[ an utterly adorable birthday card and candle necklace Anthropologie sent me! ]
Lately I’ve been thinking more closely about my own limits in regards to the amazing world of the internet. Namely I’ve realized I am rubbish at keeping up with it all: I am no good at multi-tasking; never was and I dare say I never will be (although having children eventually may force me to improve upon this…). Something I fight against constantly and am never willing to admit about myself; I always try to do it all at the same time, and the result is becoming overwhelmed–especially with the internet.
So how can I work my “online life” more seamlessly into my day-to-day schedule and still keep up with my friends? (Without driving myself insane and throwing in the towel with the web!) As it is, if I get online early in the morning (I wake up fairly early, so I can log on long before the sun is up!), I get sucked in and things don’t get done. That meant I wasn’t as productive as I could be, and I had started to feel a bit of an aversion to the internet. I also am starting to realize that my blog reader was becoming unmanageable, and posts weren’t getting read and I was becoming an awful commenter (something that is important to me). Twitter, Flickr, and other social networking tools were falling behind too. I’ve had to be brutally honest with myself on this point: I just cannot keep up with it all and still make time for myself, my work, and my husband! I think the idea of slow technology (meaning that I don’t get as caught up in the perpetual drive to “keep up” 24/7 and take a laid back approach to the web) is something that suits my personality better. I am not going to feel badly that I consolidate things and spend less time online–work smarter, not harder, after all–right? So spending less time online, and trying to whittle things down to a manageable level for me is working smarter–it gives me room to breathe. I really admire people who can keep up with the frenetic pace of the web–but I just can’t!
Now, this is not saying that this is going to affect my blogging at all. In fact, I hope this more sensible approach to my virtual life and homemaking tasks will result in more fruitful writing and blogging output. I enjoy the act of jotting down my thoughts and ideas, and often have dozens of posts thought up in the course of the day–but just didn’t have the “time” to write. One of my goals this year has been to write more thoughtful, in depth posts about a variety of other topics (though still related to this blog)–I have so many things I want to say! So hopefully taking charge more of my online schedule will free up some writing time for me.
How do you work technology and keeping up with it all into your life? Do you find less is more, or do you have a magic formula for juggling things?
p.s. You may have noticed my posting times have been a bit wacky the last couple weeks. I have been making an effort to wait at least an hour in the morning before logging online (my usual post writing time). So, I’m still working out the kinks and trying to get in the habit of scheduling posts to go up the following morning! Hopefully, things will get straightened out a bit more in the coming weeks as I rework my schedule a bit!
Story of my life…time management is hard, and every day I work to try and be better at it. My favorite trick right now is my nighttime routine…half hour before I go to bed, I do the dishes, look at the weather for the next day and think about what experiments I have to do and choose what I’m going to wear, shut off my computer, put on pjs (or take a cold shower if it’s the summertime and hot beforehand) and have a bit of tea while reading a chapter of a book. I’m just about perfectly chill when I’m ready to head to bed. …which is great.
Hi Casey : )
I can totally relate to what you’re saying. I am one of those who get sucked in as well! There is just sooo much I want to see on the net. So many interesting blogs, youtube channels, publications etc. And I LOVE to learn new things and get to see things from other people’s perspectives. I am by nature one who enjoys to observe people and to try and understand the reasoning behind their actions, and the web provides plenty of opportunities for that!
I use way to much time on the internet. I really do. And as a result I’ve become the worst procrastinator. I would love to find the right balance and be able to surf with moderation.
Life is too precious to spend most of it on the internet. But to follow up on that statement and put words into action is a real battle…
Yeay for spending more time off-line! I’m cheering for you: )
Micha
You arent alone Casey… I read your post and kept nodding!!! I think its about being strict, and you are right, set the day up as you mean to go on. Online first thing is a disaster. I am trying desperatly to stop myself switching on in the mornings. Its a hard habit to break but I just know that I will be so much happier if I start my days in the real world, not a virtual one. I may even get more sewing done! Im making Friday nights my catch up online night and after lunch my daily online time to check for orders etc. Ive even bought a kitchen timer to keep by the laptop so I only get a set amount of time. Virtual time goes ten times faster! Good luck, Ren x
I think everyone can relate to this! As a SAHM, it’s tempting to pop online during the day, just to get some adult information in my system. It’s hard when the most stimulating thing you’ve read all day is “Green Eggs and Ham!” But it’s hard to not get distracted while on-line, and I find myself a hour later, with a two year old climbing all over me saying, “turn it offffffffffff!!!”
For me, I’ve had to start being more selective about the blogs I read, and how actively and often I comment. I like to comment too, and I just don’t have the time to do it every day. I find that the best time for me to get on the computer is after I pick my son up from school and my kids are having some quiet playtime, or after they are in bed. But if I get on the computer after their bedtime, I find myself still sitting here hours later, and I haven’t had any time to sew! I like Ren’s idea of the kitchen timer. I’ll have to try it!
I can so understand. I am way too bad about getting on here and reading and reading, talking to my friends on my two “boards” and playing POGO games. (Hi my name is renee and I am addicted to Canasta, ummm and Scrabble, and uhhhh well a few other games)
I have to make myself stay away (I’m taking a break right now I’ve been outside in the heat planting flowers) to get other things done.
If it will help you any don’t feel obligated to send replies to anything I say to you here. I think that is very sweet that you do.
I’ve been married for almost 40 years (I was just 17 when I got married) and I was telling someone the other day life was so uncomplicated back then. We didn’t have a phone, didn’t even have a TV for a while, my hubby had just gotten out of the Army and we lived in a tiny mobile home. We didn’t have a lot of money but I had my sewing machine and was so happy just spending my days sewing while he was at work.
Casey, your blog is great. I really enjoy it. Just do what you need to do. If you can’t post as often then don’t, we will still look forward to what you have to say when you do have a chance. When things become chores and you are stressing over them they just aren’t fun.
I’m glad to see other people with my same problem of being on-line way too much.
So now I’m going to turn on AOL Radio to my favorite Jazz-BigBand station so I can hear it outside and go plant the rest of those flowers.
Best wishes to you.
Sorry double post
Oh, I have that problem too. Too much time online, not enough attention to other stuff (like housekeeping)! I recently went through my reader and tried to cut down, but it’s hard when there are so many interesting things to learn!
I have 3 things that I want to do well in my life–homeschooling my kids, sewing, and running a comfortable home. The homeschooling comes first, and sewing and housekeeping kind of take turns. Right now the house is wrecked but I’ve gotten a lot of great sewing done! My husband has been on a short business trip and I probably ought to spend today making the house livable so he doesn’t trip and break a leg on the way in.
I’m looking forward to summer–I have a whole list of sewing projects to do!
I can completely relate to you here! I’ve throughly enjoyed reading and viewing your lovely blog since I discovered it about a month ago. I admire all you do accomplish!
I love making little lists and I find that a little list can help in a big way with time management. Before I log on to the internet I make a little list of what I want to check out, update, read, etc. My lists usually look something like this;
Blog – 20
tumblr – 10
facebook – 5
google reader – 10
news – 15
the numbers represent the amount of time I allot myself on each site. I try not to spend more than an hour on the internet. If I find myself bored later in the day I can come back and play around but for busy days I try to stick to no more than an hour a day. To enforce this rule I use a kitchen timer for each site I’m at and once the timer goes off it’s time to move on! Time management at it’s finest. Plus the constant ticking of the timer helps me not linger longer than necessary.
I have a similar problem, but with a catch: the work I am supposed to be doing instead of being online also involves using the computer! (I’m a full time student writing a thesis, so obviously I do a lot of typing). Blargh, I am new to blogging and been in school too long so… Honestly, I feel like at least I am getting visual and creative stimulation, better than sitting around watching TV right?
The internet is a time consuming place…As I know myself well enough to know I’m easily distracted, I have deliberately chosen not to join certained sites/groups/whatever on the net. I have facebook and I have my blog. The first ten blogs on my list of favourites I check pretty much every day, the rest only when I have no energy to do anything physical. I’m not much of a tv-person, blog-reading is my kind of relaxation, sometimes the only thing I do have the energy for after coming home from work. And as for my own blog, I try to post about 2 times a week, and to let it be a fun thing and not a chore. Real life always has to come first…
These are my “rules”. But I do find myself getting stuck reading blogs at times when I could be sewing and doing house work etc. So lately I’ve added another rule, to get something checked off my to do-list before I turn on the computer! Works pretty good…Good luck figuring your own routines out!
I definitely agree– I wonder sometimes if I were a better Internet user if my blog would be more successful, but I really had no more time or patience for any more intenetting than I already do! So, I had to get to a place where I was spending the amount of time I want to spend online (1-2 hours per day) and enjoying writing my posts. And that doesn’t necessarily equal up to the number of readers and advertisers that I would like, but at the end of the day I gotta like what I do! Good luck to you and your new time management ventures!
xo,Elissa
I completely understand Casey. I love reading and commenting on others blogs but I too am getting to the point where I can’t do it all. My posting has also become sporadic at best, leaving at 7.30am and getting home after 6pm monday to friday has a lot to do with it, and only really having time to take photos on the weekends.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it, I love reading your posts when you have the time to write them, and its much better to have a well thought out post put up once a week that a short attempt in the hopes to write more regularly.
XX
Jen
I completely hear you. It’s very overwhelming to try to keep up with all my favorite reads AND my own blog, and still do the things I love that made me start reading/writing in the first place! I’ve got a self-imposed “rule”. I am an early riser too, even on the weekends, but my absolute cut-off for internet is 9 am on the weekends. Whatever I want to read/do/research, must be done by then. Then, I’m cut off except for one email check in the middle of the day if I really need to, but no surfing until after 5 pm. (then my nightly rule kicks in, haha. Read on!)
During the week, since I teach HS, i don’t get home until after 4 pm and am not finished with dinner, etc. until after 6. So, I allow myself after school/waiting while dinner cooks email & surfing, but I like to be off by 7:30 (note that I’m 20 min past that today!!) And off by 7 is even better! It is still shocking to me how 2 hours can fly by when I’m on the internet. It sounds crazy, but if I can keep this type of schedule, I’m happier and I get so much more done! And, since I’m principally a sewist, I can’t really participate in that if I”m online. So I need to get off the nets more!
I feel your pain. I always find myself rushing to finish the days post so I can get to bed, or just giving up on blogging for umm, three weeks.
Sometimes I think us fashion bloggers have it hardest of all though: not only to we have to keep up with the rushed online world, we also have to keep up with our outfit and clothing creation, so we have something to write about!
I really struggle with this too – particularly commenting. I feel guilty when I can’t comment regularly on my favourite blogs, because the people behind them are very special, and I want them to know they are appreciated (like you, for example).
I think your approach sounds good. Like Amber above, I find it helpful to set a timer – when the timer goes off, I have to get off the Internet!
(Still haven’t solved my commenting problem, though!)
dear casey, i wish i had a solution! i struggle with similar issues and my blogging is terribly sporadic. i think working from a schedule is a good start. i know us creative types often resist that kind of structure (i do anyway) but a little bit can be very helpful when you have a lot on your plate. forcing myself to sit down and paint feels strange at first but once i get going it’s ok; and at least i feel good knowing that i’m making small accomplishments.
anyway, best of luck!
What a good insight and great idea of a very sound approach to the internet. My philosophy on the net is that I get to it when I have time. I never manages to write all the blog posts I think about writing, my facebook-use can vary from 10 min a day to once every other week, depending on work and the rest of my life. I’ve come to the conclusion this is actually a good thing.
Basically, for me, internet comes second to work, dance, friends, the gym, baking, reading and even some tv-shows. I find that it’s either this way, or I end up not being online for ages or running myself to the ground.
I’m rooting for your new internet-era! And if you sometimes don’t feel like posting, please don’t feel like you ought to! Please remember, as much as we love reading your posts, this is your blog. And we’ll keep reading no matter if the posts comes a little bit now and then, or if it’s longer between the posts.
Good luck, I hope you’ll find a system and approach that works for you!
It sounds to me that you have too many irons in the internet fire. Why not limit your contributions to the vast amount of info out there? Like, forget twitter and tumblr and keep this blog and fickr. Or some other combination you enjoy. The internet, while a great outlet for expression and community, can become dehumanizing very quickly. I sometimes have to completely unplug, for months, just to regain a sense of the natural order of life. And even when I’m back online, I limit myself. My blog is hardly ever updated, but that’s okay. I didn’t design it to be a daily thing. It’s just an outlet of expression for myself and (hopefully) a little entertainment for anyone who stumbles upon it. It’s not a chore – I’ve got enough of those already – and I’m sure you don’ t need any more chores either.
Casey, I think especially women in business for themselves feel the need to be on all the time. I’m a professor and I’m no good example–I work all day every day. But I have read quite a bit about this. Part of it is about setting priorities and allotting those priorities the time they deserve and not the time they seem to demand of you. People understand that you’re not sitting at your computer waiting for them to email you. It’s okay to set boundaries. There are some good resources out there for setting up boundaries. One tip is to not do email first thing in the morning–save the first energy for the most important stuff. I came across this post a couple of weeks ago and thought this was interesting. http://bneato.blogspot.com/2010/04/try-this-on-for-size.html
I can totally relate to you. I work from 9-6 in IT in the internet industry designing and developing websites and apps so I spend most of my waking work hours online anyway, but I narrow down the list of blogs to keep up with. For time management at home, I try to cook two or three times a week, making big batches that I’ll eat for the whole week. I also try to limit the freelance deadlines that I have outside of work, and limit my social engagements to just family if I have a lot of freelance to do. My time to unplug is going to the dojo, which is 2-3 nights per week, and I’ll try to sew for a little bit each day (30 min or so).
Don’t feel pressured to keep up with everything online. The world on the internet is huge, and it would be a full-time job just to read and catch up with blogs out there. Maybe set up a priority on the things most important to you (email, blog, flickr?) and you can drop the online activities that have less importance (twitter?).
Your blog is great and I hope it isn’t affected by your feeling overwhelmed (?) by responsibilities. Please keep writing!
wow Casey you really bring up a good point! I have been feelin that way for ages, and at one point it even got in the way of my school work which is when i took a break! between selling and blogging and wanting to promote both it can be just exhausting! But I think you have so many fantastic creative real life things to blog about, and I really admire your ability to always be doing something!
I don’t know what kind of advice I can offer, but put the things that make you the happiest first, and the rest will fall into place I think!
thank you for putting this into words. i think we all feel this way sometimes, but we just don’t deal with it. i’m taking your idea and making a list of offline projects to work on. i need an internet time limit…
I *have* kids and I can’t seem to multi-task very well…STILL!
I sort of have a system worked out. I use things like the dishwasher cycle or the laundry cycle to accomplish some things. “How much of the living room can I clean while I wait on laundry?” Then when the laundry needs to be folded, thats when I sit and watch something I DVRd…so I’m still DOING something, but get to do something for myself. As far as FB & blogs…I have a blog, but have neglected it for a few weeks. FB is an auto-check b/c that’s how I sometimes hear from the deployed husband. I know I have to get the kiddo up by a certain time for the bus…so I get up a little earlier than that to get on FB. I use naptime for the little one to read blogs.
I also subscribe to some of the status updates from FB…any time someone posts to my wall or sends me a message, I get it to my cellphone (not a fancy one either, its basic compared to recent models). So…I know if someone is talking to ME, lol. I have the same for my husband…and you can do it for anyone. I just do it for the 2 of us, though…cuz I figure anyone else I can check while the kids bathe (the bathroom is right outside the office door).
The world of the internet is crazy. There is so much going on the web, it would be a full time job keeping up with it all! I have a habit of using the internet too much also. I want to set a goal where I put off the computer and read and relax before going to bed every night. I will see how it goes!