Before, I just needed time management. But now, I think I also need online time management.
As soon as you go online, the chances of gaining maximum productivity and maximum procrastination are equal. You’ve got email that lets you receive messages in a flash. You’ve got online tools that help you organize your tasks, schedule your activities and even map your ideas. There are reference websites that can save you tons of time in research. There are news websites that deliver information in real time. If you use them well, you can accomplish a lot in an hour.
Then again, there’s also a host of other things that can make you lose track of time. You’ve got microblogging sites like Twitter and Plurk, social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, and video sites like Youtube that can get you engrossed for hours. Then there are gaming websites that offer everything from arcades, word quizzes to online casino games. There are celebrity gossip websites that can get you hooked all day. There are blogs of all shapes and sizes that get you hopping from one to the other. With all these combined, you can easily spend a whole day or more just playing and surfing online.
I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum and I think it takes a lot of self – control and discipline to balance being productive and having fun when you’re online. On most days, I can do it well. Other days, well, bad habits resurface.
One step that helps me get on the right track is doing all my important tasks first before opening email. If I have to write an article, I get down to it as soon as I open the computer before I click on Gmail. I’ve proven it time and again, when I check email first, it sends me spiraling in different directions, I’ve already spent so much time just surfing before I know it.
I also keep Twitter, Facebook and my feedreader closed because it’s just so easy to get distracted when someone posts an intriguing update, a thought – provoking status or an interesting blog post.
But when I’ve finished my most important task, I surf away. I consider it my reward for accomplishing something on my to do list. Plus, it serves as a breather before I take on the next task of the day.
Another week is about to start and I’m psyching myself to be productive and have fun too.
How do you manage your online time? Share your tips. 
Hi, I'm Jayme. Thanks for visiting my 
