This month’s Works for Me Wednesday theme is backwards theme, which is always fun because it means that instead of offering a tip, we get to ask a question.
What I would love tips on would be balancing your online life with the duties of your offline life.
With three blogs, a toolbar, a private networking group, a newly launched eBook, tons of emails, a feed reader bursting full, pages on Facebook (actually — three of them!) and Twitter, and about to rebrand and relaunch an Etsy shop, it seems like I have more on my to do list that deals with online stuff than offline stuff. Now, don’t get me wrong – I enjoy it, but there would seem like there has to be a better way to be organized with so much going on.
Any tips (big or small) that have worked for you would be great!
Also, if you have any tips for using your time online more efficiently, I would really love to hear that too!
Thanks!
No related posts.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello! Here from we are that family. You have many more obligations online, but my problem is making my time online more productive so I can spend less time online. I am hoping to be more efficient online so I can turn the computer off sooner. Good luck with all your duties and congratulations on all of your accomplishments!
.-= The Lumberjack’s Wife´s last blog ..Ruralville, 365 Days of Rubbish, and a Giveaway. =-.
@The Lumberjack’s Wife,
I think that might be my issue, really — using my time online efficiently. I find I can bop between Facebook and Twitter over and over, as well as hop from link to link and get nothing done.
I know when I’ve had deadlines to meet, I’ve had to shut off Twitter. But, I still feel like I’m online too much. I also make sure when I do stop computing throughout the day, that I put my laptop to sleep and shut it. Less tempting!
.-= Amy @ Raising Arrows´s last blog ..The Baking Cabinet =-.
I have no suggestions. Sorry! If I did, I would be shouting them from the rooftops.
.-= Dawn Farias´s last blog ..Shells Reduex – Sweet Shot Tuesday =-.
This is so ironic, posting how to stop wasting time online when what I’m doing is clicking on interesting WFMW posts…
the best thing, I’ve found, is that I downloaded a big giant timer that runs in the background of my computer. I set it for the amount of time I wanted to spend online, and then when it goes off it flashes and music plays. When that happens, I have to physically stand up and walk away from the computer and go do something else. That last part is key. No matter what I’m doing, I have to stop immediately and get up and do something away from the computer. When I’ve done something (no matter how small), I sit back down and reset the timer.
It was really hard at first because I constantly wanted to cheat to just “finish this up real quick” when I was in the middle of something. But be strict! No cheating!!!
What ended up happening is that I’d set the timer for, say 15 minutes, and then because I had trained my tiny little peabrain to know that I was going to have to get up when the timer went off, I would just sit down and do the important things FIRST. Then when those were done, I got however many remaining minutes to “play”–whether that be on facebook, reading other blogs, twitter, whatever. It was the best of all worlds, because I eventually got my stuff done first, still had some free play-time (oh, you have to sit there until the timer goes off too! Both ends!), and got more stuff done around the house.
And then eventually fell off the wagon again. Sheesh. But this is a good reminder–thanks–to implement this system again, because it really worked for me. It helped me finish a novel I’d been working on for four years :LOL:.
Since you’ve got so many online responsibilities, it may help to devote each “session” to one thing. Like, 15 minutes to just do the Etsy shop (remaining time is spent playing, reading rss feeds, etc.), then next session, 15 minutes to answer emails, and so on. So instead of trying to spread yourself thin doing a little bit of everything, just do a lot of one thing at each session.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
.-= Shelby´s last blog ..Conveniently Green–Reusable Swim Diapers =-.
I find myself with the same issues (with a lot less going on). Recently I’ve started building new websites for a few businesses and it’s a major time suck.
I try to keep my “extra curricular” time on the computer to a minimum – I find really limiting the number of blogs I read helps cut down the time. I only have access to FB and Twitter via my desktop so that helps too.
Shelby’s is a great idea!
For me, it’s been:
1. check stats, etc. no more than twice a week, and spend no more than two minutes doing it (I used to waste half an hour, cumulative);
2. set out a goal for each computer session. If this one is about writing an article, I write an article, I DO NOT click over to Explorer.
3. close IE when I finish what I need to do online.
1. Have a set schedule – times when you will be on during the day. Keep the computer off otherwise.
2. Have a plan – decide which tasks you’ll do before you turn it on.
3. Keep Twitter/Facebook/etc. off – they are huge time sucks. HUGE!
4. Be willing to let good stuff go – I’m convinced that if you want to work/life balance, you will have to let some great ideas go (or put them on hold indefinitely at least). There will *always* be things you *could* do to make your blog better or get more traffic or whatever (and all good stuff!!), but if you aren’t willing to let them go you’ll be a hamster in a wheel.
(Now, time for me to take my own advice and turn this thing off!
)
.-= Amy @ BloggingWithAmy.com´s last blog ..How to Install a Plugin or Theme Via FTP =-.
For the last few months, I haven’t allowed myself any discretionary time on the Internet unless I’m on the treadmill. This has accomplished two things – I’m losing weight! And I’m on the Internet far less time during the day. Basically it’s SCHEDULED time only. So far, I’m sticking to it.
No advice, really, except for setting a timer. I’m the girl who has Tweetdeck open while she tries to check Facebook AND write a blog post!
I have found that it is VERY easy to get distracted online–and with two small children and no one to really help do jobs like dishes and laundry yet, I need to stay focused on my own work. I’m still struggling with this–though I won’t be in a week or so, because we won’t have Internet at home then. But then I’ll be doing cramming sessions at the library once or twice a week, so what I’m suggesting is something I’m taking seriously.
What I have found helps is to make a list of things I need to get done. I write it down whenever I think of it, and then when I get online, I try to stay focused on my list. Maybe this works because I am a “list person,” but it works for me!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..We Are Almost Homeowners! =-.
{ 2 trackbacks }