It’s official now! I have conquered my computer addiction!
Back in the old days, (that is, about three weeks ago), I would often come home tired in the evening. I would turn on my computer, check my e-mails, and then browse reddit or something for half an hour to wind down.
That would be the plan anyway. I would usually keep browsing… and browsing… until I would finally rip myself free at 2 am, then crash into bed and wake up bleary-eyed and drowsy in the morning. Then I would sleep through some of my lectures (Okay, that was generally a good use of my time. Now I read books during those same lectures instead.)
The point is, I would often almost automatically turn on the computer and then waste a lot of time pointlessly browsing websites (lolcats, slashdot, reddit, the daily wtf, some webcomics,…). Now, I’m not saying those websites are bad… but my excessive usage sure was.
I knew I had to handle the addiction… but I couldn’t think of how to apply my usual methods. I couldn’t go on a thirty-day trial of not using computers, because there are some essential things I need a computer for (e-mail and blogging). Sheer willpower didn’t get me anywhere either. I would simply slip back when I was tired.
And then I had a flash of inspiration! There was ONE principle I COULD apply easily!
The principle was… Activation energy! It basically means that every action you take is like a boulder rolling down a hill. It takes some initial effort to roll the boulder over small humps at the edge of the hill, but once you get it rolling, it’s effortless to keep going. This is a great principle if you want to create some positive habits, but it’s also very evil when bad habits are concerned. All it took for me was to idly turn on the computer, and the boulder got rolling. And it didn’t stop until it reached the bottom of the mountain, at 2 am, when I finally decided enough is enough and went to sleep.
So how exactly did I apply this principle?
I decided that I had to give myself EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION before doing anything on my computer. (And I had to sign it.) The only two exceptions to that rule were e-mail and blogging (not reading blogs though).
It sounds simple. That’s because it is. But it worked amazingly well for me!
For example, about two weeks ago, I was lying in bed in the early evening. I felt bored, and kind of vaguely bad. So without even thinking, I got up and reached for the computer on switch. Then I paused to think. If I turned on the computer, I would get maybe 5 minutes’ worth of entertainment by checking my e-mails. I lied down back on my bed.
I considered giving myself permission to waste some time. It would be really easy. Just grab a piece of paper, scribble down “permission to browse reddit”, sign it, and off I would be! But when I considered that logically, I knew it wouldn’t make me feel any better. In fact, I knew it would make me feel worse.
I contemplated all my options, but I couldn’t think of a single thing to do on the computer that would make me feel better. In fact, I got up and reached for the on switch two more times as I laid there, but I always got back down again. I wouldn’t turn on the computer before I had given myself the written permission to do something there, and my logical brain simply wouldn’t let me give myself the written permission, because it knew it would only make me feel bad.
Long story short, after about 20 minutes of lying there and having this mental battle with myself, I decided to go for a walk in the park. The walk made me feel better, afterwards I read a book for an hour or two and then went to sleep. Happy end 
Requiring the permission interrupted my pattern. Normally I would mindlessly turn on the computer and waste time. Instead, requiring written permission broke my state… and I could make a logical decision! A great example of how breaking your state can stop unhelpful patterns of behavior.
Things I did along with the “written permission” rule
The written permission requirement was just one part of my elaborate plan to conquer my computer addiction. I had been struggling with mild computer addiction for years, so I knew I had to be well prepared.
Firstly, I considered: What was the positive intention behind my computer usage habits?
I realized the intention was to keep me from getting bored.
So firstly I made sure I had a life . Because if I had hours and hours of free time every day, I would just slip back and spend that time at the computer.
Next I made sure I could get all the benefits of mindless computer browsing. One of those was to wind down after a long tiring day.
So I bought some Terry Pratchett books. These would substitute for idle web browsing.
And so, armed with only a handful of Terry Prachett books and a piece of paper saying I need a written permission to do anything on my computer apart from e-mail and blogging, I conquered my computer addiction. Psychology rocks!
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Site update:
I have moved my blog to http://vladdolezal.com/blog/ (Don’t worry, you don’t need to do anything to keep reading my blog. Chances are, you wouldn’t even notice for some time if I didn’t tell you.)
I called my blog “An Amazing Mind” since the day I launched it over a year ago… but I finally decided it’s time to say bye-bye to the old name. I’ve been considering this for ages, but the last straw the broke the proverbial camel’s back happened a few days ago. I was considering doodling my e-mail on a whiteboard at the uni… and I realized I would feel comfortable doodling down vlad@leedsmathgeeks.com but not vlad@anamazingmind.com, even though this is my main blog.
I realized I have felt the domain name is a bit awkward ever since the beginning – it’s time to finally let go. I will slowly change the blog name and branding over the next week or two.
The good news is… I found out how to redirect all traffic and everything from the old address to the new! So you can keep reading as if nothing had happened, and all the old links will automatically redirect to the new address! Just don’t be surprised when you visit my blog from now on and you see vladdolezal.com instead of anamazingmind.com .
Update: Commenting was broken for a couple of hours. It should work fine now.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
First of all: I just found this site, and it seems pretty cool.
Second of all: Great technique. (I should try it…:))
Finally: How do you come up with all of this stuff?
I am going to have a field day. Once I give myself written and signed permission of course
This is interesting. I am a computer addict and I tried to break this habit but it made me worse. I’ll try this one. Moreover nice blog buddy! I’m subscribing to it. This is the first time I felt like reading a blog for the first time and loved it and subscribed it! Your blog is rocking dude!
Samuel Rajkumar’s last blog post..Have you created your site?
Very good work.
@Anonymous:
Sure, give it a try and let me know how it goes
@Max:
Of course
@Samuel:
Thanks ^^
@Joshua:
Thanks!
Hey, thanks for posting this about computer addiction…
I am most definitely a severe computer addict! (ask me in person and I would never admit it…)
I’m going to try this “technique” and see how it goes. Thanks a lot!
@Nikki:
Good luck. I hope it works for you!
Please help me. I ignore my wife. I am 50 pounds overweight. I do not go to work until 1PM because I am on the computer talking to people I do not even know from the time I finally go to work. I come home around 5 or 6 and stay on the computer until at least 2AM in the morning- usually longer. I procrastinate & will not even clean my filthy garage the neighbors complain about – I mean bugs, nasty rodents & all kinds of garbage. There are holes in my house I cannot seem to fix so all kinds of nasty things come in. My kitchen plumbing is shot, but I know how to fix it but instead I put pans under the kitchen sink for the sewage to drain in & then never empty them. I yelled at my wife last night for no reason other than I was fighting with someone on the internet & did not care that she was very ill. I ignore her & everything else but these chat groups. Not women or gambling but people I do not even know. I stay on for hours & hours. Can someone help me with my obsession?
@Anon:
Okay, that sounds like a heavy-duty addiction.
I’m just a hobbyist, not a mental health expert. My advice is to go see a professional. Some kind of psychiatrist.
No, I’m not saying you’re crazy. But these guys now a LOT about the human mind (a lot more than me), and can figure out what’s the best solution for you. There might be a physical component to your addiction, in which case medication would help you. Or, they might point you to the right treatment, whatever that is.
Btw, at least you realize you have an unhealthy obsession. That’s a good first step
Dear ANONYMOUS I am a recovering alcohlic and I feel your pain. I’ve been were you are. Trying to fill that empty whole inside with my addiction. This is a great practice , giving yourself writen permission to use the computer. But I thing your pass this. Yes see a professional this wood be good. But you may want to try a 12 step program to. I don’t know if they have computers annonymous, But try this go to Alcohlics Annonymous and just replace the computer part with alcoholic. This may seem like your not being true but I know many addicts who prefer AA to NA so they just say they are alcoholics, They know in there mind what they are but. Help is help. Believe me I don’t claim to be an expert. I just know what works for me. One day at a time. And it has been working for almost seven years. I believe you can do it to. Todd
Very good idea for breaking away from being on the internet!
I have to say I have reached ridiculous levels of addiction to the computer.
Anonymous,my suggestion is to have your internet service discontinued.
You can always get it back,but give it 1 month,then try 2.
We did without computers for a loooooong,long time. The world will not stop if you try it.
I belonged to a forum for 3 years,nothing more then chat about our pets. I became internet friends with a lot of people,just as you described.
At some point I became disturbed by the amount of time I was spending there.
My home was a complete mess. If a friend called on the phone,I’d be on the forum while my real life friend was talking to me. I’d miss what they said,paying more attention to people online I didn’t even know.
The list goes on and on….leaving to work late due to responding on the forum,gaining weight,etc.
I made a decision to have my membership deleted.
It was very,very depressing the first 2 months,so ‘Anonymous’,I don’t want to kid you on that.
HOWEVER! It has been worth it. And at times it feels very sad that I’m not on there anymore.
But it gets better. And my mental health,your mental health,MUST come first,so that you can live your life.
Very slowly,I’m feeling stronger,and getting to know myself again.
Sometimes I need to reinforce my decision to lower my computer use/internet,so that is how I found your site,in doing a quick search.
All the best to each of you!
Well, your suggestion to write myself an acceptance letter to slow down internet usage didn’t work, but something else worked for me. I thought I would put it on here too.
Whoever wrote last that cancelling your internet was a good idea is absolutely right. I don’t have internet at home, and I also don’t have the option of stealing internet from someone who doesn’t have a password. Instead I go to the library with my laptop, where I am limited to 2 hours per day. If I run out of this much time, I can sneak over to the computers in the library to utilize internet time even more.
But the fact of the matter is, it’s embarassing to be using so much computer time at the library. I find that I spend even less than the allotted 2 hours per day on my laptop for the simple fact that I don’t want to be in the library all day.
And it’s amazing, I brought my laptop to my boyfriend’s house (who lives far away from me due to the recession) and while he was working, I spend all day long on the computer. It is strange because I have been happy for months without unlimited internet access, and just that little bit of internet time back in my life and I’m back to how I was before, in no time at all.
I think that’s it. Not only will you save money on your likely ridiculously overpriced internet bill, but you can escape from a never-ending battle so easily, and still satisfy that little bit of a release you get when you let yourself become absorbed by internet time.
I hope this helps someone else, gives them the courage to cancel their subscription and find a more limited means of productive internet time. I was depressed for a long time because that was all I did…good luck to you all.
@Free your space:
Thanks for sharing the inspiring story!
I personally considered trying going without internet for a month… but it’s a direct part of my mission in life, with my blog and everything, so in the end I decided not to. Instead, I keep trying different tricks to limit wasted time.
But I have gone without watching the TV for about 6 years now (I occasionally watch TV shows on my computer)… and I don’t miss it at all. So I see how you can go without something most people would consider a necessity.
@Nikki:
Your trick with the library internet is a great example of using activation energy! (There’s a link in the sidebar under “productivity”, if you’re not sure what I’m talking about.)
And yeah, it’s a never-ending battle. I’m glad you’re winning it!
I am a addict. It started when I was 12 years old. My parents were to busy to pay attention to me so instead I sought comfort in Online RPG’s. I am now 24, divorced at 20 because of my gaming addictions and have a 5 year old daughter that lives 3000 miles away.
If you have a partner or friend or someone special in your life suffering these problems you must understand they are not ok and they need help. Deep seeded inside me I was screaming for help, but my addiction wouldnt allow it. Its still a ongoing struggle. I have been fairly successful over the years but have fallen off the right path several times now. I have never seeked professional help and I have experienced intense withdrawls after quiting cold turkey. My symptoms include intense depression, thoughts of suicide, and total alienation of my family and friends.
Due to my long term computer addiction I have a hard time connecting with people on a emotional level even during intense emotional pain others are experiencing, I just cannot show any sympathy for others. Computer addiction is real and a major problem in my life. Many times I have chosen the computer over my own family. Its very sad and I am in need of professional help.
I pray for the people experiencing what im experiencing. This is the first time i have ever wrote about my problems or shared it with anybody. The world is oblivious to my problems the only people who know are the ones that have had a intimate relationship with. Everything I have touched i have destroyed.
Great article. Well written.