Checking email too often
There is some research that indicates that switching tasks or multi-tasking takes time as the brain adjusts to the new activity. If you are an addictive or compulsive email checker, consider doing an experiment to decrease the time spent checking your email:
- Limit checking your email to the Dr. Pepper pattern: 10-2-4. If you can manage, go down to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Then to once a day.
- Turn off the audible or visual indicator for new mail arriving.
- Set up automatic emails (autoresponderers) or websites to handle most repetitive inquiries. See an example of a site that I set up for the organizers of my workshops to get what they need from me at http://www.possibill.com/sponsors. This has saved me about 12 hours a month.
- Get off any mailing lists you no longer read, including this one Life's too short. Or gently ask the person who sends you all those political or humor emails to take you off their list, citing the desire to spend less time on the computer and more time living your life or spending time with your loved ones.
Surfing websites or the web too much
Here are some strategies to decrease your web surfing time. Learn more efficient web surfing. The few minutes you put in to this can save you hours of time each year. I learned one strategy (how to search a site I am on for the particular phrase of word I am looking for by choosing a menu command (it's usually under the Edit menu and is the "Find" or "Find on this page" option. This has saved me hours of time this year. Identify the sites you visit often and think clearly about the value vs. time spent equation. Are those funny YouTube videos really adding to the quality of your life? When I examined this area, I found I was visiting Macintosh rumor sites regularly. Ridiculous waste of time which added little value.
There is some research that indicates that switching tasks or multi-tasking takes time as the brain adjusts to the new activity. If you are an addictive or compulsive email checker, consider doing an experiment to decrease the time spent checking your email:
- Limit checking your email to the Dr. Pepper pattern: 10-2-4. If you can manage, go down to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Then to once a day.
- Turn off the audible or visual indicator for new mail arriving.
- Set up automatic emails (autoresponderers) or websites to handle most repetitive inquiries. See an example of a site that I set up for the organizers of my workshops to get what they need from me at http://www.possibill.com/sponsors. This has saved me about 12 hours a month.
- Get off any mailing lists you no longer read, including this one Life's too short. Or gently ask the person who sends you all those political or humor emails to take you off their list, citing the desire to spend less time on the computer and more time living your life or spending time with your loved ones.
Surfing websites or the web too much
Here are some strategies to decrease your web surfing time. Learn more efficient web surfing. The few minutes you put in to this can save you hours of time each year. I learned one strategy (how to search a site I am on for the particular phrase of word I am looking for by choosing a menu command (it's usually under the Edit menu and is the "Find" or "Find on this page" option. This has saved me hours of time this year. Identify the sites you visit often and think clearly about the value vs. time spent equation. Are those funny YouTube videos really adding to the quality of your life? When I examined this area, I found I was visiting Macintosh rumor sites regularly. Ridiculous waste of time which added little value.
Watching mindless television shows
Do you really care who can dance or sing better than others? Or have you been led to care by clever television executives? At the end of the year, is the quality of your life better due to the television you have watched or not? Try going for a walk with a friend . Exercise and friendship have been show to be positively correlated with happiness. Do an experiment and skip one night of television a week to try something different.
Do you really care who can dance or sing better than others? Or have you been led to care by clever television executives? At the end of the year, is the quality of your life better due to the television you have watched or not? Try going for a walk with a friend . Exercise and friendship have been show to be positively correlated with happiness. Do an experiment and skip one night of television a week to try something different.
Reading fluff magazines
What magazines do you read regularly? Are they really worth it? Try skipping a few weeks of your typical magazines or letting your subscriptions lapse. Then examine your feelings and decide which, if any, you want to continue.
Other time wasters or habits
Honestly examine any typical habits or things you do for their time wasting vs. providing value ratio. Do experiments limiting the time you spend doing them (you might use a kitchen timer) or stopping them for a short time to examine the change in the quality of your life or the time you have available to do things you have been wanting to do; pursue a neglected hobby; spend more time exercising; spend more time with your family; finally write that book you have been wanting to write; and so on.
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Bill O’Hanlon, M.S., Possibilities, 223 N. Guadalupe #278, Santa Fe, NM 87501 USA 800.381.2374; Fax# 505.983.2761; PossiBill@brieftherapy.com; http://www.brieftherapy.com/
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