Many people use the internet to conduct business as well as relax and communicate with friends and family. It is easy to lose track of time when you are working and spend way more time than you intended looking at funny Facebook statuses or YouTube videos. Managing your time well usually involves a combination of making a list of the sites you need to visit, timing your breaks and blocking social and game sites during times that you need to be productive.

How To Stop Wasting Time On The Internet

5 Tips Stop Wasting Time On The Internet


Make A List of Sites You Must Visit


Many people begin their day by checking their email and reading updates on Facebook. It is important to make a list of the websites that you need to visit each day before you get online so that you can keep yourself focused on the task at hand and not get distracted. Checking your email is a productive use of your time, but all spam and unimportant emails should be deleted immediately so that they are not clogging your inbox.

Avoid following links in the emails you read unless they are things that must be acted on immediately. It is easy to lose an hour of time looking at the latest fashions on a department store website or dreaming about your next vacation on a travel website. If shopping or vacation planning are not on your agenda for the day, move the emails to appropriate folders and go on with the next website on your list.

Time Your Work and Breaks


An online timer is a wonderful tool for managing the amount of time you spend online. It is a good idea to give yourself a certain amount of time to complete each task such as answering emails or working on your blog. Most people have trouble focusing after one hour, so setting the timer for an hour is a good place to start. Make sure that you are actually working during the time you have set for work. Set the timer for a shorter amount of time in the future if you find yourself running out of work to do during your work time.

It is essential to take short breaks throughout the day. It is a good idea to set aside break time for both online and off-line leisure activities. Online leisure activities may include reading status updates on your personal Facebook page, playing games on your favorite and best gaming sites or browsing new items on the websites of your favorite stores. Set the online timer for 15 or 20 minutes and allow yourself leisure time online without guilt.

At least every three hours you should take a break that doesn't involve the computer. Eat a snack, take a walk, call a friend or run an errand. It doesn't matter what you do as long as it does not involve the Internet. It is a good idea to time these breaks as well so that you don't become so focused on your break activity that you don't have enough time to complete everything you need to accomplish online.

Define Your Workday


Many people who work online finish their workday by checking their email and business Facebook pages, while others check their personal email and make sure they have answered everyone before logging off. Giving yourself a definite end to your work day is vital so that you can quell the urge to check your email after hours. Just because your computer is available all day doesn't mean you should be checking it every hour. Everyone should have balance to their life and it is easy to become a workaholic.

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Block Sites That Tempt You


Self-control is a skill that most people have difficulty mastering, especially when it is so easy for a quick check to become an hour-long distraction. There are several sites that allow you to block yourself from looking at different websites for a period of time that you set. These websites are most helpful for people who feel the urge to check Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest every five minutes to see what other people have posted. Only allow yourself access to these sites during your online breaks until you are no longer accustomed to checking in constantly. Most of these sites also track the amount of time you spend on certain websites, which is helpful if you are not aware of the amount of time you are spending playing games or watching YouTube videos.

Make Your Start Page Relaxing


Some people set their start page to a news site or search engine, while others choose their email homepage as their start page. Setting your homepage as a personal page with an inspirational quote or a list of your goals will help you focus on things that are important to you every time you access the internet instead of being bombarded with new email or the latest news stories. Keeping your inspiration or goals at the forefront of your mind helps to keep you focused on things that will help you accomplish your goals instead of wasting your time online and getting distracted by everything that is going on in the world around you.

OnlineClock.net offers many web-based time tools that can help you get more done online. The next time you set out to get some work done, try setting one of Online Clock's many different countdowns or web timers, and then give yourself a deadline for each task. All of Online Clock's countdown tools are free, so be sure to use one today!
 
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