdnJan! I hope you're finding it easier to ease back on the amount of time you're spending on-line. I just have a suggestion or two--although I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert and I probably spend too much time on-line, too! Your computer has settings in it that will allow you to block cookies for certain web-sites, which will then render them useless to you. You could put your biggest time-chewers on that "block-list" in order to remind yourself that those sites are not a productive use of your time. I found out about this feature after buying a new puter and setting my security settings as high as possible. I didn't realize that this would keep me from being able to just look at the items for sale at, for example, Lowe's (the home improvement store). It's a bit of a hassle to re-enable the cookies, so maybe this would be enough to keep you from succumbing to the temptation of certain web-sites you find particularly interesting. You can also set your security settings to "prompt me" before loading Active-X controls, too, so that certain web-sites won't load up immediately. This might give you just the little reminder you need to steer you into other areas. I suggest you establish a routine and write it down on a Post-it note to mount close to your p.c. Then run down your list of "must-do" chores absolutely first before doing anything "fun" or distracting on-line. Example: check primary mailbox; check "generic" mail account(s); answer letters; 30 min. business-related research; type today's documents. Try to set a time-limit for your "must-do" list and stick to it. Then disconnect from the internet, and do some other chores that aren't related to the computer at all. Good luck! You can do this!  |
Cdnjan | Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 06:00 pm     Thanks Sia Those are very good ideas. I will check them out. Did great today, first time online and it is 6pm. Got a good days work in today, it wasn't that easy but feel great. Finished up a very important task that I had been putting off for 2 weeks, done and in the mail. Thx Again Jan |
Sia | Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 11:47 pm     Cdnjan, people here are always willing to help; this is such a wonderful place that I don't spend time at other message-boards at all. Everything I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten--and the more advanced stuff like computer graphics, LOL, I learned from my friends at TVCH!!! This is the first place I turn when I need info and don't have time to research!  |
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