I read an interesting article yesterday via the BBC about internet usage/computer time and the link with depression; it led to my thinking a lot about internet usage in general and how it can either help or hinder the simple life.
I currently use the internet more frequently than ever before, partly because when job searching you not only use the internet to search for positions, but to submit applications. This has probably increased my internet usage twofold over the last couple of weeks and it is something I am very much looking forward to finishing!
For pleasure, I use the internet pretty much for updating this blog, checking in on my blog friends and communicating with friends who are not local (about 95% of my friends). I’m not on any forums or groups, don’t really blog surf (I maybe find one new blog a month almost always through someone commenting here), and my facebook page has been updated maybe 6 or 8 times (and not at all in the last six weeks!). I do enjoy both listening to my two favourite radio programs through the wonders of the world wide web and reading some of my favourite political magazine or newspapers, but usually this is limited to one day a week for an hour or so. Apart from that, it is email, I send a daily email(s) to my good friend Michelle (and her daily emails back brighten my day!), I probably send another 4-6 emails to friends worldwide each day (not the same friends each day, Michelle is pretty much the only constant daily email receiver!) and maybe an email to a blog friend, or a response to a question. In total, I would imagine I currently spend about 2 hours a day on the internet, one in the morning and one in the evening. Since I’m not working this is more than typical, but not over the top or in any way preventing my enjoying activities, volunteering, learning new skills or socializing.
When I had the children staying with me, I had a routine of spending the first 45 minutes after they’d gone to bed online – I wasn’t blogging then so it was mostly emails. After that it was dishes, cleaning, bills paying etc. I didn’t ever go online in the morning because getting children up, fed & ready for school and myself ready for work 5 days a week did not yield any am down time.
I would like to get into the habit of having a complete media fast one day a week, making sure that day I don’t watch tv or go online. I think I’ll wait until I’m gainfully employed before adding in that little change to the routine, but it is one of the goals I’m working towards.
For me the internet is a brilliant tool to connect with people with similar values and interests to myself, it is a medium for learning new skills and being encouraged to try something I hadn’t thought of before! But I also feel that the simple life, for me, includes some self-control when it comes to the internet and I certainly notice the difference when I am online too much. Time unplugged enjoying nature, craft, cooking, music, my violin and in conversation is also what my soul needs and deserves. It’s a delicate balance, but one well worth the effort, especially when you are in the middle of plan sparkle 
How do you balance computer time with family time? Do you find your computer time gets in the way of everything else? How much is right for you?
p.s. my new post is up at the simple, green & frugal co-op! I’d love to hear your contributions!
Sometimes it is hard to balance, but my computer time is in the morning, mostly before the children get up. A few minutes when they are resting in the afternoon, and then a little bit more time after they are in bed. I try to never let it interfere with family time. The best way to combat too much technology is just getting outside. It always works wonders.
That works for me too, in fact I’d almost always rather be outside than in
I struggle with this at the moment, sometimes I get it back under control, then it gets away from me again.
I have seriously cut back the number of blogs I read, but there are a couple of forums that I check that I can spend ages flicking through.
My job is 95% computer work, sometimes I print off some journal articles to read, but the paper waste makes me feel guilty!
Including work I probably spend about 10-12 hours a day on the computer and it is far too much.
I will try and re-instigate my one weekend day computer fast, and my no technology after 8pm rule and see if that helps me.
oooh Looby I can relate, that was me a year ago! A no computer day might certainly help and I like the no computer after 8pm, I might try that!
There is a connection between screen time and depression! I saw a documentary on Korean kids who are addicted to computer gaming. It was so sad. This teenage boy played for many, many hours a day in their apartment, had no friends, and was very depressed. It was so sad. His mother didn’t understand that this was an addiction. She was trying to connect with her son, and couldn’t. She also had no idea how to implement some boundaries around the computer. I just did a post about this exact thing on my blog, but mostly relating to early brain development and screen time. I think older kids, and adults can be harmed as well, as the addiction to the screen sets in. I think a media fast is a great idea! I’ll join you!!!
That is so sad re the Korean children Michelle.
I hope we accomplish this one day a week fast!
Funny one this…I seem to go through phases where I use the internet more than other times. I find online articles, blogs and so on more interesting than the TV. Like you said, it is a great way to keep in touch with people too!
oh so true shoestring, so true!
Sadly my job is spending all day in front of my computer. At least for now. I love computers and stuff but honestly it can’t keep me entertained anymore. I check Facebook, my blog, emails and some other info but no forum memberships here. Soon I’ll be in school and won’t be at this job any longer which is great.
We read in the paper how sitting for periods of time increases your chances of a heart attack. I don’t like it and I want to spend more time with my family and friends. I think once I leave my job I will be able to do that.
P.S. Home study application received and now getting all the documents!
That’s good you have a plan Jessica. Can you get a daily walk?
This is something I struggle with a lot. I think I need to limit my time or at least make it useful. I find I can easily be online 2-3 hours a night. This has really made me think, thank you!!!
No prob Kathryn!
When I was working I spent all day on the computer M-F except when I was in meetings. I would then come home and spend an hour or two on line mostly checking emails and researching stuff of interest. When I got involved in missions, I started spending more time on line chatting with friends in other places as well as researching individuals and organizations that might help the mission field. This exponentially increased my internet usage. I find my chatting friends in Africa are getting “chatted out” and I’m not one for chatting much without a purpose. I also don’t “do Facebook or My Space”. Most of my time is spent updating the blogs/websites of my African missions contacts. I started a blog of my own much later and now spend time updating that too. I do enjoy reading other people’s blog and spend an hour or so each day doing that and responding. Maybe a few times a week I do blog surfing but don’t spend much time on this activity. Altogether, I would say I still spend 1-2 hours a day on the internet though I am now retired. I haven’t increased my time and some days, I spend only a few minutes. Very seldom do I completely break from it as there is always an important email I am expecting…but when I am tired and need a mental break, I simply reduce the time for all the activities or put it off a day or two. I think the internet is a great invention
Sounds like a great strategy Joyful!
Oh, the internet is definitely my weakness. I really struggle to not want to check my email all the time. I work from home via the internet and so I’m at my computer most of the day, and not always being very efficient. I find that if I’m bored, I’ll check my email (again) or surf around online senselessly and bide my time that way. :/ I’ve started daily to-do lists to try to keep that under control…it’s only working about half the time, unfortunately!!
lol I can relate!!!
Computer time for me is rare as I am sans computer at my house right now. I am typing her from my mothers. I usually pop by her house 3-4 days a week and spend about 1- 1.5 hours online, so I can catch up with everything. But I know it will probably be more once the new computer gets bought for my house.
Collette, it’s interesting I’ve ofen enjoyed not having a computer and then just devoting an hour or two a couple of times a week to catching up. It feels oh so hard at the time tho..!
I don’t even turn the computer on until the kids are in bed and asleep, and the dishes are done (usually about 8 pm). This is the time of night we used to just kick back and watch TV, but now I find there’s very little on that I want to watch. So computer time is replacing TV-zone-out-time for me.
If neither my wife or I have any plans (e.g. cooking to be done, work to do, etc) then we’ll usually put on an old episode of River Cottage or something on the Apple TV. And once a fortnight or so we plan ahead to sit down and watch a movie together.
Trying to get computer time while the kids are awake is just asking for frustration and arguments!
Agree fully Darren! I am amazed at how many people are on the computer all the time when their children are awake/need things etc. Much easier to give parenting full attention
I’m online MANY hours a day, usually, but it’s more a function of free time where I’ve got nothing else to do or anyone to do it with. My usage is cut back drastically when I’m with people, have plans, or am working. Well, my usage for entertainment purposes is cut back, that is.
It really fluctuates with the “season” so I’m not terribly concerned about it.
In a lot of ways, it keeps me going on those down days because there are times I need external motivation to get started, and reading online really helps my brain wake up.
Good points!