Thursday, June 28, 2007

a tidy house...

a tidy house means a broken computer!! i read this phrase somewhere while digging here and there in the net... didn't believe it back then, i remember i had this silly grinn on my face when i read it, i was convincing myself that I don't have enough time to tidy up properly cuz of work and my demanding little devil "raed".. but looks like it was true after all...
I've been facing some probs with my PC until it collapsed completely :( it's been just two days now and i don't know what to do.. i finally found a LOT of free time!! have i been spending my day on the computer? i really can't belive it..
i finally had the chance to iron that HUGE pile of clothes that was hiding in the corner of my room.. my husband couldn't stop giggling when he saw me ironing.. he said "no enough time, huh?"... i also had time to play with raed with his new toy "fishing", and believe it or not, at 6:00 p.m. i was bored.. for the first time for weeks.. even years.. me.. bored..
so, is the computer an addiction? does the computer have that magic that can steal all this time from us and from our lives? also from the lives of the people we love?
I decided to make a move and stop spending THAT much time on the computer, so i googled and this is what i found: "an article talking about spending less time on your computer" and here it is "in red":
This article will explain how you can stop spending time on the computer and get out and see the world, instead of being cramped up inside all the time.
This however will take time and perhaps money. Steps Start slowly. You can't go from spending 6-8 hours on the computer to spending 1-2 hours a day. Find something else to do. If you don't have a hobby or an activity you enjoy, try something new.
A few ideas other than music and sports are: volunteering, drawing, creating collages, 4-wheeling, reading/writing, walking around town, hiking, photography, boating/seadoos, and paintball. (non of these are available in Gaza, except for reading and writing, there is no natural surrounding so you can go for a walk or hiking or what ever, and also you can't go boating, that's for sure, our boats can hardly fish!!Check the local paper for activities and events that you might be interested in. (he he he.. events.. here? in Gaza? that's a joke)
Limit your time on the computer.(OK, that's our main target.. but how CAN we do it?) If you have a hard time with it, get someone to put a password on your computer and have them type the password in for you when it is your allowed time on the computer . ( Yeah, maybe i'll strangle this someone.. it's MY pc?!)Another option is to get rid of the Internet and use a local library or cap site for your Internet. ( What? me? loose my connection? are they mad?) Instead of using Instant Messengers, just call.(OK.. but instant messaging is CHEAPER.. naa it's FREE)
Tips:
Not spending a lot of time on the computer has many benefits, for example, it will improve your posture.
Warnings:
Don't try to go cold turkey!! It has to be a gradual process.
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Stop Spending Too Much Time Online. The Internet can be a valuable resource for education and fun, but how much is too much? Why can't people stop? Here are some tips to help you quit staring at the computer screen and get out and do something productive. (i.e. ironing and playing with ur kidz)
Steps
Monitor the time you spend on the computer each day. Try setting an alarm for one or two hours and take a break. ( i already have a break each time my son wants me to switch the channel or look for "TOM & JERRY" or taking him to the bathroom... etc) Figure out what you spend the most time on (e-mail, games, music, IM, wikiHow, etc) and limit the time to a couple hours.
Find activities that take you away from the computer. Read a good book, go for a bike ride, play with the kids, dog, etc.
Quit reading this article, turn your computer off, and do something productive.
Tips
Avoid sites like addictinggames.com or myspace.com Use the Internet at a public library. :S
They usually limit the time to a couple hours. (Plus it's free) (we don't have public libraries with Internet connection, they don't have computers in the first place)
Buy software to help monitor and even constrain your online time.
Parental control software can do this but you will need to make the administrator password inaccessible.
It is recommended to have someone else set the password for you, so settings can be changed in the future.
Buy some video or computer games. That will ensure that you are not on the Internet and you'll have fun with the computer too.(OK, i bought Zuma and finished it.. what to do now, buy a new one? and turn to a game addict?)
Also, buy some computer software that is related to your hobbies but does not need a constant internet connection.

I really feel that the article was trying to be helpful, but it wasn't that helpful for me... gonna try to find something... and when i do.. i'm gonna write my own article.. he he he...

until then, i'll be spending my precious time on the net.. as usual.. but of course, after my PC is maintained...

p.s.: i'm at my friend's... that's how i wrote this post...

Dew


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I suffer with the same problem as you and the only thing I do to correct it is to promise myself that if a TV programme is on that I won't be on the computer more than the length of the episode or the programme on TV.

Margot said...

Great post! I have the same addiction. When I first started reading Sandmonkey's blog, I managed to burn food on the stove regularly. I learned that blogging and cooking don't mix.
On the positive side, it's great to be able to check on new friends around the world, to see how things are going with them and that they are safe... like you! I know that I could do so much more if I did not spend so much time on the computer though!

nada musleh said...

Hello suffy..
It's really a problem that have spread all over the world, we are all suffering from lack of time and complaining about not having enough time to do anything...
Thanks for stopping by :)

nada musleh said...

Hello lynne,
so you did visit my post, thanx a lot.. looks like we are all suffering from the same addiction :) and about doing much if not spending enough time, a friend of mine sent me a story that has this moral.. gonna publish it..

thanx again

Anonymous said...

Dew, I think that we are blogging for a good reason. We cannot depend on the mainstream media or our leaders to communicate goodwill or even accurately what is happening in our neighborhoods. We are talking to each other to break down barriers and obstacles to understanding and trying to forge positive ties and make efforts to improve our lives. What's a few burned pots and pans :) Talking to each other seems very important.
I LOVE your blog. All the best, lynne in Texas

Anonymous said...

I stumbled across this article because I was looking for a magic way of getting the house tidy in the one hour left today (I had three, but stupidly turned the computer on "to check emails" first...)

Turns out the magic fix is easier than I thought - don't turn on the computer to search google for a way to tidy the house!

If/when I have enough will power, I do a job with the promise of the computer as a treat afterwards, which does work well. Shame today wasn't one of those days...