I can't stop myself from visiting inspirational/motivational forums every 20 minutes

[lightthecandle]

I'm serious. I don't know why I do this but I honestly do...every 20 minutes if I'm in my dorm room trying to study or even in the library when I'm on the computer.
it takes away valuable time which could've been spent studying.

So, in order to do this, I"m not going to stop cold turkey. I will not go on any of the forums or look for other inspirational stories or facebook (unless some one messages me, and it'd be only for literally 1 minute) or youtube for 12 hours. I imagine it would make me feel great to have this sense of control over my internet use (or abuse, haha)

this obsession might have to do with the fact that I seek feeling better about myself or seeking answers regarding emotional and personal development through reading. This in turn doesn't leave much room for action which is the catalyst for success.

So, I will start..right now!no forums for 12 hours! wish me luck! (well, its not like I'll read it anyway, well...at least until the next 12 hours)

I know this might seem a bit pathetic to some, but its really becoming a problem and I need to do WHATEVER IT TAKES.

[Dan.Linehan]

This might help.

Effective Online Forum Usage

I might take a few steps back myself..

[openeyes]

You could try studying somewhere that you don't have a computer nearby.

[Christian223]

Try making a list of the things that make you waste your time, include "viting online forums wastes my time" there, read it all days, leave it in front of your computer, to thats easy to see, over the days youll KNOW that youll be wasting your time if you visit forums, try it for a week or two and see how it goes, good luck

[Honeywith4bees]

Or maybe just pick a set time of day, for example, every afternoon for 30 minutes, decide to relax and check your forums, then be done! Good luck!

[lightthecandle]

Hi all!

just an update...I haven't been on any of the forums or wasting time online for a whole 13 hours! now, my next goal is not to wast time online for another 12 hours, and hopefully I can increase it to days, weeks, and months! wow, that's so much free time I'd have on my hands, and thus be productive.

I feel really good, like I'm proud of myself for the discipline, and for some reason, it has made listening to lectures far more useful and my concentration was higher because I was able to block all the mental garbage going on facebook could entail ( for ie. comparing yourself). so my mind is free.


...very liberating!

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Hey, lightthecandle. I just wanted to say that I think you are doing really well. Limiting my time on many websites was a great way for me to see how I really feel about myself without the input of others. Some sites I visited just got me down and feeling bad about myself. So I think it's great you are taking this initiative.

Also, I think about you a lot because I have a tendency in my smelly, dog-filled house to say "light the candle" all the time. Well, reading that back, I think you might think I think of you as smelly or doggy, but that wasn't it at all! Just that every time I say that I smile and think "I wonder how lightthecandle is doing?" So I hope you are doing well!

[martin]

I think I have the same problem.

[Tayrak]

I do not have a forum vise, I visit forums in a controlled and purposeful manner. rofl

[Jim11]

I think it is easier to spend time on development, inspirational, and other similar forums, because you can trick yourself into thinking that maybe you're learning something or picking up some good ideas (which you might, but after a few minutes when you've seen everything useful you probably won't)

You want to give yourself excuses to just sit there and do nothing. I have this problem, but recognize it and usually limit my time

[lightthecandle]

at first I was like..what! she's comparing me to a dog?! haha, thanks for claryfying that at the end

jk. awwwww thanks that was very sweet of you. I'm glad there's people on my side and there to support me, like everyone here

Originally Posted by {aspiring_to_clarity}

Hey, lightthecandle. I just wanted to say that I think you are doing really well. Limiting my time on many websites was a great way for me to see how I really feel about myself without the input of others. Some sites I visited just got me down and feeling bad about myself. So I think it's great you are taking this initiative.

Also, I think about you a lot because I have a tendency in my smelly, dog-filled house to say "light the candle" all the time. Well, reading that back, I think you might think I think of you as smelly or doggy, but that wasn't it at all! Just that every time I say that I smile and think "I wonder how lightthecandle is doing?" So I hope you are doing well!

[lightthecandle]

I agree. spending way too much time on inspirational/motivational forums, and literature is great to an extent, however its no excuse to not ACT and get what you want. even though it might seem like the most difficult thing in the world or the pain too unbearable, nothing in the world is more important then ACTION and of course belief in oneself.

Originally Posted by Jim11

I think it is easier to spend time on development, inspirational, and other similar forums, because you can trick yourself into thinking that maybe you're learning something or picking up some good ideas (which you might, but after a few minutes when you've seen everything useful you probably won't)

You want to give yourself excuses to just sit there and do nothing. I have this problem, but recognize it and usually limit my time

[lightthecandle]

hey all again!

I feel really good about myself that I actually stuck to my plan/goal to make my days far more productive.

next goal: don't waste life online until 4 pm tomorrow and at that time only devote 30 minutes max ( i know this is worded awkwardly, but oh well, haha)

I think its really important that people understand that too much literature on self help and constantly reading book after book, quote after quote, watching inspiring movies one after the other on how to...stop drinking, stop worrying, reach goals, not care what others think, how to become smarter will not make one's problem go away. YOU HAVE GOT TO ACT.

so, maybe if anyone is having problems with this...I find that writing down on an index card, of all the negative things in my day and avoiding them (for me it'd be, worrying, comparing myself to others, not believing in myself, spending too much time online) and not giving into temptation makes me feel amazing.

soooo... to sum it all up.....

Step 1: if you must read literature, or get your self motivated then by all means do it! BUT! don't devote more than 10 minutes too it because then you'll hate yourself for wasting that time

Step 2: Get off your butt and do what you have to do! ACT! RIGHT NOW! easier said than done, but honestly nothing is ever as bad as it seems, its all you baby!

Step 3: hmmmmmm i'm not sure what other steps i can list, but this is it for now

[Ilya]

I realize that answering you on a forum makes your task a little bit more difficult
Anyways, congratulations on taking this habit under control. I'm not sure that simply limiting the forum use by a certain amount of time is the optimal solution. I think it should depend on the results one is getting out of it (as with any activity). I guess you were not getting enough for your time investment.

[Tuumble]

Originally Posted by lightthecandle

next goal: don't waste life online until 4 pm tomorrow and at that time only devote 30 minutes max ( i know this is worded awkwardly, but oh well, haha)

Interesting topic and I know what you mean. We were without home Internet access for about 4 days last week and my productivity rocketed.

One small point. Watch the words you use...

'Don't waste life online...'

You are focussing on 'wasting life' so that is what you see. The brain doesn't recognise the word 'don't' in that phrase.

For example, what do you imagine when someone says: 'Don't slam the door'?

You imagine a door slamming.

What if you said: 'Close the door quietly'?

I would suggest you imagine or focus on working effectively and not even mention the online world. Put it out of your mind.

Best of luck to you anyway.