9 Steps to Curing Internet Addiction

I am primarily a writer. This means I spend a good percentage of my time in front of the computer writing about various topics until my fingers bled. I temporarily stopped cooking professionally because I simply don't have the time (and extra body) to do two demanding jobs. I chose writing not because it pays better, but because it allows me to have control of my time and my schedule. I do get called to bake muffins or do a quick stir fry or two on special occasions, but I always report back to my little workspace at home. Yes, I do all my writings at home. It's supposed to be a dream job and my friends continue to gush in unison, "You, lucky bastard!". While I love the fact that I work at home and I'm not constantly being badgered by a boss, there are some drawbacks, one of which is developing addiction to the Internet.

Just like any other addiction, the Internet can take control of you and you begin to develop an unhealthy lifestyle. The most prominent of these unhealthy habits is the sharp decline in outdoor activities. I used to only spend about 8 hours at home and the rest of the time is spent somewhere else. That has changed dramatically when I started working from home. The worst part is that I spend 16 hours in front of the computer. The remaining 8 hours is divided between sleep and household chores. This is not the life that I envisioned when I decided to work from home. But I would rather stay at home than fight my way through rush hour just to get to work. It's still a jungle out there and I don't want that kind of stress. The best thing to do is to change the way I work at home. So, I devised a daily plan that can kick the bad habit that is called the Internet. Of course, this plan is designed not to harm my work, but rather to improve my quality of life without worshipping the Internet.

Set A Schedule
If you plan to work for 8 hours then work for no more than 8 hours.If you go overboard and extend for say, 3 hours, then take 3 hours off the following day. My suggestion is to make 8 hours as the standard. Anything beyond that is considered overtime. Think about this: If you hated working overtime in the office, then you should feel the same way at home. After all, it's still work.

Cook Breakfast
Cooking means you take time to go to the kitchen, open the fridge door, prepare ingredients, fire up the stove, and cook. This takes a little over 20 minutes. After cooking, sit down and eat in the dining area. This also includes cleaning up.

Read Newspaper
NOT the online newspaper. Read the real newspaper (broadsheet) or even a tabloid. There's really no need to rush.

Walk Your Dog
If you have a dog, go out and give him or her some attention. If you do not have a dog, go out and walk. It's also a form of exercise. It also gives you time to actually interact with real people.

Finish Household Chores
Before you even think about starting your computer, finish the household chores first. This can include a litle vacuuming here and there as well as dishwashing. The reason why you have to do this is because these chores will never be done if you start playing with your computer right away.

Take A Shower/Bath
This should be self-explanatory. My only suggestion is that you take a shower before you start working. Do the same thing you would do if you were going to the office.

Have A One-Hour Lunch Break and 20-Minute Coffee Break
Sitting for 8 hours straight is gonna be bad for your behind. You will begin to feel some pain around the waist and a little bit of numbness. The one-hour lunch the time you need to stretch and refuel yourself. I suggest you eat outside or in your dining area. Don't order and eat in front of the computer. Don't eat in your works area. Don't come back to your desk if one hour has not passed. Same thing applies on the coffee break.

Go Out On A Friday Night
Call friends and schedule a night out on Fridays. This is a great way to feel that you are not a slave of the Internet. It shows that you have a life. Besides, it's always fun to go out on a Friday night. Celebrate the weekend!

Don't Work On Weekends
Reserve Saturday and Sunday for family or for yourself. Do your outdoor activities or your weekly groceries, or pehaps a bit of laundry. Get back to your non-Internet-related hobbies. Or you can watch a movie or two. You'd be surprised how nice to be away from the computer.

These things are mere suggestions that may lessen or cure your addiction to the Internet. Following these steps has tremendously cut down my Internet time and I began to go back to doing the things that I love to do. It can work for you as well. The Internet is not gonna disappear, so there's no point spending most of your time online. There's always tomorrow.