Drop the Bad (Internet) Habits!

[GuestUser112]

So I found something that is fairly basic but I thought it was really cool in perspective.

Many of us to varying degrees have bad internet habits that eat away at our time when we lose focus, such as:

• Facebook
• Porn
• Time-wasters like Stumble-upon, etc...

Everybody is a consumer in this regard to a certain respect.

Today I just got sick of it when I looked back at how much time I had just spent rotting my brain away so I just said "F*ck it, I'm blocking Facebook" and so I googled how to block websites, and I came to this thing called "Block Site" for Chrome.

Now for the cool part!

I found that I could actually redirect the browser right to another site. So what did I do?

OBVIOUSLY I redirected the browser to TheFastlaneForum.com. Hahaha!

Now if I even try to go back on Facebook I get redirected back here. It's akin to 'putting your xbox in the attic' but with the web browser instead.

Happy trails comrades

 

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[Mr.B]

I quit facebook etc. years ago for this very reason. The only social network I use these days in LinkedIn (altough it is very hands off - I only check in once a month or so).

Another great software solution is an app called Self Control. The good part is that you cannot unblock these websites, even if you remove the app or restart your computer, until the timer is up. You can also use it to block APIs, which means the social apps on your phone won't work either while your phone is connected to your wifi network.

Or... You could develop your own organic solution (also called called self control) but for many that is easier said than done!

 

[RazorCut]

Or... You could develop your own organic solution (also called called self control) but for many that is easier said than done!

This is my method. You can't work 24/7, there has to be a balance. I will check in with Facebook a few times a week when I'm relaxing in the evening.

It's a convenient way of seeing what your family and friends have been up to and organising your social life. Yes you should have a social life too. Work hard, play hard. You know what they say about all work and no play. But everything in moderation and at the appropriate time.

I'm a firm believer in ToDo lists. Get your sh*t done and out the way. Then you can do whatever you want with your free time.

 

[Mattie]

I'm a firm believer in ToDo lists. Get your sh*t done and out the way.

I think it's call discipline yourself. lol You can either avoid temptation, or master the lessons of self-discipline and you never even think about going to do it again.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I think when people hear the word "consumption" they automatically think it's stuff you buy at the mall or at the store... consumption is also internet preoccupation, TMZ, The Dirty, Facebook, social media, etc.

Truth is, if I wasn't an author needing to reach an audience, I wouldn't have a Facebook account.

 

[GuestUser112]

.
Truth is, if I wasn't an author needing to reach an audience, I wouldn't have a Facebook account.

This is what I was thinking. I'll make a new account when I have a reason to use it for business. As for my social life - I messaged the people I would like to remain in contact with and sent them my email, phone number, etc. That way I can keep the relationships intact without having to fall prey to the illusion of social media as the only method of getting in touch with people.

As I recall, John Paul Dejoria (founder of Patron Tequila) doesnt even use a cellphone, yet hes worth billions - so I can safely assume that his social life is intact... and probably much healthier than those who have Twitter, Facebook, B.B.M, and Pinterest yet spend 40+ hours per week in a cubicle.

I mean if a person could get away with keeping information in a paper notebook and using a land-line 20 years ago, I see no reason why it wouldnt work today. Richard Branson has said that most people with smart phones are owned by their phones and not the other way around, and I see this all the time. I was at a party once with a guy who spent half the night checking his phone to make sure his Clash of Clans army was being built on time. WTF!

Dont get me wrong, I love technology. I just think Aldous Huxley was on to something when he warned us that humans might end up making the mistake of adapting themselves to suit technology instead of adapting technology to suit human beings.

 

[Mr.B]

I was at a party once with a guy who spent half the night checking his phone to make sure his Clash of Clans army was being built on time. WTF!

I know someone like this. After hearing him tell his young daughter to wait for help as he was 'busy' (she is <2 and needed help going to the toilet), I told him that if I even see him behave in such a selfish way again that I'll throw his {expletive} phone in the fish tank.

 

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[Writer]

I know someone like this. After hearing him tell his young daughter to wait for help as he was 'busy' (she is <2 and needed help going to the toilet), I told him that if I even see him behave in such a selfish way again that I'll throw his {expletive} phone in the fish tank.

Well, if even Steve Jobs himself didn't allow his kids to use the phone at dinner (and he didn't either)... I don't see why most of us can't:
http://www.inquisitr.com/1468612/steve-jobs-didnt-let-his-kids-use-iphones-or-ipads-heres-why/

 

[Mattie]

I don't use the a phone anymore. There over rated! It's so much more peaceful!

 

[Writer]

One of the saddest things to me is to see families at the restaurant where the kids play all the time on their devices. I saw multiple times kids eating while playing, without even removing their eyes from the screen. I often wonder if they even know that they are at the restaurant. It's sad, pathetic and disgusting.
Once I had these three 11yo kids at my house, friends of my son. I decided to bring them to the ballpark to watch a baseball game. It was awful, they kept eating like pigs (they're like 200 lbs each), relentlessly asking when they could go back home to play some Call of Duty or crap like that (we left at the third or fourth inning as I was fed up with them). At home, my kid wanted to play some soccer and they refused. In the end, they played videogames for an hour and then left. A shitty generation is rising.

 

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[joocenasty]

One of the saddest things to me is to see families at the restaurant where the kids play all the time on their devices. I saw multiple times kids eating while playing, without even removing their eyes from the screen. I often wonder if they even know that they are at the restaurant. It's sad, pathetic and disgusting.
Once I had these three 11yo kids at my house, friends of my son. I decided to bring them to the ballpark to watch a baseball game. It was awful, they kept eating like pigs (they're like 200 lbs each), relentlessly asking when they could go back home to play some Call of Duty or crap like that (we left at the third or fourth inning as I was fed up with them). At home, my kid wanted to play some soccer and they refused. In the end, they played videogames for an hour and then left. A shitty generation is rising.

this

 

[joocenasty]

One of the saddest things to me is to see families at the restaurant where the kids play all the time on their devices. I saw multiple times kids eating while playing, without even removing their eyes from the screen. I often wonder if they even know that they are at the restaurant. It's sad, pathetic and disgusting.
Once I had these three 11yo kids at my house, friends of my son. I decided to bring them to the ballpark to watch a baseball game. It was awful, they kept eating like pigs (they're like 200 lbs each), relentlessly asking when they could go back home to play some Call of Duty or crap like that (we left at the third or fourth inning as I was fed up with them). At home, my kid wanted to play some soccer and they refused. In the end, they played videogames for an hour and then left. A shitty generation is rising.

the wave of the antisocial kids

 

[Kak]

I don't use the a phone anymore. There over rated! It's so much more peaceful!

How does this even work?

 

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[Esquire]

I use FB for three reasons:

1) Marketing
2) Conversations Starters (close friends and family)
3) Following Fastlane Types

90% of the posts in my feed are from MJ DeMarco and Tim Ferriss.

It's not all bad. Just filter out the garbage.

Most businesses -- mine included -- need a strong social media presence.

And for the Record ... I discovered TMF on Facebook (when someone in my news feed shared one of MJ's posts).

Without that post ... I wouldn't be here.

 

[Mattie]

How does this even work?

Well...I live in the Netherlands even if I do answer the phone for the time being all I know is "Hoi" "Hallo" lol. And I don't know anyone, but who my bf knows. If I talk to anyone online I use Skype, cryptocat, facebook chat, or any other chat. I talk to people more online than a phone. Even when I was at home, I rarely talked on the phone less it was work to go on a nurse aide call. It's more fun to see people in person live in the physical, or otherwise cam. Not that hard to communicate these days without a phone.

 

[Salem]

I use this extension, to stay "focused"
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji?

 

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[Mattie]

I use this extension, to stay "focused

Ha ha! Will give that a try! Hope it doesn't bite me if I"m disobedient!

 

[RoadTrip]

Well...I live in the Netherlands even if I do answer the phone for the time being all I know is "Hoi" "Hallo" lol.

Yep, English is so widely spoken in the Netherlands that it doesn't motivate to learn the language.

What helps me a lot is setting goals. E.g. this week I gave myself a week to finish a provisional patent application and sell sheet. I'm almost finished so that worked out for me. Now I need to make sure not to get lazy when my goals are reached, instead I need to keep setting new goals.

Shutting down the internet would help me a LOT. I too get distracted by all kinds of news that interests me. The problem is that I'm too dependent on the internet to make progress. Like looking for information on how to complete a 3d design or whatsoever.

 

[Mattie]

Well when I'm around friends yes they speak English, but I have to take the classes soon! Mandated too to stay here. And most of the friends rather speak in their dialect which makes it even more confusing. lol

 

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[darkjediii]

Great post! I've been an entrepreneur since 2007 and struggled between both worlds constantly. I'm either 1) extremely focused 2) unable to focus.
Here's a couple of basic things I've learned throughout the years:

• You will tend to justify the waste of time.
  example: "Well, I'm advertising my business on facebook." "I'm looking for inspiration online to get an idea or get motivated." "I'll do it later, gotta take a mental break."
  
• There's no denying that nearly everyone has struggles with self-discipline, this is 10x more apparent when you have no boss.
  At a job, you can do just enough not to get fired and you'll be ok. But having no boss, doing "a bit better than enough" might not even be enough to pay your bills.
• When you feel that a desired reward or goal is close, you will find that it is 100 times easier to concentrate with laser like focus.
  This is fueled by your desire for that near-term reward. At these times, I've even worked close to 24 hours straight non-stop, it's the best feeling!
• When it looks like a reward will take a long time or will be difficult to reach, you tend to more easily lose your focus and get tempted to cater to any distraction to get you away from dreaded work.

What it really sums up to is the basic idea of work vs reward. Are you willing to sacrifice immediate gratification for a chance at a great reward down the line? In MJ's book, I remember he covers this subject of delayed gratification (I think that's what he called it, sorry haven't read the book in a couple of years

RELATED FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

MJ says in the book that it's foolish to blindly follow your passion when starting a business. Steve Jobs says you gotta love what you do and have passion in it in order to become a successful entrepreneur.

They are both right. Not everyone is the same and has the same capacity for self-discipline. Yes it can be learned, but the weak minded ones will struggle with this, and will surely fail when challenging times come. I'm on the weaker minded side, and I have struggled, but discipline can be learned.

Over the years I've had six figures in my personal bank accounts and have also have had negative, the only thing that kept me going in the hard times was my passion for the business, not necessarily what the business was, but my love for building things from nothing and a passion for succeeding at it. It takes an extraordinary mind-set to be able to handle the extreme highs and lows of business ownership. So yes following your passions blindly is a sure way to go into bankruptcy, but the ingredients of passion and love for what you do is also important for those of us who are not as disciplined mentally. If those were not there, I would have catered to every distraction and quit 4 years ago for sure.

 

[insideusisgod]

Self-discipline is understanding that control if 'outside' of your hands but inside of perception. Discipline you already know is the key to mastery. Discipline is also suppose to be easy.

It's a paradox, to discipline yourself you must detach from discipline. To be disciplined you must first intentionally be 'un-disciplined'.

Put in english - to be good you have to be bad. So bad to spark a desire to want to be good more.

 

[Franky Neizer]

LinkedIn and Instagram are the only social pages where I've registered, the latter I hardly check since I've restricted myself from using smart phones for a whole year (I had a great childhood before technology) Been using 2 classic phones. Never had a facebook account because I'm a very private person and wouldn't want the whole world into my private affairs. There are times when I waste numerous hours just looking at posts on instagram and it always feels like I've wasted a lifetime when am done.

I don't need API's or web blockers to control my internet habits, what I need is self discipline and a strong mindset. Most social media sites such as facebook and instagram are time wasters for entrepreneurs if they are not used for biz...

 

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[Kshatriya]

I would like to share how I am blocking the sites:
1. I disabled my facebook account about 4-5 days ago and my mind is craving for it.
2. I installed StayFocusd on chrome and blocked facebook and 'desidime' (a very good, addictive deals website for slowlaners in India) in the nuke mode for 9999 hours. I'm almost certain that I won't remove the extension to use facebook.

After analysing my recent behaviour, I found that these were the top websites I was visiting several times everyday and used to spend long time on.
1. Google (probably shown on the top because of searching)
2. <My e-commerce website>
3. Facebook
4. YouTube

Desidime's visit count was less, but I believe it was truly a time-waster. I used to see a lot of deals, but nothing is useful in my case. Everytime I think of this site, it reminds me of MJ saying "cutting coupons ..." and I ask myself "is site taking me where I want to go?" With the obvious answer coming to my mind, I simply close it. Now blocked it completely for next 9999 hours. If I stop using 'dd', amazon and eBay automatically go away from my recent browser history.

Just wanted to share this, in case you're a fan of fatwallet or ozbargain or some of your local site like these. These promote you to spend your money, time and make money out of it. I'm not saying making money out of it is bad, but I don't want you to be a victim of it.

Post food: In the last week, TFF has improved its ranking to 5th, following Google, <My website>, YouTube, and a Whois information site. In the next 3 unique threads/pages I see, it gets to 4th. I'm sure it's going to beat YouTube, which I'm about to block in the next few minutes.

 

[Kreedos Phoenix]

I make myself have to earn my web surfing time (for entertainment sites). I really do my best to focus on whatever produces a profit 1st.

When plotting my to do list, I tend to either go one of 2 ways:

No web surfing until every item on the list is complete

Web surfing in 5-7 minute increments at the end of each hour

I have to exercise my discipline constantly because there are tons of distractions out there; I’ll sprinkle words of encouragement throughout my to do list like “posture” “focus”,“don’t drift”, "Baby Kreedos is counting on you" etc.

Everything in moderation, such is life.

 

[Ezio]

I recommend everyone to use this program:
http://www.manictime.com/
It's free, you can check how you have spent time on PC.

 

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