Are you looking to spend less time online in your business, at work, and home?
Do you want some helpful tips to reduce your screen time using websites, social media, and chat rooms?
In this article, you’ll find offer several tips to help you spend less time online.
Key Takeaways
- Reducing your screen time allows you to better focus on working, playing, and socializing at work and home
- Changing online habits takes time, so be patient with yourself, and use your experiences as opportunities for growth
- Try silencing notifications, disabling apps, activating program blockers, and participating in more screen-free activities
Table of Contents
- Why should you spend less time online?
- Who should spend less time online?
- What are some benefits when you spend less time online?
- What should you keep in mind if you want to spend less time online?
- How to easily spend less time online
- FAQ: How to spend less time online
- Conclusion
Why should you spend less time online?
The internet is one of many productivity tools and resources available to us in today’s digital day and age. But just because a tool exists, doesn’t necessarily mean you must spend every waking hour using it!
When you spend less time online, you’ll be able to spend more time working on your business. That could mean you now have time for meeting with your assistant, doing weekly bookkeeping, marketing your business, or completing a client project.
What’s more, spending less time online frees up your schedule and energy levels for personal activities after work. Instead of being glued to the screen, you could spend your leisure time exercising, playing, reading, traveling, and socializing with friends and family.
Who should spend less time online?
Generally speaking, anyone who uses a smartphone, desktop, laptop, smart tv, and tablet should consider spending less time online. Digital devices, feeds, apps, and programs make is all too easy for us to stay connected to the internet 24/7.
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals may find it particularly helpful to evaluate their overall online usage. After all, time is money in business.
If you’re not working in your business, then you’re potentially losing opportunities to make money and a living for yourself.
That being said, do you feel like you’re spending a lot of minutes checking email, playing games, or scrolling through social media during work day hours? If so, then you may wish to seriously consider reducing your screen time sooner rather than later.
What are some benefits when you spend less time online?
As a productivity coach, I think there are several benefits to spending less time online. And rest assured, this goes beyond time spend away from the computer desktop or phone screen.
For starters, there’s a great big world to explore. There’s many opportunities for traveling, meeting new people, learning a new language, finding a new hobby, getting out and exercising…the sky’s the limit!
What’s more, I truly believe the most beneficial aspects of spending less time online happens on a personal level.
When you take a step back from updates, algorithms, and feeds, you may find you think and act differently in your daily routine. And that in and of itself can be a huge win for your overall productivity levels.
Here are just some of the possible benefits you’ll experience when you spend less time online:
Reduced feelings of overwhelm
If you run a business, then you’ve probably got clients and customers to attend to, staff to manage, and a booked schedule. And you’re probably exposed to flashing pop-ups, video ads, noisy alerts, and notifications on a daily basis.
What if you could reduce those feelings of overwhelm and stress in a relatively short period of time? Fortunately, spending less time online is within your direct control.
When you change how you interact with the online world, you may feel less overwhelmed by information and details.
Better decision-making skills
Do you find it difficult to choose between sending an email for a non-urgent task or phoning a client about a delivery delay? Spend less time online opens up your own personal bandwidth so you can be more present and make timely decisions in your business.
So what’s the best part about being fully present? Urgent and important decisions are made. And when you make more timely decisions, you become better at prioritizing tasks. All in all, you might say it’s a win-win situation having the time and space to make decisions!
Improved focus
Focus at work is paramount in today’s busy world. I don’t know about you, but I find the pinging and dinging of notifications, alerts, and status updates to be distracting. If I’m sitting down to write a blog post like this one, I want to be able to focus on the task at hand without any distractions.
That’s why it’s so important to remember there will always be updates, alerts, and notifications. And there will always be work to do. Once you understand this fact, you can reduce or eliminate distractions so you can easily focus on your work.
Greater attention span
Here’s question for you: do you find it challenging to keep track of conversations or listen to presentations? Does your mind jump from task writing an email, to checking the postal mail, drafting a proposal, or setting out your business’ wares in the display case?
When you spend less time online, you may find you’re able to focus on your work with more clarity and intention. So, instead of being distracted every five seconds, you can settle in and work for longer periods of time, be five minutes or two hours.
Better work-life balance
At a very basic level, spending less time online means you’ll have more time available than you did previously. That could mean ample time to work on those urgent client projects. Or having a few more hours for those weekly tennis lessons.
What’s more, spending less time online allows you to better gauge how you spend your time throughout the day. Are you spending time with family in the evening? Taking time to meditate, journal, or sit quietly in the morning? Or maybe exercising with friends at the gym on weekends?
What should you keep in mind if you want to spend less time online?
If you’re looking to spend less time online, then you should prepare yourself for an eye-opening experience of self-development and growth.
Sure, logging off of email or putting down your phone may sound easy to do on paper. But the reality is that changing your habits does take some time and effort. After all, you’ve been spending time online for months, years, or decades!
First off, you have evaluate how much time you’re actually spending online. Second, you need to create a mini-plan of action to follow. And third, you need to actively follow that plan.
But most importantly, the thing you should keep in mind most when changing your habits is to be patient with yourself. You’ll make changes and take some unexpected missteps. But don’t let that hold you back from succeeding.
Use all of your experiences as opportunities for growth and awareness. When you do, you’ll be more likely to make spending less time online a lasting habit than not.
How to easily spend less time online
While the internet is arguably one of the greatest inventions in history, it can also be one of the most distracting!
It’s a good idea to disconnect from the internet on a regular basis.If you want to easily spend less time online, then you should take a few moments to consider the following.
Track your time to spend less time online
Realizing exactly how much time you spend online can be quite an eye-opening and shocking experience. There’s nothing like seeing a screen report saying you spent 16 hours a week or more playing a mobile device game…
If you have little to no idea of your overall online usage, then you can easily get started with a time audit using these quick tips.
Uncover your daily usage
Many digital devices offer the ability to track your screen usage over the course of a day, week, or month. Check your device’s settings to see how and when you’re using your digital device over the course of your daily routine at work and at home.
You can also use a notetaking app or a pen and paper to track how much time you’re spending online. Just make note of when you’re using your phone to play a game or when you snatch a quick look at your favorite social media account.
Thankfully, the method really doesn’t matter so much rather than you’re actually tracking your usage in the first place.
Observe when you reach for your device
Digital devices make it easy to check the weather, order lunch, book a hair appointment, and check your bank balance. But should you reach for your device whenever you’re waiting, bored, traveling, or simply passing the time?
Transitional moments in our day like getting dressed in the morning, commuting to work, taking a break after a meeting, or waiting for an appointment exist for a reason. They allow us to focus on what we’re doing and move us from one segment of our day to another.
The next time you start to reach for your device throughout the day, ask yourself if it’s entirely necessary. Can you wait to use your device later in the day? Could you simply allow yourself to wait? I’m betting there’s a good chance you can.
Notice how you show up to daily activities
Another interesting way to track your time spend online is to simply pay attention to how you’re showing up to your regular ongoing daily activities. That includes activities that are spent in the presence of others, and yourself.
For instance, when you’re brushing your teeth in the morning, does your free hand immediately pick up your phone to scroll through your social media feed? When you sit down to eat lunch, do you mindlessly check your email inbox? Do you check your phone notifications when having Sunday brunch with friends?
Paying attention to whether or not you’re fully present during daily activities can be an all too telling sign. It’s an effective barometer of how and when you’re spending time online.
Reduce or limit your exposure to spend less time online
One of the simplest ways to reduce your time spent online is to prevent yourself from going online. You can’t be online if you can’t get online.
Some of the following tips call for some rather drastic measures. But that’s the whole point of these exercises; preventing or limiting your time spent online.
Disable your internet connection
Do you immediately get sucked into the online world at your desk? Here’s something to try: whenever you sit down to do some work, switch off the internet connection to your computer. You’ll be less tempted to open to open up a web browser and start surfing.
If you’re feeling really tempted, make sure you completely log out of your social media and email accounts before disabling your internet connection. Make sure you press the “Log Off” button.
You can spend the remainder of your time working on your computer on a program or app that doesn’t require an internet connection. Or you could use a notebook, work on a hands-on project, organize your desk, or interact with customers.
Turn off electronic devices in the evening
Are you spending too much time online after work or school? Do you want to allow yourself to unwind after spending time on the internet?
If so, try this quick tip: set a switch-off time and completely turn off your computer, cellphone or tablet. No sleep or standby modes are allowed; you absolutely must turn off the device completely so that the motor is not running.
You can then use this time to socialize with friends and family, clean up after dinner, pack your lunch, work on a hobby, or read.
Remove or delete apps from your devices
If you’re the type of person who benefits from an “out of sight, out of mind” approach when it comes to phones, apps, and devices, then this tip may be for you.
Sometimes, the best course of action to prevent yourself from using an app or device feature is to simply remove the pain point.
Have an app that’s really sucking up your time and attention throughout the day? Then you may wish to consider removing or deleting the app from your device.
Think about all those times you inadvertently picked up your phone, simply because there was that puzzle app you love playing?
It might be time to let the app go…at least for those apps that tend to take up your time and energy.
Use a website or app blocker
If you’re short on self-control, you may want to consider using a website blocker on your device or internet browser.
These programs and apps and allow you to block your favorite websites for specific periods of time so you can get work done, or spend less time in front of the screen.
I’m fully aware of the irony of this suggestion, but hey, it’s for a good cause. Do a quick online search for ‘website blocker’ apps to get started. Choose an app or program to use and be sure to install it sooner rather than later.
Set up an offline device
Do you own a desktop, as well as other electronic devices, such as a tablet or laptop? If so, then you may wish to consider setting up one of those devices to be wifi-free. Not all applications or programs need to be connected to the internet.
You may find this setup to be particularly helpful if you need to spend your time focused on a task, such as writing, reading articles, reviewing reports, or designing graphics.
Participate in offline activities to spend less time online
There’s so much to explore in this great big world of ours! When’s the last time you ate lunch outdoors in the sunshine, engaged in a thoughtful brainstorming session with staff, or played a fun board game with a friend?
Take a few moments to consider those offline activities you’ve been thinking about. Now’s the time to enjoy them!
Start a new hobby
Have you been meaning to start a new hobby, evening activity, or weekend pursuit this year?
Why not try surfing, knitting, crochet, baking, or calligraphy? How about genealogy, walking, crafting, roller skating, or scrapbooking?
You could pick up journaling, painting, singing, watchmaking, or woodworking. Or try stamp collecting, reading, pottery, birdwatching, or playing a musical instrument.
Whatever you do, just make sure it is screen-free. Maybe there’s an old hobby of yours you’d like to start-up again with gusto?
Spend time with friends and family
Time will always march on. That’s why it’s so important to make meaningful connections with those we care about.
Spent some in-person time with the people you love. You could set up coffee breaks, lunch dates, dinners, or playdates. And don’t forget walk dates, game nights, outings to the park, museum, or concert hall.
And if you’re keen on a real online-free experience? Ask everyone in your group to silence, switch off, or put away their electronic devices. That way, you can simply enjoy one another’s company.
Conduct some on-site research
Contrary to popular belief, everything isn’t online. There’s tons of information that hasn’t yet been digitized!
Just think of the information you may be missing that is only available in archives, books, photos, documents, or reports.
Try visiting your local library, a nearby research library, private bookstores, or booksellers. Make an appointment to visit the collections of a historical society or museum.
Or take a walk, hop on train, bus, plane, taxi, or boat. Or get in your car for a quick research getaway.
Take an in-person class or course
As convenient as online courses and classes are, there is no substitute for learning a new skill in person. What have you been meaning to learn for the past several months?
You could learn how to cook, skydive, paint, dance, juggle, bake, or run. Try learning a new language, take a local sightseeing tour, or join a writing group.
You’ll learn a new skill and meet new people. What’s more, you’ll get immediate feedback from your instructor or teacher. Sign up for a course at a nearby school, community center, or library of your choice.
FAQ: How to spend less time online
Why should you spend less time online?
There’s more to life than just looking at a screen. You’ll have more time and energy for other activities in life such as working, exercising, playing, reading, traveling, and socializing with others.
Who should spend less time online?
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and executives may find it helpful so they can focus more on business matters. All people can benefit from cutting back on their screen hours so they have time and space to work, rest, relax, and reflect.
What are the benefits of spending less time online?
Reduced feelings of overwhelm, better decision making skills, improved focus, greater attention span, and better work-life balance. More time for professional projects and assignments, as well as renewed interest in personal hobbies and activities.
What to keep in mind if you want to spend less time online?
Changing existing habits doesn’t happen overnight and it takes time to set, practice, hone, and reinforce new habits. Be patient with yourself. Use all of your experiences as learning opportunities to keep you on track with your screen time goals.
How to spend less time on social media?
Use a phone, app, device tracker, or notebook to log your time on social media. Temporarily disable wifi or block social media apps on your phone. Consider removing apps from your phone if they hinder you from getting things done at work or home.
Conclusion
Spending less time online may seem like a difficult thing to do at first. But the good news is that it is achievable with some proper planning.
Take steps to review your online usage and find ways to significantly reduce or eliminate time spend online. You’ll create a much healthier relationship with your online devices.
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
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