The Internet is a great communications tool and has allowed a lot of people to fulfill their dreams of being an entrepreneur. With everything that has an upside there is also the downside, which is getting addicted to the Internet and not being able to live without it. There is no doubt the Internet can be addictive with all of the information that is available at your fingertips.
Regardless of whether you use the Internet to socialize, shop, or for working online, it can be the biggest procrastination tool that there is and can contribute to addictive behavior.
1Signs You Are Addicted to the Internet
In order to cure an addiction you must first recognize the symptoms to ensure that an addiction to the Internet exists. Here are some of the signs of Internet addiction:
- Incessantly Checking Messages: Checking your email or social networking messages every few minutes can signify an addiction. On the average, most people check their email twice a day. If they run a business online it may be a little more than that but not every 15 minutes.
- Failing to Eat: Ignoring your physical needs such as eating a healthy diet. People who have an Internet addiction may not be able to pull themselves away long enough to prepare a healthy meal. They will either junk or not eat at all.
- Lack of Sleep: Internet addiction can result in lack of sleep because the person wants to spend all of their time online. This is often true with online game addictions with both children and adults. It can also be true with exposure to pornographic sites or online dating venues.
- Lack of Personal Hygiene: People with Internet addictions often ignore their need for personal cleanliness and sit in front of the computer constantly. This type of addiction also ties over into online gaming addiction. Children and adults who are addicted to online games will often ignore personal hygiene because they do not want to sacrifice time away from their gaming habits.
- Irritability: If the Internet is disconnected for any reason the person who is addicted may become argumentative and irritable. The same thing rings true for game addictions and the desire to remain connected to the Internet at all times.
- Dependency: When an Internet addiction is present the person will become highly dependent upon the computer and go to great lengths to perform repairs if anything malfunctions. Even if they cannot afford the repairs they will buy the necessary replacements anyway.
These are just a few of the signs of Internet addiction. Although many do not realize it, there are already clinics that have been developed for online gaming addictions so it only stands to reason that Internet addictions may follow this trend.
2Tips and Techniques to Help Those Addicted to the Internet
There are many steps you can take to break an Internet addiction some of which can be harder if you have teenagers. However here are a few ways to cure an Internet addiction:
- Get a Virtual Assistant: If you work online considering hiring a virtual assistant to take care of some of your business tasks. There are many freelancing sites that have ready and capable freelancers that will help you reduce some of the tasks you have to perform online to keep your business going.
- Set Boundaries: If you use the Internet for uses other than business, use self discipline and set specific times when you will use the Internet to check email and conduct social activities. If you have to, use a timer and force yourself to cease activities when your time is up. If you have children with Internet addictions do the same for them and explain your reasons for doing so. If they feel like they are part of the decision process they will be more likely to cooperate.
- Decide What You Are Missing: What are you missing out on in your life by spending all of your time in front of the computer? Time with your children? Time with your spouse? Healthy outings with friends? Exercise? Diet? Take inventory of what you are missing. You will likely be surprised at the long list of things you are neglecting.
- Change Your Schedule: Change your daily activities to include healthy exercise, time with your family, pursuing hobbies (other than the Internet), spending time with close friends, and other healthy activities that take place offline.
- Make a Pact with Yourself: Establish an agreement with yourself for when and how long you will tend to email and social networking messages. Keep your promise to yourself and develop a “get on and do it and then get off” mentality.
- Join a Support Group: Internet and gaming addictions are gradually becoming recognized as a true illness and there are support groups that are popping up to help people break their addiction. If possible, look for a support group offline so you do not feel like you are in this alone.
Finally, limit your smartphone use because cell phone use does not exclude you from an Internet addiction. A cell phone is a great safety and convenience tool; however, you should turn it off every so often and tune into life outside of technology.
