Finding time starts with finding out what you do with your time right now. You gain a lot of power from tuning into your choices, moment by moment. And although the Internet may ‘steal’ a big portion of your productive time, you can use the Internet to reclaim it.
How can you master your web-wandering impulses? Start by becoming more conscious of your viewing habits. In the same way that recording what you eat helps make you a more conscious eater, documenting what sites you visit helps you train your attention to where you stray, and when.
At the end of your workday, review and identify the history on your browser.
1. Which sites directly furthered your objectives?
2. Which merely distracted you?
3. How do you feel when you view the list?
Tip #1: Tune In:
Pay close attention to how you feel when you look at the list. Because if you don’t feel good about your choices, you’re providing yourself with valuable feedback for the next time you’re tempted to stray. Nothing undercuts denial like looking at a list of every escape route you’ve explored during the day.
Tip #2: Compare and Contrast:
Consider making a screen shot of your day’s travel over the Internet. (If you enter “screen shot” in your search engine, you can access instructions – it’s easy and free.) Date it, and compare it with other days throughout the week. Notice similarities and differences, and reflect how your choices affected your overall satisfaction with your day’s work.
Tip #3: Connect the Dots:
If you need further support, amplify the above exercise by studying the big picture. What sites do you visit the most? What feelings or thoughts trigger your impulse to leave your work behind? The more closely you can correlate the stimulus to each site you visit, the more effectively you can find a better solution for yourself.
For example, if you feel restless, a quick break and stretch will restore you more than idly clicking on links. And if you tune out when beset by worries about a certain stage of your work, bringing your focus to troubleshooting will enhance your confidence and move you forward.
Many automatic habits wither under the clear light of observation. If you truly want to improve your focus when working online, try this exercise for as little as a week. Chances are that you will start making better use of your online time.
What is your next step to make the most of your time?