Barbara Friedberg is editor-in-chief of Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance as well as a portfolio manager and MBA professor. She has an MBA in finance, BS in economics, and MS in Counseling. Learn to GET WEALTHY in MONEY & LIFE with Barb. Pick up her FREE eBook, 20 Minute Guide to Investing at her website.
Over the recent U.S.A. Thanksgiving holiday I was thrust into an “Internet Fast.” Let me explain. My mom and dad have NO INTERNET. Yes, you heard correctly, they have no internet access in their home! I knew it going in, but I chose to visit anyhow :). I figured that over the four day visit there would be ample time to slip out to an internet café to check email, Yakezie.com, and my blog. I WAS WRONG.
Before you begin to share my anxiety, I previously uploaded three posts for the time away, so I knew there would be fresh content on my site. Yet, that was small consolation for the internet withdrawal symptoms.
Thanksgiving Activities
Don’t feel too sorry for me as our schedule was FUN. El Carino, Jr. Carino, and I gathered together with sis, beau and the folks for a delicious Thanksgiving meal, trip to the theatre to see Young Frankenstein the musical, shopping at IKEA and the Mall. Evenings were spent in front of the folks’ giant TV watching movies. It was GREAT!
Saturday Night at Barnes and Noble
Jr. Carino went out with a cousin, mom was exhausted, so …… El Carino and I snuck out to Barnes and Noble for a quick on-line hook-up. While El Carino lost himself in the music, I focused, prioritized (think, Tim Ferriss 4 Hour Work Week), and got to work. I quickly and efficiently responded to comments, answered emails, and after a heavenly hour on-line went back for dinner.
From Wednesday noon until Saturday night at 6:00, I had NO INTERNET. That was three full days off-line! I didn’t get back on-line until Sunday at 3:00 PM!
What’s the Point?
Lest you think I did no “blog related” activities, read on. During all of the flights I read and was INSPIRED. My mind was not wedded to the World Wide Web, but free to roam! I wrote two articles for Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance and an outline for this article. But, I’m not done yet.
Show me the Money
I don’t know how it works. One of my favorite books ever, Managing Your Mind; The Mental Fitness Guide by Butler and Hope suggests that frequent breaks, changing activities, and breaking down tasks into small bits significantly increases productivity. Well, not only was my productivity bolstered, but so was my creativity.
Over many months I’ve pondered how to hone my market audience. After all, personal finance is a large canvas and much of my reading stressed the importance of providing content for niche markets. Additionally, my future personal finance products needed more focus than I had previously been able to muster.
During this vacation, not only did I come up with three solid articles (in minimal time), but I began creating a plethora of personal finance niche products. My months old quandary was solved during my internet fast.
How my internet fast led to money making strategies:
- As most bloggers know, writing quality content leads to increased readership, which leads to revenue.
- Creative solutions to personal finance problems are marketable.
- Focused and undistracted thinking leads to revenue generating ideas as well as personal wealth in the form of serenity and calm.
- A relaxed fresh mind yields boundless creativity. How that creativity is transformed into action is up to you.
Here’s the challenge:
Try an internet fast. Three days (and a locale away from the norm) seems reasonable. Don’t obsess or evaluate, just do it. Write in and share what you gained (or not). Who’s up for it?
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Great point! I know when I get home from work, I’m often not inspired to write on my website, yet I do anyway. Perhaps it would be good to take a day off once in a while and just free myself from the internet.
Thanks Barbara!
It seems like when you take a break, the mind has a chance to work unemcumbered.
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That’s a good idea. 3 might be too difficult for me initially. I could probably take 1 whole day. I have noticed that the best ideas flow when I take time away from the computer.
I agree-3 was REALLY tough. I don’t think I would have done it if the internet was accessible. Luckily I was doing some fun stuff so the withdrawals were less painful. :)
I did that when I went on a week long cruise. After the first couple of days of jitteriness I did notice what you are talking about. It does really help open the mind and lets your creative juices flow.
Kevin, I’m glad I’m not the only one that actually experienced some “withdrawal” symptoms. It was good on another level because it proved that I am not truly addicted.
Hey Barb, it’s terrible the first time I found but I go off to the coast and sail most weekends now and have 2 day fasts. Being away brings you back focused and fresh after a week of slowly clogging the head!
Sounds like thanksgiving was great.
There’s no way. I went on vacation in Jamaica and had to find an internet cafe within 2 days. In fact, I sit here with bronchitis when I should be resting typing this response. I guess I might have to challenge myself and see what the outcome is.
@Forest-The sailing sounds delightful…Don’t you think it improves your productivity and quality of life?
@Sandy, I totally get it-it is not easy to extract oneself from the pull of the internet :) Feel better from your bronchitis!
Absolutely!
Barb, I thought for sure you were going to be describing a new “slower than broadband” type of Internet service :). But you were talking about productivity! I like it. If you only have so much time, you’re forced to make it work….I’ve been going through a lot of that myself lately and prioritization is the key for me!
Hey Barb, enjoyed the article. Will keep this in mind for the future. Since I’m a newbie, I’m using my initial momentum as much as I can. Here’s a twist, how about a “Friend Fast”? I sometimes spend hours talking about old times or just shooting the breeze. I tuned this down a bit and found my productivity in other areas jumped! Not trying to be anti-social, just trying to find a happy medium.
I’m hooked on the internet. The only time I have an “internet fast” is when I go on international vacation. Even then, I can usually find internet cafe. I don’t think I can do it. Maybe I’ll try one day, but I need to go camping or something. I’m sure I can’t do it at home.
This explains why I always have my best ideas when I am in Church (I carry a notebook for those times now). If I sit in front of a terminal, I have no ideas, as soon as I walk away, suddenly I can think again!
@Goeff, Prioritization is really important, yet hard to maintain consistently. I’m always striving to attend to the most important activites at each point in the day!
@Buck, It’s the same principle. Trying in general to keep some sort of balance seems to improve one’s quality of life.
@REtire-Yes, I totally understand. Never would have done it without it being forced on me. Actually, I”m in a hotel room now and I should be taking a nap like El Carino :)
@Big-probably should sit near the back in church when you pull out the notebook and pen :)
I would totally be up for it but I would have to plan it around the holiday. Right now between work and grading (im a prof of econ and fin too!) I can’t afford to not be connected. I think that there is some serious merit to stepping back and planning out what your next courses of action will be. I know personally that sometimes i get so bogged down in my day to day stuff that sometimes, just sometimes :), I can lose track of bigger picture stuff. I can’t wait to report my results!
You didn’t seem to like it Barb. You appeared to just cope :) I don’t think that an Internet fast would be hard for me, but I’d easily get bored as I’d be forced to walk the dog or worse off, put up and decorate the tree for a holiday that I’m 9 days behind on.
I tried shutting off my internet connection during a week long adventure vacation but I couldn’t. I had to build the structure of Yakezie.com and make sure Financial Samurai was up and on schedule.
I currently am not focused on generating more ideas, as there are too many. I’m focused on executing and staying on schedule! Monday, Dec 12th, the first Scholarship applicant post WILL go up, and readers and Members will be able to vote.
Don’t think I could do without the internet for more than a couple days! Althought, maybe during the holidays when I’m on a far out vacation, yes!
Cheers, Sam
@Nunzio-Teaching is certainly FUN, challenging, and a lot of work! I totally get that you need the internet during those times! Let us know if you ever try the internet FAST!
@WE-You are the FIRST ONE to call me out!!! BRAVO :) You are absolutely right-I did not like it… I coped. AND I enjoyed the resulting increase in creativity and productivity. (I may even be a bit addicted to the internte-just don’t tell anyone)
@Sam-Well no one would say that you don’t have your plate full! Can’t wait to start reading the submissions. I’m very excited that 2 of my contacts submitted!! I agree that vacation is realistically the only way- and for me- it was a “forced” internet fast, with pleasant consequences!
I went a couple days without doing much of anything on the computer and it was great. I wasn’t out of town, but I was sick and my son was sick, so the computer was the last thing on my mind. Once things were back to normal, I was rejuvenated and ready to write!
I am a part-time computer programmer for my regular job, so I am staring at a computer screen for many hours a day. Getting that break in is great for me, although I think it is easy to sit on the couch and type instead of getting out there and doing something. I agree with you though, those breaks are very important.
Hi Everyday, Too bad you were sick, but at least there was a positive outcome! As you said, the computer is quite enticing!
I went out of town with friends for 4 days a few months ago and thought I would just die when I found out the ranch house didn’t have internet. I actually had a blast and came back with way more to write about than when I left, lol. I was lucky that my posts are always scheduled at least a week in advance though. :-)
I do internet fasts when we take cruise vacations. I’m too cheap to pay those prices for more than quick scans of email for emergency messages.
I do think it’s great to unplug once in a while. That’s why I’m not on twitter every night during the week. Need to refresh the brain.
I just did an internet fast…well sort of, during the month of December. I did check in to my email a few times, but absolutely no blogging was done while on vacation for 7 days in December. I cam back refreshed.
It seems easier to do when I’m away from home. I just leave my laptop home and the decision is made. Now…trying to take a self imposed break with the laptop just sitting there taunting me is a different story.
@Crystal-I don’t know how you schedule your posts a week in advance….It is so much fun to get away and do something out of the ordinary- kind of like the “FUN STUFF” in BFS.
@Kay Lynn-Yes, I refuse to ‘PAY” for internet on vacation!!!! You must keep the brain fresh!
I spend way too much time on the internet and I know it’s starting to affect my productivity in other areas of life. There is a definite need to unplug. You know there was no internet when I was growing up and somehow we all managed to survive and function just fine.
Hi First Gen-Like any other activity, moderation is usually the best path. Unfortunately, it is so much easier said than done. You raised a really key point about maintaining productivity in all one’s important areas.
Hello Barb!
I had an internet fast as well–three days, then I just used it to send an email that we had gotten to Austria safely, then a few more days…then it slowly started creeping back into our life. It was great though because I was only using the internet for about an hour per day. I was amazed with how much I could get done in that precious amount of time, then flip my laptop close and leave. What liberation! (Okay…it was super lovely to come home and have internet all the time again:)).
Hi Amanda, It is so nice to trave-get a break from the web-and embrace another culture. Of course, as you mentioned, once back on home turf, the call of the net usually triumphs!
Hey Barb, I don’t know if I could do it. I’d be afraid that I’d come back after 3 days only to find that my website had been down for 2 days and 23 hours. What if there’s a technical glitch or something with your blog? I at least have to check in once a day, although I’ll usually try to be pretty inactive at least 1 day a week.
Totally agree. We all need balance in our lives, and my belief is that through balance, each individual area is enhanced. I’m not surprised by your findings, Barb, and completely believe it. I am thinking about scheduling time better in terms of blogging, allowing me to be A) more focused and productive during certain periods of time, and B) completely disengaged during other times.
Hi Squirrelers-Those are some well reasoned goals. Good luck with them! Today, I tried to scedule my day 1/2 at a time. I did okay, only 1 hour behind :).
Great post. I totally know what you’re talking about. I spent a few weeks with family in October in the rural mountains where I had no internet access or cable tv. I went into shock for the first few days. My life was put on pause. It freaked me out in the beginning but after I got through the first few days I felt renewed. Time no longer mattered. Work no longer mattered. I woke up with the sun and went to bed some nights at 9pm because I was so relaxed. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle that we forget to take a step back and just enjoy being with people. It was a refreshing wake up call and definitely made me be so thankful for 3g smart phones, tivo and on demand tv, wifi, and high speed internet when I got back to it! And I also try to have more “unplug” days (or hours I should say).
Hi Charlie, Your time in the mountains sounds heavenly. I totally get that it takes a few days to adjust to life without electronics! I would love to indulge in a couple of weeks away (hopefully I wouldn’t lose my mind!).
Last time I went on vacation, I went nearly a month without the Internet. Given, this was before I started blogging as often as I do now. ;)
I think an Internet (and technology fast in general) every now and then is a good idea, but how long before the Internet becomes as ubiquitous as the telephone, if not even more so? At some point, not having Internet is going to be like not having electricity — it simply won’t be the case in most places. ;)
Hi Kevin, In fact, I read an article this morning that discussed the down side of smart phones, which relates to this issue. The article mentioned that being connected so much of the time can damage interpersonal and real human contacts. I do agree with your prediction that the internet in some form will soon be as widely available as electricity….. More stuff to ponder :)
reminds me of WALL-E . . .
great points Bard, and all very valid. for me the key has been to develop systems that are relatively autonomous. once systems are in place and one is pleased with the process and output, extended sabbaticals can be taken from time to time without causing the earth to fall off.
i had cut down email consumption to twice per day, and now back to three times per day, which is disappointing actually. i do most of it on a smartphone so i am not restricted to a particular venue, and can fill in dead time, such as waiting to take off in a plane.
but other than email usage and web browsing (which i do consciously and with a purpose), my websites (most of which are niche websites) do not require as much ongoing work. i visit each site monthly to look at the numbers, and set some time aside incrementally for updates.
net result of significantly cutting down net consumption for me has been more productivity, much better results (web traffic and financially), ton more free time as well as a healthier, happier me.
Sunil, First off, I’d like to say you’re eBook is one of the most practical and informative I have. I am imprssed with your systems. You seem to be extremely adepts at organization. But, don’t you need fresh content for your niche sites?
My blogging/internet fast was for about three months and although my blog took a big hit I think it really helped me focus why I was doing it in the first place.
When I have longer periods of writing I try to mix it up with a workout or something to keep me active which really helps. Funny how stale we get just sitting in front of a computer screen.
Hi Planting, You know what, the internet is NOT GOING ANYWHERE. No matter how long we are away, it will be here when we get back. And of course, there is actually a world off-line as well :) I appreciate your comment.
I think it is truly hard to quit the internet for 3 days. I have so much running on it. I see where you are coming from though and thanks,
I see your point about Internet fasts, but I think what works better for myself is to “have a purpose” when I go online, do it then log off. I see it like when I go to the mall – I don’t want to get stuck for hours!!
Hi Rory and Cruise, I think it is a great anology to compare going on line with hitting the mall. Bring a list and don’t linger or you’ll be there for hours. Thanks for commenting.
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