I'm addicted to my computer!

[mrssoup23]

Does anyone else feel like they spend every free moment on the computer?!?!

I'm trying hard to keep to a schedule and only be on the computer when my kid and husband are in bed or busy with an activity, but I feel so guilty if I don't check my email every hour, that it's almost obsessive.

Any suggestions? :wink:

[Mladyjoy]

I too feel I spend way too much time on the computer trying to find more places to get my name and business out there. I have a friend that I email with back and forth and I just don't seem to get things done the way I want to. I am hoping for some of the same answers to our same problems! For one, I know someone will tell us, TURN IT OFF! But I have three kids and they are on it too. I think it just boils down to time management, which I am very poor at and discipline, just tell yourself you'll only give yourself two or three times during the course of a day that you will ALLOW yourself to be on the computer for a certain amount of time. Easy for me to say I know...well I should take my own advice! LOL!! So where am I now??? right here! I should be downstairs working on my drawings of windows for the church homecoming float and painting my layouts for two murals I should be working on! Yea, I have a time management problem. But hopefully we'll find a way with the help of the organized women in here? Let's hope. :-)
Sorry I don't have an answer for you, just letting you know you are not alone. :-) :sun:

[Nellers]

I love being on the computer, but after a family emergency recently I've realized how much more important it is to be with my son and husband then feed my addiction to work. It isn’t easy to balance it all sometimes, but I know that I have the rest of my life to sit in front of the computer and makes money, but only have my son young and in my home for so long.

[Mel]

I'm addicted to work and my computer too. I even have a schedule set and hanging next to my monitor but I just pretend it isn't there and sit here for hours on end.

The only thing that ever worked for me was to set a kitchen timer to go off every hour then I'd reset it for 10 minutes and told myself that I couldn't go back and sit down until it went off the 2nd time. It worked quite well until my puppy chewed up the timer and I never replaced it.

[quietcornermom]

I am in the same boat. I'm supposed to limit computer time to evenings or when the kids are napping. But I still log on each morning "just to check email" and then I check the clock and 2 1/2 hours have past! :oops:

As long as the kids don't get into too much trouble and the house is clean by the time my husband gets home I feel pretty good!!! :D

:idea: For those of us with poor self control, if anyone has discovered a way of curbing this really bad habit, please share!

[smbwallace]

WOW, am I ever glad to know I'm not the only one! I dearly love the computer and Internet, and use it as much as possible. Like right now, when I'm supposed to be editing a story for an anthology! I do try to do most of my work when everyone else is gone to school and work and in bed for the night, but it doesn't always work out that way. A CLEAN HOUSE IS A SIGN OF A BROKEN COMPUTER, AND MINE IS WORKING JUST FINE!

[Anonymous]

Working at long hours on your computer can drain you not only physically but also mentally as well. Here are some tips to help you come over your addiction:

1) Separate your office from your home. As far as possible try to have your office in a separate room which is less frequented. Having your office/pc in vicinity can often remind you of some pending work or communications.

2) Stick to a schedule. This is often most neglected aspect of home workers. We tend to rush to work as soon as we get some spare time when kids are asleep or nobody is at home. This often becomes a routine and you find yourself in front of your computer even when you don't need to. Sticking to a schedule like regular office hours can bring some discipline back to life.

3) Identify when you need to get up. Most often we find ourselves browsing or sitting in front of the pc for no reason at all. Keep reminding yourself that your pc is for work purpose only. Engage in some fruitful activities like meditation if you have free time.

[quietcornermom]

Another indication that you're an internet/computer addict:

Last week an awful thing happened to me... I had pulled a pint of Ben and Jerry's out of the freezer to thaw out a bit before having some ( gets too hard to spoon out), and went back to my computer. By the time I had remembered that I had pulled it out and left it on the counter, it had almost completely melted!!!! How's that for being addicted!

I can see it now... Headline reads: WOMAN ADDICTED TO INTERNET MARKETING MORE THAN BEN & JERRY'S CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!!!!


:lol: :shock: :lol: :!:

[Lori]

:lmao:

Or... have you ever felt like laughing with 'REAL' people and almost said LOL?

Man, I hate it when that happens :)

[smbwallace]

I'm trying to cut down on my computer use now, but it's not really working because here I am posting on this board at 10:30 a.m., prime work time!!

I stopped turning on my IM program and that has helped a lot, since I feel like I must check each and every message that comes in. I still have to check my email several times a day because of work.

I'm not supposed to be on message boards during the day during the week, but HERE I AM!!! That's supposed to be saved for a couple evenings a week and the weekend.

Oh well, no one is perfect! LOL!!!

[valg]

I totally hear you guys. I've been in the corporate world for 5 years, at a computer 10 hours per day, and am now off work until Jan. (when I make some decisions), and I have so much to do to get caught up on the home front, yet I seem to be so used to spending so many hours on this darn machine.....

I guess it helps that we're not alone.