I spend way too much time on my computer. (Which I’ve mentioned before, more than once.) And I’m getting tired of it.
Recently, I’ve noticed that I have to “entertain” myself with my computer. Bored? I waste time playing a game. Supposed to be doing homework? I put it off reading blogs. Working on my business? I’m “researching” what others have done.
Basically, when I’m home I have the computer in front of me.
I have other things to do
- Time to spend with my wife
- Art projects to work on
- Books to read
- Trips to plan
- And somewhere in there I suppose that I should be doing some school work too…
Cutting Back
And so, it’s time to cut back. I don’t need to check my email more than once a day. The internet will not clog up if I don’t read every post in my feed reader. Nothing bad will happen if I don’t keep up with everything that happens on FaceBook.
I will still be on my computer quite a bit. With a web-design class, I face a requirement of being online at least sometimes. However, I can do most of this while at school, and for the homework I don’t need to be online. Likewise, part of my French homework is online, so I won’t be neglecting it.
The Plan
Part of my morning routine includes my online world. I get up, read through some online comics, check the weather, catch up on my blog feeds, and see what some friends have to say.
To start with, I am going to stick with this routine (because it seems to work). However, that will be my computer time for the day, unless I have specific tasks to complete: ie, homework, specific email to send, or specific research to undertake.
Of course, I will have computer access more than just this once a day. My web design class consists of two 3-hour sessions in a computer lab. There I will be able to “catch up” with online things. Or I will just focus on the projects a bit more.
Similarly, at work I sit in front of a computer. Of course, I can easily carry a book to read or take the time to get ahead on homework (I literally sit in front of a computer, but I don’t actually have to do anything on it). This time can be spent doing stuff online, such as working on Adventure-Some!
And so, that’s the plan. I’m cutting back. Less computer time. More real life. Fortunately, the rest of the world doesn’t have to pause for a bit while I do other stuff. I can unplug and take a breather without causing any sort of hiccup in the space/time continuum.
Why don’t you join me? Spend less time with your gadgets.
There are few ways we can get distracted when we are “connected”. Unplugging is not the solution. You’re spot on on this – you have to have a plan. You are not cutting back for cutting back’s sake; you have a plan that you “intend” to follow. There will be moments that you let up but as long as you take the commitment to stick to the plan then, and only then, that this cutting back will have a meaning.
Nice point as always 🙂