Reality vs. The Internet
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ve probably noticed I haven’t posted in about two weeks. I made the decision to step back and breathe a little. Not so much from writing on my blog, but step back from the internet altogether. I believe the internet is a great thing. Tons of information at your fingertips, loads of opportunity, and endless entertainment. However, the World Wide Web is not LIFE. The internet is a great tool, but it can easily become an addiction….a lazy man’s playground. I’m not under the impression that I’m addicted, however it has increasingly become a time waster if I don’t have a specific purpose for being online…or the computer for that matter.
Three primary reasons for my lack of posting.
- Although I’m spending less time online, I have become busy doing some design work.
- I have several business ideas, that I’ve been spending some time laying the foundations for.
- I’ve been spending more time with my son – away from home. If we’re at home all day, I’m probably spending too much time on the computer, while he’s not getting the attention he deserves.
What About You?
I realize that the term “blogoholic” is no new term, and so, I’m breaking no new ground here. However, I thought it would be fun to put together this list of traits that may indicate you need to step away, and take a little time off from your blog. It’s easy to get so caught up in the web, that you forget you actually have a life to live.
- You fall asleep at night thinking about your next post.
- You wake up in the morning thinking about your next post.
- You check your web statistics more than three times a day.
- You would rather blog than eat or sleep.
- You feel like the world will end when your internet connection goes down.
- You see a possible blog post in everything you see and do.
- You have Google Reader set as your homepage.
- Your level of self-esteem is tied to the number of blog comments you receive.
- Your level of self-esteem is tied to the number of RSS Subscribers you have.
- You consider the the Wordpress Codex as pleasure reading.
If this sounds like you, maybe you should back off a bit……..
I’m lucky my work arrangements allow me to focus more on blogging just ATM so I am “guilty” of quite a few things on the list
More so the first six items on the list, an the last four (but especially #5!! 
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Yeah, I know #5 quite well. That is one of the most frustrating things I can think of. Personally, I got past the “statistics” thing a long time ago, but that #10………now that’s me!
haha, I can’t say I ever got any pleasure from reading the Wordpress codex … but if my internet connection goes down I start pacing like a caged animal!
Course, I haven’t been much of a blogaholic lately. Just too busy with other stuff, online and off.
It’s gotta be fun. The big guys write about stuff they enjoy writing about – that’s their big criteria and after blogging since the beginning of this year, I can see how important that really is.
Fun discussion. Many a truth in jest. LOL
Kathleen Gage
It’s funny that you mention this because I’ve kind been away from my blog for the past few weeks as well. I just haven’t really had any creative juices flowing and had several other outside events away from the internet going on.
I’d say that out of the Top 10 that really the only 2 that I’m guilty of are #3 and #5. I’m getting better about not checking my web stats so much, but I still have no idea what to do when my internet connection goes down.
Maybe #5 doesn’t belong on this list, because that drives everyone nuts, whether you’re a blogger or not.
The internet is definitely a new “addiction”, but at least you can select what you want to see or read.
It’s tempting to surf through millions of pages, but it does not teach you how to focus.
It’s just very easy to look for another exciting thing on it after another and sometimes it does not take you anywhere.
I try to use the positive aspects of it like getting the necessary info or help others.