"3 Tips for Healthy Internet Use "

"3 Tips for Healthy Internet Use"

I recently wrote a piece examining why so many of us have become so dependent upon cell phones , along with some suggestions for developing a healthier relationship to what is, without question, a very useful technology.

Many readers suggested that we have a similar discussion about Internet use, so I wanted to share with you what I have learned from my experience.

I am a firm believer that the Internet has revolutionized our world for the better. But, as someone whose work is online, I am perhaps the ultimate test case for how the Internet impacts daily life, and I know that this tool can be abused.

Much has already been written on how the Internet can fuel sexual addiction and encourage users to spend an unhealthy amount of time engaged in online games, but let's take a look at how the Internet affects us in a more general way.

The Over Informed User

Internet's great power, in my opinion, is to deliver information from a larger number of diverse sources than ever before. However, it is possible to be over informed.

Especially when it comes to breaking news, I can easily spend an hour reading every possible take on the event or losing myself in endless video clips. I do get different viewpoints but after a few minutes I am just as likely to be mindlessly viewing the same information over and over in a compulsive way.

**Healthy Information Tip

Ask yourself how much time you can give to a particular search before it begins to negatively impact your day. If I have an hour to spend online consuming content about a topic that interests me, I will go for it. But if it means that I am missing out on productive work, exercise, or family time, then I need to reprioritize.

The Insecure User

How many times a day do you check your email? If you are like me, you probably can't even count because it is a more or less constant activity. I think this is about insecurity. It is true that I appreciate when colleagues promptly respond to emails but there is something almost creepy about getting a response instantly; it is as if the other person is waiting at their keyboard in desperation.

I try to remind myself that most people who really want to do business with me or be in a relationship with me can wait an hour for an email response. If I am desperate to respond immediately, I may be insecure, and that is not only unhealthy for me but also unappealing as a quality.

**Healthy and Secure Tip

Much like using cell phones in a healthy way, experiment with limiting your email use on certain days. Sundays make sense as most businesses are closed and, excepting a few professions, even the busiest of us are not expected to respond on Sunday. This is especially important for those of us who now use Blackberrys, iPhones, and similar devices. Don't miss out on the life around you while you are staring at your email.

The Isolated

In one sense the Internet has helped millions of people escape isolation, especially those who live in remote locations or who need help with a problem that may be too embarrassing to address in person.

However, the Internet can also trick us into believing that online relationships are a replacement for face-to-face interaction. While I read, enjoy, and appreciate the conversations that happen on this blog, for example, I don't pretend that they are the same as physical communication. For better or worse, many of the things said here would not be said if we were sitting together.

**Connection Tip

If one of your relationships has become mostly about email or messaging, try to reestablish physical contact. (This does not mean meeting strangers who may be dangerous!) I think the relationship will benefit from some face time.It may be counterintuitive to discuss moderating Internet use while writing for Yahoo!. However, I believe Yahoo! and other Internet companies know that healthy use of this revolutionary technology is just good business