Real Talk

Recently, I treated myself to an Internet hiatus for almost a month. For three and a half weeks, I limited my Internet usage to just work and business related items. No Twitter, Facebook, or any other social networking sites I frequented. I focused on my life, my children, my career, and getting in touch with my friends and family by communicating the traditional means including the phone, face-to-face visits, and letters sent in the mail (REALLY). I learned a lot about myself during this time. I began to understand that like with anything, the Internet can become an addiction, and if you don’t keep it in check, it can begin to run your life.

I first started getting on the Internet in 1998. During that time, there was no MySpace, Twitter, or Facebook so I relied alot on chat rooms, message boards and things of that nature to meet people and socialize. As a matter of fact in 1999, I met my would be husband while in a Yahoo chat hip-hop room. We actually met in person a year later, fell in love, and married four years to the day we met in person. The Internet has connected me with people that I had lost contact with over the years because I moved around so much as a child. I started to rely on the Internet in order for me to get through the day. At work, I was logging in and spending half of my work day on Twitter and such when I knew I should’ve been working. My company frowned upon Internet use for personal reasons but I was never caught so I continued logging in. I soon realized that my performance was slipping because I wasn’t giving my 110% to my work. Something had to give.

I cannot describe the catalyst for which I decided to take a break from the Internet but it happened last month during my move into my new home. The Internet was set up the same day of the move, but for the life of me, I was too tired to log on. Then the next day, I was overwhelmed at work with training and learning a new computer system that I found myself working all day without accessing the Internet. When I got home, I didn’t even have a need to crack open my laptop. I started spending more time with my son and daughter, talking, reading, playing board games, and just living an Internet free lifestyle. After about a week of doing this without really trying, it became easier and easier and I didn’t even think about it. My Blackberry would notify me of e-mails, incoming tweets and DMs, Facebook messages and the like but I just read them and put the phone down. It was a strange phenomenon but it was then I realized how much time I was spending online and it was no longer healthy or satisfying. Before I took my break, I found myself socializing with some people online who I found out later were being fake or phony about their lifestyles and agendas. I think that along with me just needing a break away from the web made it even more apparent that the Internet was becoming something that I was growing away from.

This past Sunday, I gave way to my hiatus and began logging in to the various sites to communicate. But I do feel differently about it now. I don’t spend as much time as I used to online. Right now, the time I do spend on the Internet is about me building my brand, sharpening my writing on my blogs and other forums such as this where I am a contributor, and networking with other individuals, and less about fun and games and the other foolishness that I found myself getting into. Like with anything, it will take constant work to keep the negativity at bay the Internet sometimes can bring but I am ready for the challenge.

I am by no means condemning anyone who spends a lot of time online, that would be like me calling the kettle black. But I do see a positive change in my life as I have curtailed my web browsing and socializing. I get more accomplished and that is of course a good thing! I’d like to hear from you about your Internet tales. Do you think you spend a lot of time online? Are you addicted to the Internet? How much do you think is too much time spent Twittering, Facebooking, Myspacing and the like? HOLLA!

Tags: Addicted, career, children, FaceBook, family, focus, friends, Internet, kids, limited, myspace, network, Online, performance, socializing, traditional, Twitter, work

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm and is filed under This Woman's Work!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.