When I was making an effort to limit my internet time I kept a notebook and when I had an "I must look this up NOW" compulsion (you know, when you wonder about some random thing and think you'll just look it up on the net really quickly but then find yourself still on the net hours later because while you're there you may as well check your email, forums, look up this or that thing, oh there's an IM from so-and-so etc)...well when I got one of those compulsions to run online to look something up instead I wrote it down in a notebook to look up during my designated internet hour. And usually by the time that came around I wasn't all that interested in looking that thing up, really.
To sum it up, what I did was gave myself 1 hour of internet time a day (you could give yourself more time than that if it will still be an improvement on how much time you spent online before)-- and during the day when you think of something you just have to look up or check out or an email to send, etc, write it in a notebook to remind yourself later instead of firing up your computer right then. Also try to plan what you are going to look at when you're online and make a list and follow it, such as: email/this forum/that forum/research a.b.c./message to so and so/and follow that. Get in, do what you planned to do, and get out.
Writing in a paper notebook also helped me when I had an urge to chat online or make online journal entries.
Good luck with your efforts! Whatever way you decide to go about it, you can do it!
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