In all seriousness.......

[mlm668]

is there a way to set a time limit on internet explorer for the amount of time spent per day online?  I ask this because for the past two days I haven't felt like doing what I should be doing so I stall by reading posts here and on a few other sites.  Most of my work is caught up, but that is beside the point.  I'm spending to much time online.  

I was thinking of maybe getting a small timer to keep beside the monitor and setting it each time I "take a break" so I can get a jolt to get back to work after 5 or 10 minutes, but that would be to loud and to obvious I think.

Any suggestions?



Michelle

[countrigal]

What about setting a task reminder in Outlook?  Or buying a cheap watch with an alarm on it and set it for 15 minutes.  Do what FlyLady says... take your 15 minutes but use a timer to remind you when it's over, and then quit what you were doing and return to whatever... work in your case.  Those are the solutions that come to my mind right now.

CountriGal
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[bethalize]

There is software around to cut off Internet access, things like Net Nanny  . There are several problems with a solution like this.

Does your employer allow you to install your own software on a work computer? Even if they don't specify that you may not install your own software, you need to abide by the spirit of the rules, and if you have an IT guy, he would probably be quite annoyed if you attempted to put it on and it went wrong.

Net Nanny is $40. Are you going to ask work to buy it for you? Imagine how that would make you look: please will you spend money on me because I don't have enough self discipline?  You could ask the IT guy if he could fix your access levels if you connect through a LAN, but there you have the same problem.

There is no option to do what you want in Internet Explorer that I know of or can find.

Keena's suggestion is probably the best: use Outlook or ICQ and set a reminder, or use an alarm clock or a kitchen timer. Or set your mobile phone to beep if you have one.


Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[movinonup]

It's just amazing to me that anyone has time to do this at work.  I start work at 7:30, stop for an hour at lunch, then go back to work til 4:30 or 5:00.  The work is non-stop busy, and calls for lots of concentration and interaction with others.  
I can't take even a second to play on the Net.  

However, I do find time to do this at home after dinner.  It's how I unwind from a hard day.  It's just as well I don't have time at work, as some people who do have time have abused the privilege and forced management's hand a time or two--forcing all of us off of it, and some of us use it for research or express shipping services or airline travel arrangements.

Movinonup

[mlm668]

Believe it or not, many of us do have time to surf at work.  We are able to get our work done and have time to spare.  With me its a matter of lack of work and when I do have a lot to do, they are usually tasks I can complete in short amounts of time.  We do not have a strict internet policy - many of us surf the net for industry related items when things are slow.  Since the bosses are not real forth coming about what other companies in our industry are doing (unless it directly affects us), I like to read industry articles to see who is doing what and who is who.  I also use it for online ordering, transmitting forms, etc.

My concern is that this week I have been so tired and my normal routine (personal and work) has been so disrupted that I am having trouble concentrating on the items that I normally breeze right through(see AAA/DD......)

CG - I like your idea about Outlook. That would be the ideal solution for me.  I don't want to have to explain why I have a timer going off every couple of hours.

Bethlize - I am basically our IT person.  I handle software installations, troubleshooting, etc. and if I can't handle it, call in the outside rep.  I don't want to buy or install any kind of blocking software for the simple fact that it would probably block everyone, not just me (we have a dedicated satellite connection so their really is no logging on).  And if the satellite connection goes offline, I get the whining phone calls and have to stop what I am doing (no matter how important it is) to find and fix the problem because someone else can't get on.  

I appreciate the suggestions and I am going to start using Outlook when I sign on.  The simple habit of having to set a reminder everytime I get the urge to surf should help me resist the urges.

Thanks for the idea.  

Michelle

[donnap99]

I'm glad you asked this...  I have the same problem!


DonnaP99

[spitfire78]

I, too, am glad to have this discussion.  I have the same problem.  My workload seems to run the same as Michelle's.  When I am busy, I am very busy and definitely don't have time to "play".  However, there are times (this week, for instance, all my bossies are out of town!), when things are slow and I know that I spend too much time on the Web.  Then, if I do get some work to do that is not urgent, it is easy to say "well, I'll finish on this website before I do that."  Then, one website leads to another...

Yes, I have some files to clean out while they're all away, but nothing that is really all that time-consuming, and it is easy to decide to do it later.

Maybe I'll try Outlook and see if that would help.  I share space with 2 other admins and so I certainly don't want timers, etc. going off to distract them!

Time's up -- I better get back to work!!!

[ozbound]

Oh my goodness, I have that problem too! My workload comes in "spurts." Some days, it's so crazy I barely have time to grab a bite for lunch. Other days, Yawn-O-Rama! I ask the front desk if they need help, etc. Check the database for errors (talk about boring--that's like reading the phone book!) Then I find myself "taking another break" on here or reading the news.... and eventually feeling guilty. I have another project I'd like to be working on but my supervisor never seems to have the time to sit down and give me some direction on it. I'd at least like to be doing something, uh, more productive online like learning something or finding some nugget that would save the company heaps of money!