“Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.”

Anonymous

Photo by crystalspman

We’re all guilty of it. We waste our own time surfing the web looking at funny pictures and videos, or really nothing that interests us. It doesn’t hurt to do this once and awhile, but don’t let it become a habit. Here are some ways to prevent your internet use from becoming too wasteful.

Have a clear goal

For each site you visit, have a reason why you want to be there. Have a clear goal of what you would like to accomplish. Three well-known time wasters, Digg, YouTube, and Facebook, can easily turn productive when you have a goal planned. For Digg, may be you want to read one useful article or find one new website. Perhaps on Youtube you want to find a video on a topic that interests you, or maybe you want to make a new contact on Facebook. If you don’t have a clear goal before visiting a site, then avoid it. That is a positive sign of a time waster.

Don’t stray away

If you don’t want to spend too much time doing nothing and getting nowhere on the web, then you must prevent yourself from straying off and losing focus. If you’re watching a video don’t click on any of the related videos. If you watch one video, click on a related video, then that video will have 25 more related videos, if you click on another one, 25 more, and so on. These links will never end and consume even more of your valuable time. Focus on that one video or article now and come back to the related videos or links some other time.

Skip the IMs

Don’t sign into an instant message service if you really don’t have anything to say. Many people sign in just to see what’s going on. Similar to websites, if you want to save time, have a clear goal of what you want to accomplish. Don’t just strike up a pointless conversation because you could be wasting someone else’s time as well.

Time yourself

This might be the oldest trick in the book. Get yourself an egg timer and set it so that every time you go to a site you can give yourself about 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll stay on track and be kept motivated by hearing the ticking of the timer.

Take a day off

Just step away from the internet for a day. A full twenty-four hours. It’s simple but difficult for most. When your twenty-four hours is up and you’re back online, you’ll be much more ambitious to get a lot done.

Avoid arguments

The internet has brought people together and has given individuals the opportunity to express their true views. Many times people can be very tough or downright nasty on forums and social media sites. Take other people’s opinions into account and move on. Don’t waste your time with an argument. A disagreement online usually takes longer because of the time in between a rebuttal post. This is very true for forums.

Don’t stress the small things

On the internet we try to be as perfect as possible because we feel “everyone” is watching. People spend hours trying to get their social profiles just right and evenly rank their friends. Don’t worry about it. You’re never going to be perfect, no one will.

Recognize waste

There’s going to be days when you feel like wasting time surfing the web and then you’ll have other days when you don’t feel like it’s a waste at all. There’s plenty of ways you can turn your wasteful surfing into something productive. Recognize your waste and be turn it around.

Photo by gotbrimmed

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo by Harpagornis

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Photo by izarbeltza

In my posts I usually try to answer big questions that people are pondering. However, in this post I’m deciding to ask you and others questions about topics that I continue to think about. Whether it be war, money, success, or the environment. So here are 15 questions I want to ask you and the world. If you have any answers or have any questions for me, please leave a comment below.

1.) Is it better to donate money or to support a cause, organization, or person, in another way?

2.) Has the conflict and harm religion has caused outweighed the good it has produced?

3.) Will the greatest generation be the generation that doesn’t look to war or conflict for the solution to a major problem?

4.) Can all poverty and starvation ever be eradicated?

5.) Would you rather be born rich or poor?

6.) Why is it taking so long to switch to alternative fuels and energy?

7.) Why does the media profile so much negativity, as viewers, is that what we really desire to see and read?

8.) How come we continue to believe in politicians and their promises, when so many fail to follow through and keep those promises?

9.) Are most of your goals and dreams, wants or needs?

10.) Why is it so hard for people to be happy?

11.) Are we the only ones who exist in this universe?

12.) How do you plan on changing the world?

13.) Would you rather work 4 hours a week, earning $40,000 a month or would you rather work 40 hours a week, earning $400,000 a month?

14.) If you only had one more year to live, what would you do in that year?

15.) Have you found your purpose in life?

Photo by Wade Rockett