Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

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Stahlmann
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Stahlmann »

I must admit. I need help.

Any thoughts for good counselling or therapy?


Stahlmann
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Stahlmann »

Well, after years of spending time with computer, so small steps are riddiculuos (don't take it personally).

I went cold turkey (*). But there is this danger, like at the moment, when I have access to the internet. I feel this rush, I am checking zillion pages at one time.

(*) Saved everything needed to my work on PC. Then I put the cable to my internet (I don't have WiFi) in my basement uder heavy bed. If I need, I will take it. Most of the time it takes to much time.

rref
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by rref »

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Last edited by rref on Fri Oct 27, 2017 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

Tyler9000
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Tyler9000 »

rref wrote:
Tue May 30, 2017 11:56 am
2) Block the top 3 time drains fully on weekdays using a program like getcoldturkey.com
Good advice.

I used to think I was addicted to video games, when in fact I was addicted to one game in particular. After much denial I got rid of that game, and suddenly the other options were all uninteresting. That realization helped isolate the problem and eventually encourage me to explore new hobbies.

It's likely you're not addicted to the internet as a whole but to certain repetitive activities located on the internet. Identify and isolate.

sky
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by sky »

Also identify the positive things you get from the net and how you get them. I find that if I type a search word that I want to learn about, I can get high quality results, where if I just run through my bookmarks it's often a waste of time.

Stahlmann
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Stahlmann »

Tyler9000 wrote:
Tue May 30, 2017 3:03 pm
rref wrote:
Tue May 30, 2017 11:56 am
2) Block the top 3 time drains fully on weekdays using a program like getcoldturkey.com
Good advice.

I used to think I was addicted to video games, when in fact I was addicted to one game in particular. After much denial I got rid of that game, and suddenly the other options were all uninteresting. That realization helped isolate the problem and eventually encourage me to explore new hobbies.

It's likely you're not addicted to the internet as a whole but to certain repetitive activities located on the internet. Identify and isolate.

Well, I see that in longterm I substituted X site, then Y site, and next Z site and so on.
The problem is deeper.

BRUTE
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by BRUTE »

sounds like the problem is that Stahlmann doesn't have any actual things to be excited about. maybe he should keep looking.

Stahlmann
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Stahlmann »

BRUTE wrote:
Tue May 30, 2017 10:22 pm
sounds like the problem is that Stahlmann doesn't have any actual things to be excited about. maybe he should keep looking.
What do you mean? Your advice seems to be pretty generic.

Toska2
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Toska2 »

Find something better than the internet.
It's generic because that could be anything. I do outdoorsy stuff. (There will be a time I can't so I'm doing it now.)

Asatheonli
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Asatheonli »

I'd like to think self discipline is a talent. I read somewhere that it takes at least 90 something days of doing something consistently to make it into a lifestyle. Whatever you decide if you tell yourself I'm going to do it for 3 months straight no matter what, I'm sure you'll change your lifestyle then.

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Last edited by Asatheonli on Fri Nov 24, 2017 11:43 am, edited 2 times in total.

BRUTE
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by BRUTE »

out of personal experience, brute can attest that the 90 days habit thing is BS. some things brute has done straight up every day for years, and completely changed overnight. others he could never stick with, until something happened, and from then on it was an afterthought.

FBeyer
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by FBeyer »

Stahlmann wrote:
Wed May 31, 2017 7:43 am
BRUTE wrote:
Tue May 30, 2017 10:22 pm
sounds like the problem is that Stahlmann doesn't have any actual things to be excited about. maybe he should keep looking.
What do you mean? Your advice seems to be pretty generic.
Unfortunately, so does your description of your troubles.
Unspecific problem formulations attract unspecific solutions.

Crete
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Crete »

Stahlmann, I have problems with internet browsing as well. It is my default activity, taking up the majority of my idle time.

I believe Brute was on to something when he said that the activity of internet procrastination is valued higher than some other activity that is to be preferred for some reason. The general options in your case here appear to be:

1. Decreasing the relative value of internet procrastination (measures to prevent enjoyment of the internet, such as limiting favorite web pages, placing internet cable in the basement, etc.) - it appears that you have already tried solutions like this. Rref listed the best and most practical of these options. You could also try making your internet slower, or something.

2. Increasing the relative value of some alternative (getting in to a habit that makes an alternate activity generate an equal or greater amount of pleasure, such as walking/exploring immediate location, in-person social interaction, some hobby, etc) - You may or may not have tried this yet. Toska2 does outdoorsy stuff. Try thinking back to your childhood of the things you enjoyed doing or the kind of things you dreamed of being able to do. This may be somewhat naive, but you could try building a relationship with some person to the extent that you enjoy hanging out with them more than you enjoy internet browsing.

3. Change the underlying valuation system. This is the only solution in the long run, given your apparently deep-seated desire to spend time on the internet. Thankfully, this could probably come by an implementation over time of the previous 2 options, by counseling by a psychologist or religious minister, or by some general change in who you are that seems to happen over time without prompting.

Hope you find one of these useful. Best of luck.

EdithKeeler
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by EdithKeeler »

I waste a ton of time randomly browsing the internet. Usually it starts with a specific purpose, then I go here.. then there.... pretty soon I've wasted 2 hours.

I've started setting a 15 minute timer on my Echo for home, and on my phone, I've locked out all my "problem" websites. It's helped. Yeah, sometimes I ignore the timer, or reset it for another 15 minutes... then another 15 minutes.... but most of the time I abide by it, telling myself I can come back later.

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fiby41
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by fiby41 »

Internet procrastinators and retirees are the two groups naturally overrepresented on this forum as they have the time and inclination to dig into the depths of the interwebs deep enough to find it, especially as the blog is not updated with new content.

rref
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by rref »

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Last edited by rref on Fri Oct 27, 2017 10:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

Stahlmann
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Re: Procrastination/internet addiction - any solutions?

Post by Stahlmann »

rref wrote:
Sun Jun 04, 2017 4:44 am
We could create a "reduce webbrowsing accountability thread". Which board would be most appropriate for this?
I heard it is better to collect what you have achieved.
If you want to have accountbaility partner, please contact me on PM (we can use some generic platform to keep track).

There is study log:
viewtopic.php?t=7988

Personally, I will contact professional.

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