Are You An Internet Junkie? - Page 2

jhanseth · 01-04-2008, 05:26 AM

Yup, that's me -- internet junkie all the way. The problem is that I spend time on the computer to do my for-pay job (I'm a web developer) and so I really do spend a lot of time doing research for my work. After a while, though, the line between "researcher" and "junkie" starts to blur and I find myself reading about mountain goats or something.

We're all on information overload, you know? And there's nothing we can do with all of that information.

Before, when I've gone on diets, the first thing I used to do would be to track everything I ate for a week or two. Without judgement or trying to change anything -- just write it down so that I have a record. After I've done that for a while, then I know where my baseline is and how to change.

So I've started doing that with my time as well, keeping an informal timesheet of what projects I'm working on ("blog-related stuff" counts as a project), how long I spend on each one. We'll see if holding myself accountable for my time has any effect.

Michelle Dawn · 01-04-2008, 06:36 AM

Hey Jhanseth (and anyone else interested) I thought you might like to try this software called Rescue Time. It records how you spend time your on the computer (which websites, which programs). I just downloaded it today after the author of this post on ZenHabits mentioned it in the comments section. It's super easy and fast to set up. So far I love it!

jhanseth · 01-04-2008, 10:20 AM

Oh, what a great idea. I'll have to give that a try, thanks! So far the notebook timesheet seems to be working, but this might help if I start to stray.

amandajane · 01-04-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle Dawn

Hey Jhanseth (and anyone else interested) I thought you might like to try this software called Rescue Time. It records how you spend time your on the computer (which websites, which programs). I just downloaded it today after the author of this post on ZenHabits mentioned it in the comments section. It's super easy and fast to set up. So far I love it!

Sounds good, is it ok in beta though? I'm always a bit wary of beta releases. Have you had any problems with it?

Gootsy · 01-05-2008, 04:27 PM

1. How much time do you spend on the internet each day?

Between 1 and 7 I suppose. Occasionally a day where I'm on longer or not at all.

2. Do you stick to reading just a couple of blogs and one or two forums or do you have dozens you read? (I have 28 blogs in my reader and frequent about 3-4 forums: this number grows daily!)

My reader has about 16 blogs, but I do intend on kicking a few of them off because there're just so many posts that I feel are a waste of time. The lower quality blogs will be removed and maybe i'll check em once every month to see if there's any good content worth spending my time on.

I read 3 forums daily, and a few once a week.

3. Have you ever had to put a restriction on the amount of time you spend on the internet?

Not really, but when my laptop died on me (which i'd play with while watching tv), and I had to spend more time in front of the desktop, I started to realize just how much time i spent on the net. With the laptop it really didn't seem that bad.

Michelle Dawn · 01-05-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amandajane

Sounds good, is it ok in beta though? I'm always a bit wary of beta releases. Have you had any problems with it?

I haven't had any problems yet!

VaranusK · 01-05-2008, 07:05 PM

1. How much time do you spend on the internet each day?

Too much. at home, from 45 min. to 1,5 hours

2. Do you stick to reading just a couple of blogs and one or two forums or do you have dozens you read? (I have 28 blogs in my reader and frequent about 3-4 forums: this number grows daily!)

dozens, fortunately not all of them post everyday!!

3. Have you ever had to put a restriction on the amount of time you spend on the internet?

no, but I should...

I don't know either how time can pass so fast when surfing the net... one site takes you to another and all are interesting...

rollo · 01-06-2008, 11:27 AM

I spend around 8-10 hours daily on a computer with internet access. All that time is not spent on the Internet per se, as I do most (well, practically all) of my school work on the computer. Yet 8-10 hours is clearly too much, and I feel that having to multi-task with IRC, the WWW, IM, etc. is not exactly productive.

In the last couple of months I've taken to watching my time spent on the computer using RescueTime, and can whole-heartedly recommend it. At first it's kind of sad to see how much time you actually spend on the computer, but I think it's worth it. It's also fun to see which programs and websites you use the most (privacy-wise it's kind of suspicious, of course).

rolltimer · 01-14-2008, 02:46 PM

In a nearly audible whisper this thread nags, "Addict, addict! You're hooked on the internet!" every time I log onto the 'net intending to spend a quick 5 minutes only to find out it's been 35 since I last blinked.

The thought of goodies awaiting in my feed reader thrills me. Could I go for a day or 2 with no 'net access? I could. But I don't like to. The internet is a lifeline to reality, virtual though it may be, not a mainline to addiction. High-speed internet access has streamlined resources and services, making it cheaper and more efficient to get things done.

I've spent a good chunk of today online, not doing actual work that pays, but not playing games either. I have:

* Combed through 2 local newspapers' help wanted ads
* Completed the next lesson in an online course I'm taking
* Checked the weather forecast (wintry mix for Thursday)
* Read feeds and explored MacWorld Expo news and rumors
* Backed up files to online backup service
* Viewed payroll statement
* Verified direct deposit posted to checking account
* Monitored my stocks and the overall direction of the markets

Later this week, I'll download and process for employer reimbursement my long distance phone charges and schedule an online payment in response to an email notification to view my credit card statement. If my satellite internet didn't have a noticeable lag time, I'd use a VOIP service such as Skype for phone and cut the landline.

When I don't have clear laid out plans for surfing, I wander wherever my feeds take me. Citizen Agency’s Tara Hunt calls this futzing which she foresees as the future of work and defines it as:

"The process by which one wanders around without aim, having conversations (with new and old friends), gathering random information, learning ostensibly useless knowledge and avoiding all tasks/duties clear and present." {Futzing as the Future of Work | ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon}

Mike Gunderloy at Web Worker Daily {Web Worker Daily » Archive Future Job Title: Master Futzer «} sees a sort of purposeful, directed futzing as a valuable skill knowledge workers can use to combine this free uptake of information into reformulated ideas and concepts--mash-ups, if you will, of all you've gathered from social media, blogs and other websites. Maybe even something from the Wise Bread Forums, huh?

Greg · 01-14-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolltimer

Mike Gunderloy at Web Worker Daily {Web Worker Daily » Archive Future Job Title: Master Futzer «} sees a sort of purposeful, directed futzing as a valuable skill knowledge workers can use to combine this free uptake of information into reformulated ideas and concepts--mash-ups, if you will, of all you've gathered from social media, blogs and other websites. Maybe even something from the Wise Bread Forums, huh?

Aren't there people getting paid to do internet research? Being an expert in futzing around the 'net might make ya some coin.

01-04-2008, 06:36 AM	#12
Michelle Dawn Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: C-Town, PEI, Canada Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Hey Jhanseth (and anyone else interested) I thought you might like to try this software called Rescue Time. It records how you spend time your on the computer (which websites, which programs). I just downloaded it today after the author of this post on ZenHabits mentioned it in the comments section. It's super easy and fast to set up. So far I love it! __________________ Meet me at FRUGAL PARENTING "A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart" (Jonathan Swift)

01-14-2008, 02:46 PM	#19
rolltimer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 137 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (24)	Internet Junkie? Nope--Master Internet Futzer In a nearly audible whisper this thread nags, "Addict, addict! You're hooked on the internet!" every time I log onto the 'net intending to spend a quick 5 minutes only to find out it's been 35 since I last blinked. The thought of goodies awaiting in my feed reader thrills me. Could I go for a day or 2 with no 'net access? I could. But I don't like to. The internet is a lifeline to reality, virtual though it may be, not a mainline to addiction. High-speed internet access has streamlined resources and services, making it cheaper and more efficient to get things done. I've spent a good chunk of today online, not doing actual work that pays, but not playing games either. I have: * Combed through 2 local newspapers' help wanted ads * Completed the next lesson in an online course I'm taking * Checked the weather forecast (wintry mix for Thursday) * Read feeds and explored MacWorld Expo news and rumors * Backed up files to online backup service * Viewed payroll statement * Verified direct deposit posted to checking account * Monitored my stocks and the overall direction of the markets Later this week, I'll download and process for employer reimbursement my long distance phone charges and schedule an online payment in response to an email notification to view my credit card statement. If my satellite internet didn't have a noticeable lag time, I'd use a VOIP service such as Skype for phone and cut the landline. When I don't have clear laid out plans for surfing, I wander wherever my feeds take me. Citizen Agency’s Tara Hunt calls this futzing which she foresees as the future of work and defines it as: "The process by which one wanders around without aim, having conversations (with new and old friends), gathering random information, learning ostensibly useless knowledge and avoiding all tasks/duties clear and present." {Futzing as the Future of Work \| ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon} Mike Gunderloy at Web Worker Daily {Web Worker Daily » Archive Future Job Title: Master Futzer «} sees a sort of purposeful, directed futzing as a valuable skill knowledge workers can use to combine this free uptake of information into reformulated ideas and concepts--mash-ups, if you will, of all you've gathered from social media, blogs and other websites. Maybe even something from the Wise Bread Forums, huh?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-04-2008, 05:26 AM	#11
jhanseth Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, ME Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Yup, that's me -- internet junkie all the way. The problem is that I spend time on the computer to do my for-pay job (I'm a web developer) and so I really do spend a lot of time doing research for my work. After a while, though, the line between "researcher" and "junkie" starts to blur and I find myself reading about mountain goats or something. We're all on information overload, you know? And there's nothing we can do with all of that information. Before, when I've gone on diets, the first thing I used to do would be to track everything I ate for a week or two. Without judgement or trying to change anything -- just write it down so that I have a record. After I've done that for a while, then I know where my baseline is and how to change. So I've started doing that with my time as well, keeping an informal timesheet of what projects I'm working on ("blog-related stuff" counts as a project), how long I spend on each one. We'll see if holding myself accountable for my time has any effect.

01-04-2008, 10:20 AM	#13
jhanseth Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, ME Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Oh, what a great idea. I'll have to give that a try, thanks! So far the notebook timesheet seems to be working, but this might help if I start to stray.

01-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#15
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 283 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (24)	1. How much time do you spend on the internet each day? Between 1 and 7 I suppose. Occasionally a day where I'm on longer or not at all. 2. Do you stick to reading just a couple of blogs and one or two forums or do you have dozens you read? (I have 28 blogs in my reader and frequent about 3-4 forums: this number grows daily!) My reader has about 16 blogs, but I do intend on kicking a few of them off because there're just so many posts that I feel are a waste of time. The lower quality blogs will be removed and maybe i'll check em once every month to see if there's any good content worth spending my time on. I read 3 forums daily, and a few once a week. 3. Have you ever had to put a restriction on the amount of time you spend on the internet? Not really, but when my laptop died on me (which i'd play with while watching tv), and I had to spend more time in front of the desktop, I started to realize just how much time i spent on the net. With the laptop it really didn't seem that bad.

01-05-2008, 07:05 PM	#17
VaranusK Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	1. How much time do you spend on the internet each day? Too much. at home, from 45 min. to 1,5 hours 2. Do you stick to reading just a couple of blogs and one or two forums or do you have dozens you read? (I have 28 blogs in my reader and frequent about 3-4 forums: this number grows daily!) dozens, fortunately not all of them post everyday!! 3. Have you ever had to put a restriction on the amount of time you spend on the internet? no, but I should... I don't know either how time can pass so fast when surfing the net... one site takes you to another and all are interesting...

01-06-2008, 11:27 AM	#18
rollo Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I spend around 8-10 hours daily on a computer with internet access. All that time is not spent on the Internet per se, as I do most (well, practically all) of my school work on the computer. Yet 8-10 hours is clearly too much, and I feel that having to multi-task with IRC, the WWW, IM, etc. is not exactly productive. In the last couple of months I've taken to watching my time spent on the computer using RescueTime, and can whole-heartedly recommend it. At first it's kind of sad to see how much time you actually spend on the computer, but I think it's worth it. It's also fun to see which programs and websites you use the most (privacy-wise it's kind of suspicious, of course).