I am horrible about getting things done in a timely manner. And my biggest problem is that I have too many bad habits when online. The thing is that I know I’m not the only one, so I thought I’d do a piece to help those of us who tend to get sidetracked when trying to get some work done. Here are 5 ways to cut the fat out of our online habits.
Constantly Checking Emails
This is my #1 problem when I’m working online. I check my email a couple dozen times in the course of an hour or two when I should be getting my writing assignments finished. So how do I fix this? I bribe myself. I allow myself to check my emails as soon as I get an article finished. Ironically, I usually find that I’ve only gotten a couple more than the last time I checked.
Who’s Out There
We’ve all made a friend or two during our time online and it’s fun to keep up with them. One of the things I’ve seen people do, and I’ve done myself, is to spend more time watching to see who’s online than on tasks that need to get done. Here’s a way to get around that. Instead of looking for friends you know will be online at some point, work toward making some new friends that will help promote you and your site. You now have someone to talk to and you’re still getting your work done. Good job!!!
Surfing For Research
This is another of my weak points. As a writer, we have to do our research. But how many times while doing that research do we find ourselves drifting off to other sites because we happened to catch a headline that sounded like something we just had to read? This is a serious problem for me, but I’m finding ways to work it out. When I find a link I really want to read, I bookmark it into a special folder just for these times. When I get my research done and the article is written, then I can go back and read that other piece that caught my eye. Once I’ve done that, I can delete the link from my bookmarks and move onto the next.
Instant Messaging
This isn’t a huge problem for me as I’m not a big chat junkie. I will sit and chat with the people I’m working with or for, but I can’t just sit and chat for hours on end. However, there are a lot of people out there who can’t seem to stop. A friend of mine is really bad about this but says she’s come up with a plan. She schedules time to chat with friends online as she would a client. She sets aside a specific amount of time for friends and family who are away from home. It allows her to focus on them alone without the worry of missing a deadline or not getting work finished on time.
Getting Your Game On
I don’t consider myself a gamer, but I do like to play those Hidden Object games that are becoming so popular these days. I’ve noticed, however, that a lot of my online friends are becoming hopelessly addicted to the games on Facebook. I know of a couple people who’ve missed deadlines because they were too busy playing those games to get any real work done. My advice is to set aside a day to play these games. We all need a day or two off from work, so why not use that time to play those games? Or use it as a rewards program for yourself. Once you get so much work done, then go play your favorite games. That way it will be even more fun and you might actually relax.
There are a lot of ways to make your online work habits more efficient. You don’t have to give up all the fun things completely, but it is important to set up specific times for both work and play. We can’t be fully productive when we’re sabotaging our own efforts.
About ChristineS
Hi I'm Christine of Graves Publications. I've spent the past 20+ years in the writing industry, most of which has been done online. A large portion of my writing career has been spent in the fiction genre, but I've spent the past 4 years ghostwriting for the SEO blogging community. If you want to hang out with me, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, G+, or right here on BlogEngage.
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Megan Brown
September 30th, 2011
Hello Christine. Nice to meet you.
Like this post very much as I am totally agree with this that we have to manage our online time only we get full productivity as you have mentioned last point i.e playing games one this is perfectly suites me as I am big psycho when games comes infront of my eyes. Previously in my teen’s days I used to spend whole day and night just behind this and due to this I have missed so many important thing.
But thanks to GOD that I realise my madness and now I planned particluar day and time for this and now all are going fine.
Thanks a lot for this important sharing
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
September 30th, 2011
I know a lot of people like that. I’m very happy you managed to get past it though. I still like to play a few games but make sure my other duties are finished first.
Thanks for stopping by Megan
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
Richard
Twitter: richescorner
September 30th, 2011
Checking email and stats is my vice. I don’t have as much of a problem with the other ones. I find a good rss feed reader saves me a lot of time from having to surf websites. It just lets me know when there is a new post for me to read.
Richard recently posted..Debt Settlement – A Reality Check
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
September 30th, 2011
Hey Richard,
I;m getting better about the email thing, but still feel the need to check it umpteen hundred times a day. I used to be really bad about my stats, but not so much anymore. I still check my analytics page but not like I did when I first started using it. LOL
I have a LOT of sites in my RSS reader but it never fails that I’ll catch a headline from one of those sites that leads to a site I’d never heard of before and I’m like a off and running like a hunting dog on a scent trail. LOL
Thanks for the comment. Have a great day.
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
Richard
Twitter: richescorner
September 30th, 2011
I do that too. I end up going through the links and getting caught up. That’s why those fetching friday posts really take up a lot of time for me. Although, these days I have my favorite blogs in my rss reader, so I’ll often have read the articles already, so I can scan through quickly and not get caught up as much.
Richard recently posted..Debt Settlement – A Reality Check
Steve
Twitter: stevescott1
September 30th, 2011
Christine,
There are definitely many “bright and shinies” online. I would add Twitter and Facebook. Even though I sometimes try to engage on these for “business” They can be a huge distractor and time sink too.
I think it is best to do as much as you can completely offline. For instance if you are going to write an article disconnect net first. Then schedule time to get all your “internet” stuff done, and keep that time limited. When you are working under a tighter timeline, it becomes easier to not be distracted by the little things
Steve recently posted..How Many Hours Do YOU Spend with your Online Business?
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
September 30th, 2011
“Bright and shinies”, that’s awesome. I’m so stealing that. LOL
I was going to add Twitter and Facebook as a whole to the list, but like you, most people use them for business purposes. Personally, I’m not a huge Twitterbug. I will tweet stuff or retweet for friends and colleagues, but other than that, it just doesn’t do much for me.
Facebook on the other hand, I have to be very careful. I can get lost in there so easily, but at the same time, I don’t spend a lot of time there. Too many oddballs (a.k.a., family members) creeping around the place wanting to chat. But I don’t have a fan page over there either.
As an Internet Content Provider, I’m always online doing research. I’m one of those strange people who believes the articles I sell should actually look good and be factual. LOL But I think I will start trying to do some of my writing offline. Heck, I might actually get my 2nd e-book finished. I’ve only been working on it for a couple years now. LOL
Thank you Steve for commenting. I absolutely appreciate it.
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
Tanya
Twitter: redfoxcandle
September 30th, 2011
This post is so true for me. I am constantly wasting time checking email or instant messaging when I should be getting work done. Thanks for posting.
Tanya recently posted..Starting A Homemade Candle Company
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
September 30th, 2011
You are so welcome Tanya, and thanks for commenting.
Maybe we should start a support group for people like us. We can call is
S.C.O.R.E.
Shamelessly
Checking
Or
Reading
Emails.
LOL–just kidding
Have a wonderful day and an awesome weekend.
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
slbphoenix
Twitter: slbphoenix
September 30th, 2011
I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one. I get side tracked when I spend too much time on BE or reading other peoples posts. I will totally try your suggestions. Sally
slbphoenix recently posted..“18 Radical Ways to Stop Procrastination”
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
October 1st, 2011
No honey, you are NOT alone. We humans are as bad as racoons when it comes to being attracted to “bright and shinies” (thanks Steve. I just love that one). We all get side tracked at some point.
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
James
Twitter: IMRelations
September 30th, 2011
I understand exactly how you feel Christine. the other day, I got online to get a couple of screenshots for an ebook I am writing and 5 hours later, i remembered what I fired up the internet to do. Engaging is a necessary part of our business, but we also have other things that we need to get done!
James recently posted..The Best and Worst Forum Marketing Blunders To avoid!
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
October 1st, 2011
LOL, yep been there done that. And you’re right, it is important to engage with others in order to keep our businesses and blogs going, but there’s a fine line between networking and goofing off. LOL
Thanks for stopping by!!!
ChristineS recently posted..My Favorite Piece Of Technology
Satrap
Twitter: blogstashdotcom
October 1st, 2011
Christine, I struggle with checking email and surfing for research a lot, but not with the others. What I have found to be helpful is a written plan for the day ahead. Each night before you go to bed, make a plan for tomorrow’s work day, you will be surprised how much you can get done.
Satrap recently posted..10 Best Ways to Make Extra Money Online in Your Spare Time
Jane
Twitter: problogsuccess
October 1st, 2011
Constantly checking emails and getting sidelined while surfing used to be my two main distractions. When I got myself a strategy to kick these two habits out, I’m much more productive now.
Jane recently posted..Extended hang-outs from Google+
Tiffany
October 2nd, 2011
Games and surfing the net are just 2 of my worst bad habits. I used to check facebook the way you check your emails but I’m glad I was able to change it. Regarding Facebook games specifically those that require harvesting, what I do is do the harvesting once a day only or plant crops that are scheduled to be harvested for longer hours. 🙂
Michael Wilson
Twitter: flash_writer
October 2nd, 2011
I definitely have a problem with the drifting online research focus. Games though are especially bad though. Game designers admit that they are DESIGNED TO BE ADDICTIVE. It may only seem like a few minutes a day on Facebook that you spend playing Bejeweled Blitz or Mafia Wars, but if you check in several times a day that time adds up… Another issue is that these frequent, short check-ins disrupt your concentration on your project work.
Great article. Thanks.
Michael Wilson recently posted..Flash fiction tips | Write On Edge
Justin Germino
Twitter: dragonblogger
October 4th, 2011
It’s true that so much time gets wasted constantly hitting refresh and checking emails, Twitter, Facebook. You should block out time to just do other things and only maybe once every 2 hours or so address any communications, set up rules and alerts to notify via page if you need faster or immediate responses to items.
Power Wheels Jeep
October 23rd, 2011
Hi Christine
I think a lot of people get distracted when online. For me, im bad at checking Facebook and other blogs. Ahh
ChristineS
Twitter: sapheyerblu
October 23rd, 2011
LOL, yeah I have to admit, it is kind of a fun problem.
Thanks Brian. I hate it when you’re right. LOLOLOL 🙂
ChristineS recently posted..Riding The Roller Coaster