Merlin Flashfic and status of internet reduction.

[icarus]

Yay!

merlin_flashfic is up and running!

In other news, my internet reduction is working fairly well. It's been, um, four weeks now. Huh. Really? Wow. The house is cleaner, I'm cooking more, and both WG and Monte seem much happier.

The rules that have worked:

• No computer in the am before school. A struggle sometimes when I'm waiting for a beta on Out Of Bounds, but a very smart move. Net gain: fewer missed buses; relaxed, peaceful mornings; breakfast is consumed.


• Once I'm home, no computer until after 7pm. This makes me antsy, especially when WG's not home, but it clears a block of time where I do things to relax that aren't computer related. Net gain: when WG's home we have "couple time" to chat about our day; newspaper is read; cat is petted; I am cooking again.

The rule that did not work:

• At least one day per week where the computer is off (ahahahahahahah). Yeah, right.

The rules that work extremely well when I remember to do them:

• Do not turn on computer until I have a to-do list. Really, it works great, because I usually get online for a reason and then... whoosh!


• Shut tabs immediately when I'm done with them. Amazing how I'll come back to the same tab again and again just because I forgot why it's open. Tremendous time waster.

The wordcount added to Out Of Bounds since I've started the new rules: ~9,000.

Comments

[elf]

I've been trying to figure out how to cut back on internet without making myself feel like I've locked myself in a closet.

I couldn't just grab your rules and run with them. (Which is too bad, 'cos that would keep me from waffling about "the best set of rules.") I often don't get home until 6:30 or nearly 7, so "not until after 7" would mean "make coffee before jumping online." OTOH, maybe "no internet after 9:30" would work. (If I also cut out mornings, that's... fairly sharp as a restriction. Esp since LJ is blocked entirely at work. OTOH, I'd get more dishes done. Theoretically.)

Hmm. I'll have to think about this. "Shut tabs when done" is... an interesting idea. (What, you mean I shouldn't have Gmail, IJ Flist & LJ Flist open all the time? And six chapters of someone's new Snarry story? And three other tabs that are other blogs my f'list linked to? And google, just in case, and thesaurus.com, and the blue ball machine in case I get bored with those?)

Um. Perhaps I should clear out my "fritterware" folder. 'Cos as charming as Bouncing Georgie is, I dunno that I ever *need* to spend time on the page.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I spent some time customizing my plan to my needs. Because "I spend too much time on the internet" is too vague.

I decided that I wanted to:

1) spend more of my time on the computer writing instead of bullshitting around.
2) spend more time with WG and taking care of "things" I'd been neglecting.
3) create a block of time for myself every day where I do non-internet-related things.

I decided I wanted to work with my existing habits rather than fighting them. I knew that I can stop myself from starting something, but stopping midway-? Nuh-uh. So rather than putting time limits on my computer use, I put time limits on when I can turn on the computer.

My biggest problem has been getting myself off the computer early enough. Because I'm really not getting on until 10pm, and realistically, with school and Out Of Bounds and computer play-time, I want five hours on the computer.

I still have a ways to go. I've been up until three too many nights because I'm still bullshitting around instead of writing. :)

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware you were doing this. Great idea! *applauds you* Also, I applaud you (in addition to earlier applause) for actually doing it. :-) Yay!

[enname.livejournal.com]

Strangely enough I went through this about eight years ago, and now only really struggle with having the internet off when I am meant to be studying. In that case either I let myself procrastinate between the hours of 10-12pm, or I just go down the end of the house that has no internet at all (I refuse to install wireless because of this) and therefore procrastinate in some other medium. Most weeks though it is a struggle to come online for more than chores, emails and research which I generally do in the middle of the day, all other net is at night for a few hours if needs be. Not being so dependent is pleasantly relaxing and my spine thanks me for it.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

So basically, you got over your "new toy" phase a long time ago, eh? *g*

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

self discipline is a wonderful thing. congratulations on your new habits.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Good habits are a good thing. I passed the 21-day mark without noticing. *blows kisses*

[venivincere]

I must MUST adopt these rules! Thank you for posting them!

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

I'm happy for you. I'm sure that your family life will benefit by the extra "together" time. I had used the internet as company while Peter was in Afghanistan and cutting my time on line down was like pulling teeth. Now it's normal again...but I know it's like any addiction. It's just waiting for my guard to go down!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

It's been nice, and healthier. *g*

I've been careful to avoid the word "addiction" because overusing it waters down the meaning of addiction. I have friends who've had serious drug addictions, and it's something they have to live with every day for the rest of their lives.

My internet habit is more like a bad diet with too many sugary foods. If this were a real addiction, I wouldn't be able to stop simply because I wanted to, and it would take more than just a little time management.

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

I understand what you're saying about drugs. I have friends struggling with drugs and alchol as well. However, I was only half in jest when using the word addiction. It was extremely difficult for me to pull back my internet use. It actually was like a loss. It was just as hard when I had to cut back again when Chloe came into our lives. I've got it down to just a couple of hours and off line spreadsheet work now, but I do think it would be easy to be sucked into my old time wasting routines.

[mad_maudlin]

You know, I'm slipping back into bad old habits now that I've got DSL in my apartment, but I've also got the option to physically unplug the modem when I really need to concentrate. (And risk a BSOD when I plug it back in, but hey, what's life without a little adventure?) Not compulsively checking internets in the morning, that's something I need to work on, though...

[rane-ab.livejournal.com]

See, you had more discipline than you thought! Go you! :o)