Computers: Time Wasters or Savers?

I identified the computer as a potential time waster in our series on this topic. We even had a discussion about the computer and how people organize their time on the computer over on our Organized Life by Design Ning network. What we discovered is that the computer can be a thorn in the side of women (and men) everywhere. It is the way many of us make our living, communicate with friends and family and research important topics relevant to our lives. Yet, at the same time the computer can be a huge temptation- beckoning us to spend just a little more time surfing the net, twittering, blogging, answering emails, etc when there are other things to be done.

So what to do? In my opinion (humble of course) managing our time on the computer is all about priorities and routines. I have the routine of checking my emails in the morning, responding to the "urgent" ones (meaning those related to my businesses) and writing posts for various blogs/groups. Then as I have time throughout the day (meaning after all other commitments are fulfilled) then I get back on to check and reply to discussions on our forums, approving new members, etc. In the evening, while the kids are watching their hour of TV with hubby (this is usually the History channel- bores me to tears!!) I get on again to catch up on the other things that have accumulated during the day.

It requries a lot of discipline to not be on the computer- checking in/out. In fact, on days like today (Labor Day) I will probably be online more often than other days because I have less commitments. My kids are going swimming with family and hubby is working on his motorcycle so I will have time to spend a little more time with my chat friends, twittering (which by the way I am addicted to) and writing.

The danger of the computer becoming a time waster in our lives is when it begins to conflict with our priorities. If we are spending more time online than we are with our family, maintaining our household or managing our work/career than there may be a problem and the computer may be a time waster in your life. Allow yourself to honestly evaluate your time on the computer and as long as it has not become more important than the truly important things in life, you're good. If you feel that perhaps you have gotten off track a little then create a routine for computer time and enlist a friend or family member to hold you accountable to the new plan.

The computer has become such an integral part of modern day life- let's just not let it become the central part of our modern day lives.