The internet can suck us in. Like a sort of electronic cigarette, it becomes addictive. Or sometimes just sufficiently mindless that we lose track of the time. How do you manage your online time so that it is not managing you? Do you set a timer? Compute while the toddler is napping so that when he wakes up he serves as a built-in timer? Blog just before bed so that you get sleepy and realize it’s late? (Or am I the only one who loses track of time? That can be one of those ADD things. One of these days, I’m going to save up and buy a clock that chimes every quarter hour so my children and I have to hear the passage of time. Maybe you just schedule your computer time and that’s sufficient for you.)
Do you have any “tricks” for making your computer usage more efficient so that it takes less time? I would particularly like a good RSS feed-filtering system, but I haven’t yet tried one that seemed to work. So far, they’ve all just broken my feeds.
One thing that should be obvious, but often isn’t, is to unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists. This can be overwhelming and time-consuming if you try to unsubscribe from everything at once, but if you just unsubscribe from one or two newsletters each day when you check email, after a few weeks, you’ve cut down tremendously on the amount of junk that you have to wade through.
This is a BIG problem for me and so many Moms I’ve talked to. It really can completely take over our lives, leaving a wake of regret – and unhappy husbands and children. I look forward to responses on the subject.
Oh the internet. Uses more of my time then I’d like to admit. I use an RSS feed for the 20 or so blogs I read every day. This has really helped and I’ll only click on the title if it seems worthwhile.
My biggest waste of time seems to be searching for things online. I am a bargain shopper and try not to buy things made in China. This takes me forever to buy anything. For my birthday, I wanted a pair of shoes. There I go with the shoes again! 🙂 Anyway, I didn’t really know what I was looking for and still never found it after HOURS of searching. So, I didn’t ever get a pair. I’ve found it at least helps to have an idea what I’m searching for as a starting point.
My current search is for infant/toddler feeding bowls, plates, and silverware that aren’t made of plastic and not made in China and doesn’t cost $25 per set. Any suggestions? Just kidding. I’ll keep searching. Some things are worth the search and it feels GREAT to finally snag it.
I also get lost just searching for recipes. I am such a nerd. If I want to try a new recipe, I could spend hours online searching. But, now when I come across a new recipe I want to try, I have a “recipe” folder above my open tabs that I move it to. At any given time, there are 30-40 in there. Then, when I’m ready to try a new recipe and if I like it, I print it out and move it to my 3-ring binder. It helps to have it narrowed down to 30-40 recipes.
Oh, boy, I hear you on the searching!
I’m part of a “natural living” group that meets locally, and a bunch of the ladies have just bought stainless steel cups and bowls. (The bowls were actually sold as pet dishes, but, hey, stainless steel is stainless steel.) That might be a safe, lightweight alternative to plastic baby dishes. I’m not sure about silverware, though. IKEA has some little flatware they sell for toys; it looks like miniature real silverware, though, so if it’s stainless steel, it might work.
This is the IKEA play flatware. It is stainless steel, and it actually even says it’s tested and approved for food contact: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60130169 (They have some awesome “cooking toys.” But I think these really would work for baby/toddler flatware. We didn’t know about them until after we were past that stage, but I would use them.
And if you’re not worried about breakable, they have these, too: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40130165. Personally, I prefer unbreakable for babies, but I know some people don’t mind stoneware or glass.
Thanks Rachel. Those look great. I’ve been thinking of stainless steel. Designed in Sweden but I’m afraid to look at where it’s made. I will definitely check it out.
I have my day strictly scheduled, and computer time is within that schedule. In fact, my blogging time ends in 1 minute. 🙂 So I better type fast.
When I’m don’t have scheduled time happening, I turn my computer off – shut the lid to my laptop. That way I’m not tempted to just check email and end up getting up an hour later.
My whole day is tightly scheduled like that. But the time I give myself for blogging is a 2 hour stretch in the middle of the day, so I’m good with it.
Hallee
I’ve been deeply convicted lately about the time I spend on the computer and was going to google to find a software program that will track my time and help me to manage my online time … when your blog popped up in the google search! Even though this is from last year, for me it’s VERY timely. I completely “lose myself” in blogging, reading my newsletter stuff, facebook and realize how it’s robbing my family. Sometimes I stay up WAY TOO LATE and pay for it the next day by not bringing LIFE to my family, but my tiredness! I’m glad to know there are others seeking the Lord in this.