Internet time seems to run faster……

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Where do the hours go?  Last time I looked it was 8.30am, now suddenly it’s lunchtime!!  And all because I thought “I’ll just take a look at Facebook and see what’s going on.”

Since getting an unlimited broadband connection just over 3 years ago, I have to admit to frequently searching the internet and, indeed, my business now involves spending a lot more time online than it used to.  However, this has become a bit of a problem with the arrival and increasing popularity of social media and networking.  Meeting and following all these great new people can be so addictive!

And yet, when I think back to how I once used to find Emails very time consuming, they were quite easily tamed.  So I’m going to apply the same principles to my other online activities, and share them with you here.

1. Turn off all audible alerts. These are so numerous and distracting that we’re in danger of developing nervous twitches each time they go off.
2. Designate and limit your time on the internet.  It’s a good idea to do your social networking during a less productive time of the day, when your energy levels are low.  Limiting your time to, say, 30 minutes a day will ensure you do what you need to do and then sign off until the next day!
3. Plan out what you want to achieve on each visit to a site, and stick to your objective.  Getting involved in too many ‘causes’ and ‘events’ can be a real time-stealer.  Think about your primary purpose and keep asking yourself if what you’re doing is relevant to that purpose.
4. Resist the temptation for ad hoc surfing.  If something occurs to you outside your designated internet time slot, make a note rather than going online there and then.

I hope these suggestions will help you manage the time you spend on the internet.  I’ll let you know how I get on.  What works for you?  Please do tell!

About Louise

Louise Barnes-Johnston has been working in social media marketing since 2007 after realising that it was a powerful marketing tool which would enable her clients to raise the profile of their businesses on the internet, even when working to a limited budget. Her specialism is in researching social media practices; trying out the most effective online tools and then sharing the best of them with her clients.