Cure Your Internet Addiction

Teresa Garigen

If there were  support groups for those of us who are hopelessly addicted to the Internet, college students all across America would be lined up outside the doors.

We are provided with a wealth information and entertainment at any given moment of the day, anywhere we would like, as long as it has 3G. This is a unique characteristic of our time, and for it we will always be known as the Information Age.  But this constant influx of information is so intertwined with the fabric of our society that it is almost impossible to escape.  It can latch onto our desire for distraction and not let go.

Sometimes we just need a break from it all, to just rest and think independently from all our gadgets.  If you can admit that you’re hopelessly addicted the Internet (like me), here are some ways to curb your habit.

Disable your computer’s Internet access while studying.
Once you get over the initial anxiety of not being able to check Twitter and Facebook updates, or not being able to Google any random thought that pops into your head, it makes a lot of sense to cut off your Internet connection.  When you aren’t lured into all the distractions the Internet provides, you get a lot more done at a surprisingly faster rate.  Then, when all your work is finished, you can spend some guilt free hours with your website drug of choice.

Pretend your Smartphone doesn’t have 3G.
Remember those days when cell phones could only make phone calls, or at most, send text messages?  Yes, having  Internet access on your phone makes life easier, but then sometimes you actually miss out on certain parts of life that used to be so familiar.  Next time you are out with friends, try not to text other people, and avoid checking your email.  Having completely unrelated conversations with someone else over the phone, even through text, is not fair to the people who are with you.

It’s also unnecessary to look up the answer to every small question that gets brought up in a conversation.  It’s handy for movie times, but do you really need to know immediately who starred in the newest Star Trek?  Google Maps and GPS devices on phones are amazing inventions, but sometimes it takes the fun out of the journey.  Let yourself get lost sometimes, take an adventure, and stop letting gadgets tell you where you are and where to go all the time.

Set a timer to cut yourself off.
Giving yourself a designated amount of time to surf the Internet, talk to friends on iChat, or get trapped in the endless world of blogging, will help you monitor how many hours a day you spend plugged in.  I find myself losing countless hours on interactive media sites like YouTube, Tumblr and Flickr, because there is almost an infinite about of entertainment provided.  To combat losing track of time, I set aside certain hours throughout the day that I’m allowed to go web crazy, and take full advantage of that period.  It can help keep you focused on other tasks when work needs to be done, and it gives you something to look forward to when your brain is fried and you need an entertaining break.

On vacations, spend a day or two ignoring the computer.
Take advantage of this time off and stay away from the Internet completely, or at least as much as possible (checking E-mail is sometimes necessary).  Often you just need to rest the brain, and a big part of that is staying away from the surplus of information and communication provided by the Internet.  Believe me, this is the most liberating feeling.  You don’t have to have a care in the world just for one day, and you can use this time to fall asleep on the couch, read a good book, or hang out with friends.  After your Internet fast you will feel completely refreshed.  And when you do go back to your beloved technology, your need to spend hours with it will be lessened…at least for a few weeks.