The internet is a very useful thing, but it can also suck up productivity. Today, many people need to use the internet every day for work, communication, and education. Unfortunately, we also sometimes use the internet without a clear purpose. Although most people cannot avoid the internet completely, there are still ways that can be done to regulate internet habits, so that the time spent on the internet becomes more effective.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Be Aware of Your Current Internet Habits
Step 1. Make a note of internet usage
If you don't know what you do online, these notes can help. For a week, keep a record of everything you do on the internet, such as the sites you visit, how long you spend on those sites, how often you update pages, how many clicks you make on links, etc. Generally, the habit of spending time on the internet begins with browsing aimlessly.
Make sure you include time spent on your smartphone or other mobile device. For active people, cell phones or mobile devices are the main means of accessing the internet
Step 2. Identify the source of the problem
Checking your email or Twitter feed every five minutes is an impulse that keeps you from focusing on the bigger task. For example, when the task feels heavy, taking a break and surfing the internet is not a problem. However, the actual short break and time needed to refocus on the task can be quite a lot. Everyone's internet habits are different, but the following are some of the common sources of problems that you may experience:
- Do you check your email dozens of times a day?
- Do you spend a lot of time reading celebrity gossip sites or blogs?
- Is your Google or Facebook chat feature left on while doing other things, and you're frequently contacted by friends?
- Are you often tempted to check social networking sites after working on something for a long period of time, and then "stuck" for hours on it?
Step 3. Get to know your dopamine
While you might think that people who are addicted to iPhones are overreacting, the truth is, addiction has been studied scientifically. Internet addiction changes the way the brain works, much like addictions to drugs, alcohol, or gambling.
- The hormone dopamine, which controls mood, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment, is what causes us to experience addiction.
- Every time you hear a Facebook chat, a small amount of dopamine is released from your brain so you're interested in checking it out.
- Dopamine addiction is a vicious cycle. Dopamine hangovers are usually caused by anticipation and ignorance of the uncertain. Who sent you the message? Usually, the desire to know who sent the message will be greater than the satisfaction felt after knowing the sender. This low level of satisfaction makes us feel "suffocated," and ready to receive a shot of dopamine.
- While technology dependency is becoming more and more common, you can avoid it. With awareness and dedication, you can train yourself to prevent this unsatisfactory and unproductive dopamine dependence.
Step 4. Be determined to change
For most people, changing old habits can be quite difficult, especially when they start to change.
- Know that change requires you to limit yourself to the good stuff.
- You may feel uncomfortable when you reduce your internet use, which is due to reduced dopamine production.
- However, the discomfort is only temporary, and you will be a happier, healthier, and more productive person afterwards.
Method 2 of 3: Prepare to Reduce Internet Consumption
Step 1. Set up your workbench
A tidy work desk will free us from the burden. If you see piles of unorganized files, or unwashed dishes, you'll have a hard time focusing on the task at hand. Try clearing the table of things that are not project-related and don't use on a daily basis.
Step 2. Set up your computer desktop
Organize files in directories, instead of storing them anywhere. Don't forget to bookmark the sites you visit frequently. A tidy desktop will save you time searching for files, and it will also prevent you from being interested in other files found when you're looking for important files.
Step 3. Make a list of things you need to do on the internet before opening your browser
For example, do you want to find a song, a restaurant review for your mother's birthday, or information on home renovation costs?
- Do the steps above all day and every day, as soon as you think of something.
- Having a quest list will make your surfing more meaningful, and remind you of your long-term time management goals.
Step 4. Know when the time is most productive for you
Some people are active in the morning, while others are active at night. If your daily schedule is flexible enough, try accessing the internet at a time when you can think clearly, awake, and energized.
Step 5. Plan to do more things on the internet in less time
Everyone's internet usage pattern is different, depending on their career, interests, and other lifestyle factors. Some people have to use the internet all day long for work, but others use the internet at night as a source of entertainment.
While everyone's time management goals are different, you should try to get more done online in the limited time you have
Method 3 of 3: Start Changing
Step 1. Reduce internet time
Reducing internet time is a good first step to effective internet. As strange as it may sound, we generally become more productive when we are pressed for time.
Step 2. Avoid doing more than one task at the same time
While it may seem more productive to do more than one task at the same time, it actually slows down your performance because you can't focus on one task. You may be interested in doing several things on the internet at the same time to make work more interesting, but try to do the tasks in order, and get one thing done before the other.
Step 3. Do work that can be completed offline
If you need to read something longer than a page, like an article or proposal, try downloading the book and reading it outside of your browser. If you need to write a reply to a long email, write the reply in Microsoft Word.
Completing work offline reduces distractions, as you can't click just any links, and you can't receive email notifications that could be annoying
Step 4. Reduce the use of social media
Apart from being addictive, social media also reduces your productivity, so make sure you are determined to reduce its use.
- As discussed in the previous section, dopamine is released when you anticipate something you don't know, and social networking sites are never static. There, users always update their status, upload photos and like posts. Those things aren't really that interesting.
- If you must visit sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or the like, be careful, and limit your browsing time. Try using a countdown counter to avoid prolonged use of social networking sites.
- Quit social networking sites and close your browser, instead of opening a new tab or overwriting the tab with another site. The easier it is for you to access social networking sites, the more interested you are in accessing them.
Step 5. Pay attention to when you access your email
Access email three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening. While it's important, you can waste time aimlessly if you're constantly checking your inbox, like you'd check on a social networking site.
Make sure you delete, archive, or reply to a new email every time you check it. In addition to saving time, cleaning your inbox will make you feel better
Step 6. Ask others to help you control yourself
The problem of self-control is not only experienced by yourself, really. Most people find it difficult to manage their internet time efficiently. Because of this, there are many free and paid programs that you can use to help control your internet time, such as:
- RescueTime, which prevents you from accessing certain sites for a period of time you specify. For example, when you're doing an assignment about clouds, you can access Google and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency websites, but can't access Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Buzzfeed, or other sites that make you lose concentration. The app also tracks your daily internet habits, so you can see how much time you spend sending email, using Skype, accessing wikiHow, etc. You can also use other internet blocker apps, with slightly different parameters and other features. Choose the program that best suits your usage pattern.
- The Email Game, which turns cleaning your email inbox into a game. The faster you clear your email, the more points you get!
- Pocket, which lets you save sites you find for later reading. For example, when you read an article with an interesting link, you can save the link (or other text) for later reading.
- focus@will is an app that uses research on the brain and relaxing music to help increase your focus and productivity, which in turn reduces your desire for entertainment.
Step 7. Consider unplugging the internet at home
As extreme as it may sound, with the absence of internet at home, you will be forced to regulate your internet usage so that your internet time will be more productive. If you're having trouble controlling yourself, you might consider this step.
- Sharing the internet with other people may also make you more aware of bad habits. For example, if you surf the internet in a cafe and your laptop screen is visible to others, you may not be browsing social networking sites aimlessly until you end up on your ex's profile.
- If you want to try this step but aren't ready to disconnect your internet connection at home, try leaving the router at a friend's house for a few days.
- If you live with a partner or roommate who also needs internet, ask them to change their Wi-Fi password.
