Do You Have This Problem

I am totally addicted to the computer. I'm on it from the time I get up in the morning until I go to bed. Yes, I'm working, but I can't seem to stop. I don't want to stop to clean house, take care of important paperwork, etc. How many hours do you spend on the computer?

Help! I need computer rehab!

See those highlighted words. I've removed that company through my computer panel. Ran my Norton program and it's still showing. Does anyone know how I get rid of it?

Me too!!!! That's why I use a timer. I set it for an hour and then stop and get up. I try to set it for another 10-15 minutes to do a little housework or something. I really have to or I'd be clicking on FB or Google or whatever, glassy eyed and totally unproductive.

BrendaReeves: 01/31/2013 - 11:28 AM

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See those highlighted words. I've removed that company through my computer panel. Ran my Norton program and it's still showing. Does anyone know how I get rid of it?

I don't see any highlighted words.

Thank you Lil. I see them.

Brenda, I don't see highlighted words?  Maybe you have fixed it.

Anyway, I do spend a lot of time on the computer, but I stop at 3PM when my son gets home from school.  We sit and have a snack and watch tv to discuss his day - that takes about 3 seconds ;)  That is when I start household chores and fix supper.

I have to have peace and quiet - no tv - while I'm online so I have to stop to see the news and weather.  I guess I just make myself get off the internet to do other things.

Try setting a timer and make yourself get up and spend 10 minutes doing something else each hour.  Just remember that many times the best ideas come when you are not online!

 edit: LOL Lana and I were typing about the same idea at the same time..!

It can happen to anyone and yes me included. How I avoid it...

First of all I was constantly on my laptop, smart phone or iPad from the time I woke up till I went to bed. BUT then I was in that accident which kept me for any of it for months...

I realized I was missing out on so many wonderful things, my kids, friend, boy friend and family. I made a point to stop working after a few hours (4) getting up and out of the house. I work out at the Gym. 

Plus I make one or more lunch dates through the week, this keeps me active with the special people in my life as I won't break a date.

All in all it can be a problem, think about your health, setting at a computer all day is not good for your eyes, brain, physical body and overall well being. It can deteriorate you health quickly.

Break the habit now and you will find you're more creative, productive and successful when at your best, refreshed, energized, in good shape and condition. 

I'm climbing down from my box  now...... <3

I've tried shutting it off at 6:30 p.m. Sometimes it works, but most of the time I end up on my laptop while I watch TV.

Brenda, Given that you've recently experienced a significant change you are no doubt enjoying your freedom, peace and quiet. You're not to far gone, get involved with other things. Go out, get out and live before you become a recluse, we can't have you becoming that recluse writer who doesn't bathe or change clothes for days....  

I'm pretty much a recluse already, Katie. I do bathe and change my clothes. I've got to do something. My dogs have been barking at nothing all morning and it's making me crazy. I was just thinking of going out to get away from them. lol

I would love to have friends to go to lunch with. I did that all the time when I lived in L.A. I've been in KY going on 7 years now and haven't made one friend, because I was at home with my mother. That has got to change now.

Brenda, 

I am exactly the same! The minute my daughter goes off to school I'm on my laptop, when she comes home my first words are "I'll make dinner in half an hour" I make dinner, we eat, I watch a little TV then slowly but surely the laptop emerges- That's it then, I'm working away until around 2am. I go to bed exhausted and boggly eyed. 

I've been setting up my Zazzle store and using Inkscape and Gimp. Inkscape should come with a health warning because you can lose 5 or 6 hours without even realising. It is totally addictive. 

Hollie, You shouldn't have told me about inkscape. Now I'm going to check it out. I'm glad computers weren't around when I was raising my children. I would have been a horrible parent.

There's a new name for it. it's called Internet Addiiction and it is gaining relevance in the world of therapy. I was researching it about three months agao for an article on it, but never got around to it.

Brenda, 

There are some excellent tutorials on Youtube to get you started, but don't say that I didn't warn you! :)

Tess, 

I can well believe it, I have to literally tear myself away from my laptop. Now I have to serve dinner and then I have to take my dog for a walk-she's giving me the stare. :)

I well aware of its existence. Yesterday, I forced myself to take the dog for a walk. I mopped my kitchen floor at 10:30 last night. Computers have certainly changed our lives. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the 60's.

Ha. I don't have to remind myself to take the dogs for their walks. They started in on me at 6:30 am yesterday. Morning walk time is between 8:30 and 9:00 am.

Since I discovered online writing, I have become much more of a recluse than before. i can go for a few days in a row without seeing anyone and without getting out of my pj's. No more kids at home to take care of - no dog that forces me out the front door twice a day. I make promises to myself and find them hard to keep. I am finding, however, that this seems to have a natural life-span - I am starting to get sick of it. I actually read a normal book for the whole afternoon for the first time since starting my online writing. So I am going easy on myself and recognizing that I must need this down-time as I make the transition from a full-time job as trauma therapist to a retiree who still needs to work to make ends meet.

I wonder if this internet stuff could also be a kind of natural transition space for others of you and that it doesn't necessarily have to mean that we are becoming pathologically addicted.

What do you think?

I'm pathologically addicted. I do get to the point where I have to get off and out for a few hours, but not often. I should make a no weekend rule. I don't know if I'd keep it though. I've got to do something.

Sheri_Oz: 01/31/2013 - 01:35 PM

 

I wonder if this internet stuff could also be a kind of natural transition space for others of you and that it doesn't necessarily have to mean that we are becoming pathologically addicted.

What do you think?

Sheri,

Jim and I talk about this all of the time.

Though we enjoy writing and need a little income in our lifestyle, we have both promised to consider this more of a phase - and shut them off except for email once in awhile, etc. in the future as our goal.

The long winter in the rv with nowhere to go/nothing to do here has made us unhappily stuck on the laptops around the clock. I'm starting to feel it physically (less energy, eye strain, boredom) so that is a wake up call to me I have to think about change in the future.

So we do think of it as a transition and are thinking about doing things like the Amazon RV 10 week holiday work next fall, where we would make enough in those 10 weeks to last the remaining 9 months. Then I can write if/when I feel like it versus feeling tied to the computer daily.

I'm a naturally introverted and reclusive character anyway, so I think that, in many respects, the internet allows to me to make a living and socialise too, without me having to go out and meet people. About twice a year I'll go out and socialise, but I'm always really glad to get home.

I imagine that's why many people become so enamored with their computers; they can choose when to interact with others but can also easily avoid the people that they're not fond of, in a way that you can't in your offline life.