I cut my usage, but mainly because of boredom. I will always keep the internet because of my curiosity about things, everything. It is far better than the World Book Encyclopedias I always wanted but couldn't afford. I read a lot and watch movies.

I do exactly what you do, Susan. I tell myself I need discipline, focus, stick-to-it-ivness. It doesn't help. There is so much I want to do - sewing, gardening, reading - that doesn't get done because I get stuck on the internet. Or watching old movies with hub.

I should get rid of cable TV and the internet. And probably hub, too! We are together all day every day nowadays, but it's great fun. He absolutely refuses to go on the internet now, having spent his career reading and
writing. He reads books and newspapers and watches old movies, BBC and C-span, so he still has his addictions. Maybe we're both just lazy!

Don't be too hard on yourself. Writing is very hard work. I hope Freedom works.

Interesting. I didn't know you were a writer, Susan! I'm a writer, too, with ADD. The best thing I can do is to allow myself to drift away for a period of time because if I try to force myself to sit and do one thing it doesn't turn out very well. I have learned to self-monitor. I'll allow myself to get side-tracked but set a limit on it. This site sounds tempting but I think I'll stick with my method. Thanks for sharing this, Susan.

Now that I'm writing jokes it's completely different than any other writing I've ever done (short stories, journalism) and sooooo much harder! I can't just sit down, think and write. It's really been a challenge to get into a routine with it because some of it is thinking, some of it is talking out loud and a little of actual typing, and I'm always trying to find some INSPIRATION!!!!!

Vala -- it's not like Alisande's DROPPING her internet service for good!

The program's a scheduler. It's like a "time-out" official: Once you program it, it's basically telling you "NO internet access right now-- GO BACK TO YOUR TASK!" (OK, probably not in an 'all caps' mean way, but still...)

I understand the usefulness of something like this. Even when doing taxes, I need to clear myself of all the other little things I'd much rather be doing... Even now, I need to buckle down and get some mortgage refinancing stuff done. I find it all so complicated that I'd rather be doing ANYTHING else. (Or the dog will look at me and I decide she needs a walk...)

You should have my former ISP...they were down about 3 to 4 hours a day,,,and they didn't charge anything for that service....LOL

Vala, Pammyfay's right--I'm not giving up the Internet, just putting it on "pause" once in awhile.

Sherrmann, your Hub sounds like wonderful company; by all means, keep him! I know you will....you're having too much fun to rock the boat. You have an enviable retirement. I enjoy my Netflix streaming now and then, but TV doesn't seduce me. I think part of that is that I was without TV for so many years. The other part is that I watch it alone, with a limited attention span. I think it might be different if I had someone to watch it with--especially if we had the same favorite shows. :-)

I also think laziness (mine!) is a factor. Writing is hard work; it's much easier to zone out and indulge in "screen sucking." (I think that was Dr. Andrew Weil's term.)

Bigbaby, ADD runs in my family, too, and I've always been aware of it in myself. (I do not think it's a "disorder," however.) But I'm beginning to think everyone past a certain age (60, maybe) gets the same symptoms. And those of us who have had ADD all along......get worse. :-)

I think comedy writing is easier if two or more people are involved. It's natural for humor to feed off interaction with others. Remember the Dick Van Dyke show, where he played a comedy writer? He, Morey Amsterdam, and Rosemarie (whom I look like on my worst hair days) bounced ideas off each other. OTOH, if you're lucky enough to find yourself "in flow," it's possible to be hilarious all by yourself. A couple of years ago I wrote a wonderfully effective routine that I delivered at a roast for my retiring publisher. The response was so great that I still think about it occasionally. It's always good for a lift.

I find it all so complicated that I'd rather be doing ANYTHING else.

Pammyfay, I know that feeling well. My mind shifts into some overwhelmed state (sort of like what happens when I attempt to contemplate the universe), and my finest procrastination techniques kick in.

Yes, Susan, I agree that comedy is much easier to write if you are writing with a few other people, but so far I haven't found anyone to write with :( so I'm still slogging it out on my own!

Maybe we could start a comedy writers' club, as an offshoot of this place?

Hi Alisande,

Here's an idea.

Hang a mirror about the size of the monitor over the face of the monitor upstairs ...

... that way, when you yield to temptation and travel up there - you'll be looking yourself in the face: if that isn't enough to stop a clock, I don't know what is.

Oh - wrong metaphor: we're talking guilt, here, right? Of the self-induced kind?

ole joyful?

Cut of my internet for any lenght of time?
No way.
Like my phone, it has to be there even if I go hours/days without using it.
Talk about "withdrawal pains."

Good for you! During the week I try not to come on during the day because I have other things that I should be doing haha not that I always get things done. I am even trying to get off earlier at night so I can get some reading done.

My brother set up my iPod so I get notications from FB and email but I find it really annoying so trying to figure out how to shut them off.

Anne