There has been a problem with computer usage in our house recently. The guilty party has simply been spending too much time online, so things have had to change.
The computer seems to be on constantly in our house and recently one family member has been making too much use of it. Ellen highlights in her post: Game rage -- the switch-off melt-down the difficulties she has had getting her sons to switch off their computer games and games consoles. However, in our house, it was not a small child who is spending too much time sitting in front of a computer screen, it was me. So things had to change.
If IJ was spending hours on social-networking sites then I would certainly have something to say about it. So it is hardly surprising that she has had something to say when she has caught me with one eye on the computer screen monitoring my emails and twitter replies. She was not getting my full attention and once commented, “Are you listening to me or looking at the computer?”
In the park after school, she once pointed out that I kept looking at my phone -- again I was checking emails and tweets -- and she wasn’t happy about it. I have taken the addiction test mentioned in Ellen’s post and the result has revealed that I am in trouble with technology. Thankfully, isn’t just me that became hooked on Twitter and blogging. Sian has written an amusing post about her own twitter addiction on her blog Mummytips.
Things in our house have changed now. I was simply spending too much time blogging, tweeting and commenting, and things were overlooked as a result -- the ironing, the housework and, more importantly, spending quality time with my child.
The computer is now in a different room out of sight. It goes off when IJ comes home from school and I stay away from it until she has gone to bed. I have made a conscious decision to spend less time blogging and commenting, and I am on twitter a lot less these days.
Instead we have spent weekends exploring the local countryside, playing board games together, visiting indoor soft play areas and spending time with friends who live across the road from us. Life feels more balanced now and we are both a lot happier as a result. I have discovered the benefits to spending less time online.
Are there times when you feel you have been spending too much time online? Don’t log off now -- leave a comment first!
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mum
17 May, 2010
I had the same epiphany a few weeks ago when my 2 year old went AWOL with my black eyeliner when I was online. Seriously, no one is ever on their death bed going to wish they'd spent more time on Twitter are they? I have seriously cut back and whilst I sometimes feel I'm missing out on conversations, updates etc, my life has seriously improved. I have a really old phone which doesn't have twitter or email (archaic I know) but that's good. I usually post on my blog first thing in the morning (often on a scheduled post widget), check in a few times in the day and then off til the evening when they're in bed. And I really try not to do any at all at weekends (altho' come the World Cop that may change when my husband is otherwise engaged). I want to give my children my undivided attention and I am only on here now because she's asleep! Also my housekeeping skills have improved enormously!
admin
17 May, 2010
Oh I'm definately guilty of this! I have also rearranged my life a bit and totally changed my working hours so that I only work when the kids are asleep. I don't think it's fair to sit gazing at the screen when they are here as they don't understand that it's work. Some great links Rosie thanks!
Leigh
Ready for Ten Team
17 May, 2010
Oh dear...took the test and failed - even with some slight manipulation of the answers. In all honesty I do spend too much time online and am already aware that this has to change. Your post couldn't be more timely - I've shut down Tweetdeck and I'm closing down everything else except the piece of work that desperately needs finishing. Thanks Rosie x
17 May, 2010
All valid points, sometimes it's difficult finding the right balance.
If you work from home,I'm an author,it is really important to try and structure your day,I'm not so good at this.
I also homeschool my children so life is always hectic.It is very true there are not enough hours in a day,there is always so much more that could be done...
mum
17 May, 2010
@Elle, that's why I found it so difficult, because I work on the computer from home so it is always on. It is so easy to suddenly start tweeting or blog reading.
17 May, 2010
I used to be guilty of this when I first started blogging 3 years ago. The changes in my life over the last year have meant I've had to make some choices about the time I spend online. Miss M (five) has uttered the words, "What's more important, me or the computer?" which made me feel awful. We now have a rule of no computer when my girls are home. I stick to it,mostly...
mum
18 May, 2010
Very wise words. I'm certainly quilty of this and try to resist just popping back on to check on stuff.
18 May, 2010
Just did test and (fortunately) would not appear to be as addicted as my Other Half claims I am. Typical!
Might explain why I still cannot work out my iPod nano - technology ignoramus. Just as well I married Gadget Man.
LCM x
mum
18 May, 2010
@ Wendy, it is just as well I do not have an iphone for that reason!
@Deer Baby My concern was that I would miss out on conversations and updates but in the end I didn't really. It is definitely less stressful not being online all the time.
@Leigh, I would be the first to complain if my daughter was starring at the computer screen for hours so I suppose I should lead by example!
@Ellen, I managed to stay off until 1pm before logging back on to check on stuff. I feel I have done well!
@London City Mum, Now you can tell Gadget Man that you are not actually addicted! Can't he show you how to work your ipod nano?!
mum
18 May, 2010
@Paebee72 I knew you would come and read this with a little nudge! In the not too distant past I have lost hours on Tweetdeck, it is easy to get sucked in, and then I've complained that there not enough hours in the day to get my work finished. There still aren't enough hours, but I have managed to find a couple more!
mum
18 May, 2010
@RFTJo Certainly makes you think when they ask you what is more important - the computer or them. It's used to be like that here. It easy to get sucked into life online, I've found.
18 May, 2010
Guilty as charged! My blog post this week at http://survival4moms.com was on this very subject. I'm calling it 'work' but in truth a lot of the work is Twitter and blog stuff that really isn't necessary. It is horribly addictive - for instance, what am I doing now? Looking at Twitter on my iTouch as I feed my son his lunch. If the computer isn't on I'm still checking my iTouch hourly. I plan to make better use if my time this summer. That said, great post and I'm glad I happened upon it while looking at Twitter ;-)
mum
18 May, 2010
@RookieMummy, Twitter is so addictive, especially when you can access it from your phone. I've done exactly the same as you many times. I wandered on today to post one tweet and found myself there half an hour later! I'll go over and check out your post. I must have missed it on twitter somehow!