You look up at the clock and it says 3 AM. You know you should have been in bed sleeping hours ago, but you desperately want to finish your latest and hopefully greatest post. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day because if you are lucky you will end up with 4 to 5 hours of sleep at best. Does this sound familiar?
This is a common lifestyle of the website owner or blogger. At least a die hard devoted one. Are you one of these bloggers?
I take it serious, but everyone needs a break and should have a little fun too. What a boring world this would be if we didn’t.
I know people that sit in front of the computer all day long, sometimes all weekend long too. If they are not at their computer they are checking up on things with their phone or other device. An 8 hour day becomes 10. Then, 12, 14, or maybe even 16. It’s like there is almost no such thing as a day off or vacation.
People say that technology makes our lives easier and more productive. I can see that to some extent, but I also see it creating more work. I know, we don’t have to, but we do.
It used to be when the 8 hour workday was finished that was it. We went home, relaxed, and didn’t think about work.
Now since all these devices are so convenient it almost seems like we actually work more. Even if it’s not work related we just can’t seem to relax and take a break. There is always one more email, one more Facebook post to read. Something that popped into our head that we want to look up. One thing leads to another, and before we know it several hours have passed and another day is gone forever.
Sometimes I think about all the time that we spend online. Are we really using it for something necessary, or are we just wasting time. If we didn’t have the internet or all these devices what would we be doing? Would we be bored out of our minds? Or would we find something more productive to be doing? That’s a tough one and I don’t have an answer for it. I just sit here sometimes and think about my younger years when we didn’t have the internet. I don’t remember being bored, but at the same time I don’t remember doing something super exciting all the time either.
I am getting older (sigh) and time seems to be moving much faster than it did when I was younger. Years come and go like months now. I am afraid one day I am going to wake up and old man and tell myself: “I sure wish that I wouldn’t have spent so much time online when I was younger.” “If only I had done this or that,” or “I wish I had done this or that.”
Maybe that will or will not happen who knows. It’s hard to say for certain. I supposed that it’s inevitable with or without the internet. Only time will tell.
Are we missing out on the simple things in life? People seem to be so tuned into and focused on all these devices I wonder how many times they miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime. Even if it is something as simple as taking in the scenery. You might be saying who cares now, but 20 years down the road you might say: “I sure wish I had put my phone down for a couple of minutes and took in the scenery.” Your phone will be there. The internet will be there. They are not going anywhere. You may not ever get an opportunity to see or visit something right in front of you again in your lifetime, and if only you would have set the thing aside and looked up for a few minutes.
This also makes me think about people that are blind. What they wouldn’t give or do to see something simple with their own eyes that most of us take for granted. Yet, we get so mad and think that it’s the end of the world because we can’t get a signal on our phone, or we can’t get on some popular website for a brief period of time.
I am the site owner and administrator of DialMe.com. I write Boonex Dolphin Tutorials on the main part of this website where you will also find tips, webmaster resources and more. Here, on the blog I write about a variety of topics surrounding WordPress, technology, social media/networking, SEO, and webmaster resources.
Boonex Dolphin, Wordpress, Seo, Technology, Web Server and Hosting Specialist.
You are very right, we really lose some small but so impartant things in life. i hate myself checking phone for some new comments when I have no access to a laptop. So instead of talking to guys in a pub I am constantly browsing smooth, trying to fish out some more info and so on,. That’s sad, really sad…
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It seems like the rise in text messaging and social media has helped contribute to this. Everywhere I go people seem to be more tuned into their device than the person sitting right next to them. It is kind of sad.
Yeah I used to sit infront of my laptop until late at night(sometimes until 4am/5am, Crazy!). My life was so miserable cuz obviously I didn’t have enough sleep that time! It’s not worth it to stay so late for honestly! Now, I told myself to switch off all my gadgets(laptop, TV and phone) and start setting my mind to ‘sleep mode’ after 10pm. Going to bed early as well as waking up early has become my habit now and I’m feeling much better everyday
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Yikes! 4 or 5 AM, I hope you didn’t need to go to work at 8 or 9 AM the same day. I think we all need to take a break sometimes and try to reduce the time we spend online or with all these gadgets. I would rather just sit and watch a movie without any interruptions. The older I get the harder it is to stay up late and get up early. It was much easier years ago, but I just need a good nights sleep now.
It felt like I read out my own story to myself
I’m on vacations and I simply cannot unplug myself; it creates a certain kind of discomfort and I do not understand why. Yes, I do miss out on other things because strangely im reluctant to log off when friends call for a meet-up etc. I think i need to work on this. Nice share.
I think that no matter how busy and demanding your career life can be, you also need to stop and smell the flowers. Sure you want everything done before your set deadline, but is it worth your health and happiness? You need to reward yourself some time, so you can move on to be more productive.
Hey Ray,
Well, I’m lucky enough to say that I’m probably a lot older then you my younger years are so behind me it’s not even funny. I did the entire corporate America thing for over 31 years so when I came online I didn’t mind staying online long hours because I was learning and growing all while building a business for myself.
As the years went by and I learned more and more I now take more time to myself and although I don’t feel guilty about it anymore, I do regret sometimes being off because I have so much to get caught up with when I get back online.
But to me, I love what I do so it’s never work to me. It’s pure enjoyment.
~Adrienne
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To me it seems like the clock is ticking much faster than it used to a few years ago. I swear the last 10 years flew by.
I love the fact that there is so much free help and information online that you can look up in seconds. I just keep telling myself it will still be there tomorrow and do I really need to look something up right this second. Do I need to get it done tonight or can it wait another day or two. Those types of things.
I enjoy working online too, but it’s almost like I never get a day off or break. That is probably my fault to some extent. Maybe I need to ground myself like my mother used to do to me when I was younger.
Let’s face it, our life has been hot-wired with technology that we’re all connected online. I have to admit, I miss the days I could just go out and meet up with friends. Today it’s all about the tweeting, the commenting, the sharing, the liking.
Who can survive these days without an internet connection? Everything is going so fast, so you might miss something if you unplug. I know it’s crazy and it’s a good idea to smell fresh are in the real world sometimes too.
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I know it’s something that we need to keep up with. If you don’t you might be left behind. It is just nice to take a break from it every now and then and to appreciate some of the simple things in life. Thanks for stopping by.
It’s pretty crazy how we put ourselves in this state of addiction to technology… and we’re the only ones who can actually break it!
The funny thing is even computer/laptop is not on, but smartphone still stay connected. I recently not switch on my laptop at weekend, but I still check mail over my smartphone. I think smartphone should consider as small computer.
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This is a wonderful and worth-pondering-on post. I agree it is sometimes hard to disconnect yourself form technological gadgets and devices. Because of focusing too much on what happens online we fail to notice that we are slowly missing out the real fun in life.
I am having same issues with my lifestyle most of the times I go to sleep very late at night and after laying down in the bed if I get some new idea then I have to get up and implement or test it out. Otherwise it just ruins whole night. I think we all are obsessed with it somehow or the other.
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