The Internet can provide a lot of comforts, not to mention convenience. You can use it to accomplish almost anything from touring far-flung areas to keeping in touch with your friends from miles away. All these at the touch of a button!
In spite of its many benefits, people are increasingly realizing that it comes with a dark side: an unhealthy attachment to it, commonly known as addiction.
According to Mosen Haksar, an addiction therapist at Kaiser Permanente, internet addiction is a growing problem that cuts across all ages. To make the matter worse, since the Internet is easily accessible from almost every device, it can lead to secondary addictive behaviors such as gambling, chatting with people online, hooking up with strangers, and pornography.
A study conducted by the NIH showed that Internet addiction can lead to reduced work output, poor psychological well-being, and poor academic performance.
Just like an addiction to drugs, Internet attachment involves a compulsive behavior that interferes with normal life and puts a strain on work, relationships, and every other aspect of life. The habit takes over your life and becomes a priority.
The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.
CashApp us
Venmo us
Paypal us
In order to reclaim your life, you may need to unplug, disconnect, and reclaim your space. Here is how to do it:
Identify the triggers
Every addictive habit has psychological factors leading to it. Knowing what drives your craving for spending most of your time on the internet even when it is not necessary is critical to breaking the habit. So why do you feel the need to spend hours on social media, watching YouTube videos, or shopping online? Is it loneliness, the need for some form of pleasure, or validation?
As this is being written at a time when much of the world is locked in during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be even easier to rationalize your time online as “just while we’re locked in” or “what else do I have to do? It couldn’t hurt.” Don’t fall into that trap!
Make it difficult to access the Internet
Here, the old saying “out of sight, out of mind” applies. Normally, an addiction is fueled by impulses. You feel compelled to search for something online, see the latest updates, chat with your friends. Since humans respond to impulses before they are aware of them, making it hard to access the Internet will force you to think about why you need to go online in the first place. To help you along, switch off your computer or smartphone and put it in a bag or drawer in order to make it hard to respond to impulses.
Reward yourself
Find something you enjoy doing to occupy the time you spend on the internet. You can create an exercise routine to keep fit, learn some new recipes, or read a nice book.
Ultimately, knowing when to unplug and step away from the internet will save you from a lot of heartaches.
The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.
CashApp us
Venmo us
Paypal us
