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Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Procrastination and Internet-addicted

(OP)
Hi all,
I have a big problem in my life, that is procrastination. I spend too much time Internet surfing specially at work. Most of my working hours are spent surfing webcam sites. I decided too many times to relieve myself from this bad habit but no success. I always say I will start from tomorrow but I can't continue for more than one or two days. I read too many psychological books but no result. I think if I work more hard, I would be a pioneer person in my company, but I don't know how to make myself a passionate person. can anyone give me practical solution? please share your similar experience.
Sorry for my bad English writing.   

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Be strong and just quit.
You will lose your job if caught using work hours surfing the net.
These days it takes being fired for something to realize you 'have' to stop.

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Just like for my kids, there is a setting in your internet options where you can set your browser only to point to certain websites and won't let you surf.  You will have to find out what key web sites you use for work (don't forget to add Eng-Tips) so that you can have access.  And, maybe have somebody else put in the password so you can not change the settings.  In this way, you have access to the sites you need and will not be tempted to visit those "webcam sites" (yeah ok whatever floats your boat LOL :+)) or surf.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."  

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Acknowledging your own problem is half the battle. Now do something about it.

Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

dh328,
Tell you what, tell us the following:
 - your real name
 - your bosses real name
 - your bosses e-mail address
 - your company's name

With this information, we will take action to give you all the help you need to stop your self-destructive conduct.

How is that for a deal?  Okay, just kidding.

Like "rbulsara" said, "now do something about it!!!"

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Daily devotion cures mixed emotion.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Just keep doing what you are doing ... the 'cure' will soon find you, and you will no longer be surfing ... at work.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

The answer is simple but not easy: stop it.  When you slip, stop again.  Don't make excessive threats or promises to yourself or beat yourself up for failing.  Simply stop again.

Do reward yourself for succes (but don't use the internet as a reward).

Perhaps make a new hobby of adding your favorite webcam sites to your browser's content blocker.

Your employer will find out, if they don't already know.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

dh328,

   My employer logs internet activity.  I doubt they pay a lot of attention to this, as they almost certainly have better things to do.  It is not difficult to scan the logs looking for bandwidth hogs (video) and inappropriate sites.  

   Keep reminding yourself that you are being watched.   

               JHG

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

First off, I have to say that my responding is defintely falling into the irony category.

maybe the procrastination is the root cause.  If you were doing your job, instead of putting of doing it, you'd be busy with work, not with the internet.  I'd suggest keep a running list of priorities and projects.  At the beginning of each day, to the best of your ability, set targets for work to be completed, and schedule your work in 30 minutes increments.  Try sticking to the work schedule and acheiving the goals you've outlined, rather than worrying about surfing the internet.  At the end of the day, unless you've consumed copious amounts of bandwidth, or are looking at p0rn, most supervisors only care if you get your work done.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

sounds to me like you're bored.  maybe time to find a job that you are passionate about?  it's really hard to create passion that isn't there.  be true to yourself and do something you love.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Maybe this dh328's problem???
(from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder)

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or AD/HD) is a neurobehavioral[1]  developmental disorder.[2]  It is primarily characterized by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone" and symptoms starting before seven years of age.[3]

ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5% of children globally[4][5] and diagnosed in about 2 to 16% of school aged children.[6] It is a chronic disorder [7] with 30 to 50% of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood.[8][9] Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments.[10] 4.7 percent of American adults are estimated to live with ADHD.[11]

ADHD is diagnosed two to four times as frequently in boys as in girls,[12][13] though studies suggest this discrepancy may be due to subjective bias of referring teachers.[14] ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed.[15] Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients.[15]

ADHD and its diagnosis and treatment have been considered controversial since the 1970s.[16] The controversies have involved clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents and the media. Opinions regarding ADHD range from not believing it exists at all to believing there are genetic and physiological bases for the condition as well as disagreement about the use of stimulant medications in treatment.[17][18][19] Most health care providers accept that ADHD is a genuine disorder with debate in the scientific community centering mainly around how it is diagnosed and treated.[20][21][22] The American Medical Association concluded in 1998 that the diagnostic criteria for ADHD are based on extensive research and, if applied appropriately, lead to the diagnosis with high reliability.[23]

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

I think the ADHD definition covers just about everyone?
I think it's over used.

Chris
SolidWorks 09 SP4.1
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

What is multi-tasking??

Just a nice way of saying you have ADHD or hyper-activity or whatever the phrase de jour is...

My Dad solved it with a kick smack on the butt...the nuns used rulers... Mom would scream... my employers thought I worked faster than anyone else...it goes on and on..

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Quote:

Most of my working hours are spent surfing webcam sites.

What kind of webcam sites??

pimp  

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Concentration is a learned skill that requires practice.  SO, GO PRACTICE!

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

This problem was recently shown on television, and has its own technical name (for people who procrastinate by watching inappropriate streaming videos): procrasturbation.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

DH328,

I've experienced what you are experienceing.  I've gotten over it mostly, (I still spend too much time on eng-tips.com, but don't tell anyone.)  

At the time I was suffereing from depression.  I would highly recommend speaking with a heathcare professional.  You may not even realize or understand the state of your mental health.  I got depressed shortly after getting married.  This sounds like it should be a happy time, but the truth is even positive life changes can cause depression because it is such a drastic change.  A psycologist can evaluate your mental health, give you life strategies to improve it, and if you both feel it's a good idea prescribe (proscribe?) meds.  I took an SSRI class drug for about 6 months and that got me over the hump and when I felt better I stopped.  Hopefully that's all covered on you health plan.

I've never been a passionate guy about my work either.  I'm a bit of a slacker.  But I enjoy it and I get my work done.  I've found that for me the procrastination comes when I'm supposed to be doing something that I don't know how to do or am unsure of what is expected of me.  If it is something I know how to do I get down to it.  I enjoy the work more when I feel my mastery of that task gets better.  So now when I know I'm facing something where I expect to procrastinate I force it to the front of the pile and chug through at least a portion of it every day and leave the fun stuff like creating drawings to later.

These are just my thoughts.  Good luck and keep working on overcomeing those most common tendancies.  

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

dh328:

You state:

"I think if I work more hard, I would be a pioneer person in my company, but I don't know how to make myself a passionate person."

Do you have the same concentration / distraction problems away from work?  I ask because it affects my suggestions.

If the problem is confined to work, then chances are you are bored and under-challenged.  Ask for or accept a challenge that simply doesn't afford you the time or the ability to allow your mind to wander.  I recently accepted an assignment to do piping stress analysis on what I was told was about 150 isometrics over a period of six weeks.  It turns out that the number of weeks didn't change, but the number of drawings became 600.  I didn't have a lot of spare time to do much of anything else.  In fact, in the last week, I came in on a Sunday morning and I didn't eat, sleep or even leave the building until the following Tuesday afternoon.  If your work is challenging and interesting and there is enough of it, your day will disappear before your concentration does.

On the other hand, if this problem extends outside of the workplace, then (in my estimation) it is a classic sign of what could be the onset of depression.  (i.e., "I am confused...I don't really like what I am doing but I don't know what else to do...".)  In such case, a fully engaging and enjoyable hobby outside of work will probably ground you.

Regards,

SNORGY.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

I think KirbyWan and I reside in a parallel universe.

Regards,

SNORGY.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Yeah,

Good suggestions Snorgy.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

You can block specific sites on your computer using the method shown at: http://www.secretgeek.net/block_sites.asp

It won't completely stop you from accessing sites that you procrastinate on, but it adds a few steps that force you to think about what you're doing.

Both kirbywan and snorgy have given you some great advice.  

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

I find it helpful if you find yourself getting into a routine to change things up.  Aka, try changing your sleep habits, try waking up early and going on a run before work, try something different (hopefully healthier) for lunch, rearrange your desk....sometimes just changing your surroundings and daily routine along with resolve to stop a habit works.


I also find it interesting you come here to ask for advice about internet addiction.  Take a look at how many times people log in and you'll get the idea.  You are not alone.


 

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Kids and mortgages are fairly good motivators.  

An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

If you'll stick with eng-tips.com, even when caught, just tell your boss you're making some research and let him read the forum comments. I don't think he'll get mad and you might even be commended for being resourceful.

Just kidding but half meant. Just stay focused I know you can overcome your situation.

Best of luck!!!

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

Are you giving the expected results? Do you produce what you're supposed to and a tad bit more?
If the answer is YES, then HAPPY SURFING!
If the answer is no, then.....  

<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying " Damn that was fun!" - Unknown>>

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

This may be a place for obtaining engineering advice or recommendations, but probably not the best place for mental health advice. If you recognize a behavior that is self-destructive, then I would recommend seeking advice from a mental health professional.

I would say you are not alone. If you read the paper, you may have heard of highly paid and respected SEC lawyers, professional athletes, acotrs and prominent politicians that have gotten undesired publicity from self-destructive behavior.

You may want to take a look at the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).
 

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

On the plus side, you took enough time away from the webcams to let us know you had an issue.  On days when I find myself browsing I get up from my desk and find something else to do. If I am driving home after work, I like to know that I did something positive as opposed to waste 8 hours pissing around online or elsewhere.
You are an engineer, there's always an ECO to be done.

drawn to design, designed to draw

RE: Procrastination and Internet-addicted

you are not the only one

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