Thursday, January 5, 2012

Social Media Boundaries

So far this New Year's thing is going pretty great. I am eating 5 to 6 healthy meals a day, working out, writing in my gratitude journal, finally taking my She Art 2 class AND staying relatively calm.

I am trying my best not to be hard on myself. In years past if I didn't do everything I said I was going to every single day...I considered myself a failure.

Not this year.

I don't write everyday in my journal.
I have lost my temper a few times.
And I am struggling with my workouts...I was really out of shape.

The difference is...this year I am doing the best I can.
And I know that.
And that's ok. It feels really good to be at this place in my life.

However...there is another area of my life that needs a major overhaul!!

I came to the realization yesterday that I spend waaaaaay too much time on my computer.

And while it's all good stuff...keeping in touch, reading inspirational blogs, finding tasty recipes for my family...it's a huge time-waster for me.

Instead of doing things I should be doing...I find myself sitting at my computer wasting the day away.
Not good.

Sooooo

I have decided to set some Social Media Boundaries.

1. 15 minutes a day on Facebook. That's it. No more. I will update my Fan Page, check on a few fave groups and move on. My biggest problem with Facebook is how often I check it throughout the day. It's crazy!!

2. I love blogs. I love finding new blogs. However, when they become a means for me to put off my real life then it's time to get off the computer, get up and start living! Sometimes it's information overload, too. So my goal here is to read my blog list {which are sooo many of YOU!} then give myself permission to spend a few extra minutes blog hopping...thinking about taking one day a week and allowing myself 30 minutes or so to indulge in that...maybe even an hour a week. We will see how it goes.

3. I get sucked in to all those "scandalous" type articles on Yahoo. NO MORE! Talk about a HUGE time waster!

4. I must set boundaries on how many times a day I sit at my computer. This is soooo important!! I mean I find myself checking in my blog, FB, Twitter, blog hopping, Yahoo...3 -5 times a day. Before I know it...an hour is gone.

So I want to know...how do you do it? What are your boundaries for Social Media? How much time do you allow yourself to be on the computer? Any suggestions to help me out??:)

Please share!! I would love to know!!

11 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! It's so true! We're doing better about setting media boundaries, and it always amazes me how much I can get done when I stick to it. The digital, online world sucks my life right out my eyeballs. Success to you on this! I remember feeling chastized severely listening to this talk during General Conference: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/a-time-to-prepare?lang=eng&query=facebook

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  2. You are so right! WE 'flyers' should be concentrating on our own lives...but it is such fun to peek at others and be inspired. Be kind to yourself. I feel the same this year. To do the best I can. Have fun. Moira

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  3. I need to set boundaries too! When I was on vacation with my family, I only had access to the Internet on my phone, so it limited how much time I spent on it. Plus we were so busy, I didn't have time anyway. It was a real eye opener! I think I'll try setting timers, like 15 mins at a time, then shut it down and do something productive. Maybe one day a week I'll give myself a long, leisurely hour! Good luck!

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  4. That is why my OLW this year is ACTIVE, because I do spend too much time sitting in front of the computer. I sit for work for 8-9 hours a day and when it's slow at work I can jump on fb and look around, but then I get home and waste a ton of time playing mindless games. Ugh, vicious cycle and it needs to stop! :)

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  5. First, let me say that I am a single woman living alone. The only others that I need to feed are my two dogs and my bird! My time is my own.

    I have my blog, which I enjoy and so far it hasn't been overwhelming. Setting time limits would be a good idea; sometimes I'm in my chair with the netbook on my lap for a couple of hours and not even realize it until I look at the clock!

    I have a FB account but don't really look around it very much, even when I get those notifications emails.

    I know when warmer time comes I will more than likely cut back on time spent in Blogland! Until then, I'm liking it.

    Hoping you find the balance that you are looking for!!!

    Kay

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  6. Dearest sweet Leslie, so happy to know that your new year is off to a wonderful start! I spend alot of time on my computer too but when it comes to Social Media, i try my best to follow the schedule i set for myself. Example, i normally give myself 2 hours to visit blogs (yes, i have a huge list of blogs i visit) and when my 2 hours are up and i am not done with my list. I just stop and continue with the list the next day. I always keep my FB and email pages active when im working but i only check on the news feed/emails when im taking breaks. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

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  7. oh I so hear you. I need to set boundaries. I LOVE The suggestion to set a timer. Im going to try that. My downfall is that I recently got an iPhone...internet, FB, all at my fingertips. not good. so good luck to you and I will have to let you know how the timers go. :)

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  8. Weeeeellll, I'm just like you. So I should gleam some of your advice! I love the idea of limits and although I'm not on FB a lot, I do waste a lot of time on the computer. BUT I have developed somewhat of a schedule too - and this year, it includes two days a week in the studio (er, guest room ;)! I'll try to keep the rest to a minimum as I navigate my way through some lofty goals this year.
    Thank you for your sweet comment - right back at you my friend!
    xoxoxo

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  9. Oh, I so need to be doing the same thing! I spend entirely too much time online. But, New Year...new habits... I think I'll set up a schedule sort of like Jacquline's. Now if I can just stick to it!

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  10. We haven't even had internet for the last 5 months. I have had to got out into my driveway to pick up a signal and that is really embarressing and inconvenient for attempting bill pay or blog hopping that way.

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  11. Every time I participate in a new project or course, I come across another bunch of blogs I want to check out and keep up with. My bookmarked list of favorites is kind of out of control. Some evenings, I discover that I have used up all of my available time for art-making on looking at the computer instead! Your post is timely because I too have determined that a change is in order!

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I appreciate your thoughts and ideas...they inspire me!! I will be visiting you soon. Have a CREATIVE day!!