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“The most dangerous distractions are the ones you love, but that don’t love you back.” (Warren Buffett)
Do you ever catch yourself looking at the clock on your computer, only to realize that a few hours have gone by and you still haven’t started on a single task? This is often the result of mindlessly browsing the internet, where distractions slowly consume your valuable time without you realizing it.
You’ve been sitting at your computer, yet not a single piece of productive work has been completed. Why?
You’re caught in the endless cycle of mindlessly browsing the internet. And this cycle is having devastating consequences to your productivity. In a CareerBuilder survey, up to 3 hours of each workday were lost to smartphones and other distractions, including the internet.
You want to be more productive. You want to complete your “to-do” list. You want to stop wasting so much of your time. You just can’t seem to break the cycle of distractions and mindless browsing, so today I am going to share with you three strategies that helped me and will help you too.
How to Stop Mindlessly Browsing the Internet:
1. Be mindful and sit with your urges
To stop the cycle we need to identify where it begins, and it usually begins with an urge or compulsion to procrastinate. Mindfulness is the antidote to urges. When you notice yourself about to open a new tab to check Facebook, take a pause, take a breath and notice what’s happening; it’s in this space that you now have the choice to make a conscious choice of how you live your life. Stopping the cycle begins by developing more self-awareness and using mindfulness to identify your urges and compulsions.
2. Focus on engagement, not entertainment
Mindless browsing also comes from a desire to be entertained and receive instant gratification. If you check Facebook maybe you have a notification that gives you a quick little hit of reward. Or maybe your friend has posted a new photo to Instagram. You wouldn’t want to miss out on that!?
The problem is that entertainment is shallow and instant gratification is fleeting. It might work to stimulate you in the moment but it’s not going to provide you with the fulfillment you are truly looking for.
Focus instead on the goals and dreams you have. When you catch yourself as we’ve talked about in step 1, you want to remind yourself what your goals are and why they are important to you. To do this, keep a notepad next to you with your goals listed and read it every time you want to procrastinate. Is checking Facebook for a fifth time this hour really helping you achieve your goals? The goals you know deep down you want to achieve?
3. Create space for success
Finally, you want to set yourself up for success by creating space for it. I found myself getting distracted on X (then Twitter) more often than I would prefer, with the news cycle always providing something new to “care” about in the moment.
So I decided to take dramatic action and change the way I interact with it. I didn’t want to block the site completely, and need access to it during the day, but I did mute almost all of my followers so when I log on to reply to someone, my timeline is empty.
If you want to be less distracted, and avoid the potential for the mindless browsing cycle to begin, you need to set yourself up for success. The more you’re exposed to different opportunities to be distracted, the more you will take them up on it and be distracted.
One of the easiest ways to create space for success is by installing a website blocker for the websites that you have a problem with, including social media and news websites. FocusMe can do that on your computer and your phone, on a schedule or a timer, or give a site a daily Time Limit instead of a full block. For Facebook alone, extensions like News Feed Eradicator hide the feed.
More Tips to Stop Mindlessly Browsing the Internet
For more tips on how to stop mindlessly browsing the internet, watch my video on YouTube.
About the Author
Cam Adair is the founder of Game Quitters, the world’s largest support community for video game addiction. A motivational speaker, his story has been featured in two TEDx Talks and on FOX, CW, and VICE, amongst others. Today Cam shares weekly videos on YouTube, and in his spare time he enjoys traveling, DJing and surfing. Cam currently lives in San Diego, California. You can connect with him on X, Instagram and Snapchat, and to book Cam for a speaking engagement, contact CAMPUSPEAK.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why do I end up mindlessly browsing the internet?
It usually starts with an urge to avoid something: a hard task, boredom or a low mood. Opening a new tab is the easiest escape there is, and the feed is designed to keep you there once you arrive.
How do I stop opening social media without thinking?
Notice the urge before you act on it: pause, take a breath and ask what you were avoiding. Then make the habit harder to repeat by logging out, removing the apps from your home screen or blocking the sites during work hours.
Does a website blocker really help with mindless browsing?
Yes, because it removes the decision. When the site will not open, the urge passes in a few seconds and you return to what you were doing. FocusMe blocks or limits the sites and apps you choose, on your computer and your phone.
What should I do instead when the urge to browse hits?
Keep your goals written down next to you and read them. Then do the smallest next step of the task in front of you. Starting is usually enough to break the pull.
How long does it take to break the habit?
Most people notice the urges weakening within a couple of weeks of consistently catching them and blocking the easy outlets. The habit comes back quickly if the blocks come down, so keep them in place during the hours that matter.
