The Long Road

11/23/2003 Archived Entry: "The Challenge"

The Internet is an addiction. I have no doubts about that. It happens so often that I'll want to get something done only to get sidetracked for hours on end reading up on stuff online or chatting to various people. For CS assignments, I'll be away from my PC doing the written sections and as soon as I'm on my computer to do the coding parts I'll waste mountains of time not coding. There always seems to be something to look at on the Internet, whether checking email, comments, or my inumerable list of sites that I check everyday. Sure, to our society computers are the biggest productivity tools to emerge in the last couple of decades but for me the complete opposite is true.

It's happened very often that I'll be at the library "studying" and have an uncontrollable urge to find the nearest PC and check my email or newsarama. When I was once studying in DC, everything was going fine until my friend pulled out her laptop to check something and I was so tempted to borrow it to turn on msn or something. I swear I was close to having the shakes.

The problem is choice. It's always easier to choose to not do something productive. So take away that choice and we don't have a problem anymore!

So here's the point of this entry. I'm not exactly where I want to be in terms of marks and Internet-procrastination is high on the list of causes. With Finals and The Last Assignements fast approaching its time to get serious. Ergo, I'm challenging myself to limit my time on my computer. There is very little work I do that actually requires my pc to be on so for all those things my pc will be off. And for things like Coding, I will leave MSN Messenger off so that I'm not distracted by the temptation to talk to you people. This isn't cold turkey though, I'm giving myself two hours at the end of everyday to screw around on the 'net. So yes, during exams I plan for my computer to be off 22 out of 24 hours a day.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. It definately helps though, I think, to have this plan written out for everyone to see, makes it more 'official' and harder for me to break out of it. The Challenge starts tomorrow. Let's see how long I can keep this up before I go insane.

Replies: 9 comments

I'm gonna join the challenge too!
Ive currently got a 92% average, but I have a feeling if I start to slack now (after mid term)my marks will DROP! :(
[Mid term marks]
Calculus - 93
Physics - 91
English - 91

Here's hoping for the best! Good luck to us both Rayne :)

Posted by Dave @ 11/23/2003 11:43 PM EST

show off =P

Posted by Rayne @ 11/23/2003 11:44 PM EST

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."

Thanks Galdalf.

Posted by Romer @ 11/24/2003 12:48 AM EST

the internet isn't an addiction ... personalities are addictive (or at least that was the thesis of my internet addiction paper, way back when); i'm sure you'll find some other version of procrastination to fill up your internet void ... so really, why waste time finding something new and unproductive to do when you already have something that works. :p

Posted by melpie @ 11/24/2003 10:50 AM EST

That entry was plagued with corny references to movies Thai...c'mon...:P!

As for easing an internet addiction, switch to dial-up...;)...I fear getting high speed because I feel it would eat away my time as well...it may save time on those important searches or downloads, but I know I'd just be wasting more time on the net with it...

Posted by dAN @ 11/24/2003 05:13 PM EST

Thanks for the vote of confidence, melissa pie.

you' have no idea how long I've been waiting to use those movie lines!! its been eating at my soul for weeks!

I would never go back to dial up...its not something you can reverse here.

Posted by Rayne @ 11/24/2003 11:01 PM EST

Good call, Thai! I am not going to join your challenge though because I know I won't survive. Heck, I am violating right now because my assignment does not require my PC to be on but I'm on it to write this comment. Too bad. Sorry, can't join you in this challenge, but best of luck to you, man! Let me know how it goes. :D

Posted by Katie @ 11/25/2003 02:45 AM EST

after not having the internet for four months straight in my place, i'd forgotten how to waste time on the internet. i mean, sure, i did it it every day at work (i had to fill the void somehow!), but when i got it back on my own computers, i'd forgotten what it was i used to do on it. i checked my email, and then i thought now what? and i walked away from it. i still haven't gotten back up to fully efficient internet procrastination yet. and i like it that way. i like being able to not waste tons of time.

Posted by shawnathan @ 11/26/2003 12:19 AM EST

I knew posting this would work, people are msg'ing me everytime I'm online to say "shouldn't you not be online?" and them I bugger off.

Posted by Rayne @ 11/26/2003 05:47 PM EST