Breaking (or at least cracking) the Habit

Marisa

My internet addiction has always been kind of a hazard to my schoolwork, but lately it's been getting out of hand. My grades -- two classes in particular -- are suffering, and I'm probably going to fail those two classes. I don't want this to happen again.

Guys, how do you manage? I find myself putting off assignments until days after they're due, in favor of... refreshing my LJ friends page, reading the same things over and over. Or browsing a forum with no new posts. Or re-reading old fanfics. Anything besides the actual schoolwork. I'd separate myself from the computer, except some things (like research projects) require the internet.

This has always been a problem for me, since even before I joined this forum (and I've been here for a loooong time).

Does anyone know how to manage this? Any suggestions to help me focus and prioritize? Anything can help :<
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Tachyon360 · Le Croissant Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 740

In my experiences, nootropics are the one and only thing that ever helped me focus on what needs to be done when I'm stuck in an ocean of much more interesting things to do.

It goes without saying that your only source should be a licensed doctor, and that you should follow the instructions laid out by your doctor and pharmacist with all due care. That's a critical point to make, as a lot of the substances you can readily get through a doctor are illegal to possess without a prescription and potentially very dangerous when abused.

I'm not going to delve into much more detail, since I doubt that would be appropriate on a forum like this one, but I will say that pharmaceuticals are what got me through high school and into college. I don't take anything now, since my schedule is a lot less mechanical and homework is minimal, but the degree to which it helped me a some years ago is undeniable.
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Saito-kun · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:42 am Post subject:

There are programs that let you limit use of certain websites when you need to be working. Sometimes just that little poke in the gut from the program even when you can disable it is enough.

I too waste waaay too much time on the computer doing pretty much nothing when I should be working, but I've always pulled the homework out of my rear in the end and got a good grade so I've never really developed any "tricks."

The best thing to do is just mentally slap yourself and exercise your will power. If you need to be working, then WORK! Smile

Arison-chan · Has more REOCred than you Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 196

Roro567 · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:15 am Post subject:

Well..I had the same problem as you did. My mom, got so pissed cause I wasn't studying for tests and I was getting bad grades..But in the end i just got a good grade. I dont know how but I think that just fighting my inner wanting to go on the computer got me to take over it XD
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Marisa · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

I have been worried about having ADD for years now. I thought I could just muddle through it and learn to work with it, but it's getting more and mroe difficult. :/

I'm kinda scared of seeing someone to get a perscription for medication, though. The idea of a drug designed to change the way I think is kind of scary. :< I'm afraid I won't be able to daydream anymore, and that's how I write stories.
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Saito-kun · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:16 am Post subject:

ADD is an emergence of our current soundbite-obsessed culture--I think everyone has a bit of it and the term should only be used in extreme cases. It's usually just a matter of muscling through it and not letting the idea that you may have some kind of special disorder get to you. Razz

Just do what you have to do and don't be wishy washy about it! Smile

Tachyon360 · Le Croissant Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 740

Oh, trust me, I know exactly how you feel. I actually avoid antidepressants and anxiolytics for that very same reason. Nootropics, though, don't really fundamentally change anything about you. Caffeine is actually a nootropic - just not a particularly strong one.

Bear in mind that if you go with my suggestion, you are going to be putting chemicals in your body that interact with your body's chemical pathways. Bad things can happen. Keep your doctor informed and carefully follow the instructions given.

I don't really feel comfortable saying more than that publicly on a forum like this one. PM me if there's anything you want me to elaborate on, and bear in mind that I'm not a professional.
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Marisa · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject:

I completely understand. And if I do go on nootropics and something goes wrong, I'm not going to hold you accountable or anything. Smile

But thank you for your insight.

And everyone else, too. Thanks for the insight. <3 Sadly, turning off the computer completely isn't an option for many of my assignments. But it's nice to know I have your support in spirit ^^
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**Malik** · Local Prinny Deity Age: 34 Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 1179

Sometimes I think that if you constantly worry if you have ADD, you don't XD

I say prioritizing helps, though I don't follow that logic XD I don't know how determined you are, but you can always tell yourself that you will reward yourself with all that stuff you do online after you're done. That tends to help me get done.
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megarush · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

wow...this come up right after doing a research paper of 8 pages long on it

I did discover a few methods to help:
priority list: force yourself to finish the more important thing before internet. personally I don't think this one is very effective alone
limit your time:each time I got a big project to work on, I give myself an hour to have fun on internet. I try to do everything in that hour to have my full concentration during homework time.
timer: this can be a way to limit your fun time. One thing is to put it far away from the computer but close enough to hear it.It forces you to move to get it,thus disrupting the concentration over the website you were on
completely cut internet: I usually do this. at first I try to take everything I need internet wise and when i got it all,I completely cut internet. just because I know I can't surf on internet while doing homework, I seem to be more concentrated and work faster(also seem I do paper papers that way)
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ComicX6 · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:

I'll suggest a gradual weening, and do other things apart from the Internet during your free time, so that you eventually adjust to it and aren't using it as much. Now that the weather's getting warmer (Finally, here in New England), I've been going out more often during the day rather than being on the computer, for example, so now most of my time online takes place in the late afternoon/evening. So basically my system when it comes to the Internet is: light surfing in the morning, work in the afternoon, and the bulk of my goofing off in the evening.
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marihikari · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:08 am Post subject:

It helps to make a list, because seeing things on paper may be a reminder of the task and make it seem more real and important.
Also, it may be good to work on something a little bit at a time- break a huge project up over the course of a couple days.
Or, you could hide the computer or set the controls to block your favorite sites and then unblock when you're done.
Or, go to the library! they have tons of books and internet there while certain pages may be restricted (such as school libraries, though my school doesn't block this one X3).
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