I'm going to give you an idea of my normal schedule:
I wake up at 5am, and get on the computer. I have three hours of peace and quiet before I wake up the rest of the family. In that time, I respond to emails, catch up on social media (mainly my personal facebook profile and groups I belong to), read news articles, stop by the SITS Forums, read and comment on blog posts, watch a tv show on Hulu, and write a blog post. Not all of those things happen each day, but if I am super productive, I can manage most of them. I also spend some of those three hours offline, doing my Bible reading and prayer.
Katarina takes over the computer at 9:30 for homeschool. I might check my email once or twice during the day using my tablet while she is busy with work that doesn't require my help, but for the most part, I am offline.
In the late afternoon, I sneak in about an hour of computer time before Thomas gets home. This is when I write blog posts that didn't get finished in the morning, and check in with the facebook pages I manage. It is also when I have video chats with far-away friends. Sometimes I use the tablet at night to run through my personal facebook newsfeed or Google+, and to check emails before I go to bed.
The majority of my productivity happens in those first three hours, so if I sleep in, if there is something wrong with the internet connection (which happens more often than I would like - just like today), or if I get sidetracked reading or researching things online, I am playing catch up during that hour in the late afternoon.
During NaBloPoMo, I have spent more time writing blog posts than usual, and it has shown in my absence in blog commenting. I don't know how people have time to write each day and keep up with commenting on other blogs, as well as social media participation.
I do have consciously planned offline time after school each day, and I limit my computer usage during the weekends, but I spend a lot of time online.
What about you?
Are you online all day, or do you have a set schedule you follow?
Yeah I am here all day.. pretty much every day. I do housework and the like then come back. But right now all of my work is online be it coding catalogs for a friend who does graphic design and layout or writing pieces for Bubblews..
ReplyDeleteI think it makes a difference that your kids are in school all day - so you have a little more flexibility to your online timing during the day, and family time can happen when they are at home. Coding for a catalog sounds like fun.
DeleteI admire you for being able to set aside that specific time frame of those 3 hours. I am trying to get to that point. I seem to be on and off throughout my day.
ReplyDeleteThanks. There are days when I don't follow my schedule as much as I would like - I'm still a work in progress.
DeleteI also try to be up around 5:00 am. If I get my act in gear and Malone sleeps in, I have about an hour and a half of quiet to get things done. From there, I pop in and off as time allows.
ReplyDeleteThat 5am wake up is hard to get used to, but now that I've been doing it for about a year, I rely on that time alone each day.
DeleteI have kind of a set schedule. I am a early riser and I post before work and on my days off I still get up early and blog. When I sleep in late...my whole day is off! I always check in the afternoon and before bed..which gives me a chance to catch up on sharing.
ReplyDeleteI find that when I wake up at 4 or 4 am I tend to be much more productive. That hour and a half of silence gives me a jump start on my day. I am trying to put myself on a social media schedule. When the whole family is home in the early evenings we limit everyone's tech time. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I find my most productive computer time is early in the morning. I spend an hour or two (depending on when I get up and when I have to leave for the flower shop) catching up on email and social networking. Then, during the day, I try to catch up, especially on days that I join a "social circle" like pinning or blogging, because I know if I can do a little bit at a time I'm not overwhelmed at night. At night I use the computer time to relax. Usually for an hour or so,before I go to bed. But then I live alone, so I can monopolize the computer if I want to! The scheduling helps me because I don't feel like I'm "wasting" my time.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are super organized and on track! I on the opposite, am nothing but mess, I find it hard to cope with all my social media responsibilities :(
ReplyDeleteGood job!
Hugs
Oh, I SO need to unplug. I'm on this thing for way too long way too often. I really should create a schedule for myself, but I tend not to and just pop on when something is on my mind as far as writing goes, or I need that connection. It fluctuates, but lately I have been on more than usual.
ReplyDeleteI am on a good part of the day. I try to schedule and organize but sometimes fall short!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I wish I could wake up 3 hours early to do my blogging chores. My kids are like alarms.the slightest movement sets them off.
ReplyDeleteI always love the quiet in my house before everyone wakes up. Too bad I'm a lazy lady who can't drag myself out of bed these days (I blame the late sunrise). But you may have just inspired me to give it another go!
ReplyDeletei have to have a schedule or i lose track and end up online all day long
ReplyDeleteI do have a set schedule that I try to stick to during weekdays so that I am offline for a few hours each day. On the weekends I only get online to check email, find a good recipe etc. If I don't try to get away from the computer, I tend to get really burned out.
ReplyDeleteI am online far too much! Much more than I would like. With the holidays; my schedule got overloaded so I am spending most of the day trying to catch up and write more aritcles each day. I can't wait to get caught up so I can cut down on the amount of hours I spend online. I miss having a life.
ReplyDeleteI've tried to follow a strict schedule but no matter what I do.. I find myself back online! Hopefully I can get better at this at some point!
ReplyDeleteI need to organize myself better because this homeschooling 3 and blogging along with other jobs and responsibilities is hard stuff. More shut down time would help I think - more productivity.
ReplyDeleteI'm online all day. I need to set a schedule and give myself time to unplug! This prompt hits close to home.
ReplyDeleteLove that early morning time! I wish my kids would sleep past 5:30am because then I could get a lot done and unplug the rest of the day! Now I find myself fighting to get anything done, which results in wasted time online.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am just like you. I am always online, on my phone, or on my ipad... sometimes I feel like I am going to scream!
ReplyDeleteUnplug, walk away from the computer........................no..................that would send me into withdrawal and I will have a melt down.................lol
ReplyDeleteI'm still struggling with finding a schedule :( Im so behind right now and tend to over commit! My goal next year is to work out a better schedule!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that I'm more and more online these days. I really need to set up a schedule.
ReplyDeleteMy kids aren't at home so I'm online all day off and on. When I'm visiting them or they're visiting me though....I'm offline completely.
ReplyDeleteI am online pretty much all day. I work a regular job outside of the home so I have access to the computer then. At home, I unplug while I cook dinner and spend time with my family (~5-8pm) before I get back online to finish up before I go to bed.
ReplyDeleteMy online magazine is my full time job so I am at my computer for most of my work day. I set my work hours to match the hours my kids are at school so that I can pay attention to them when they are at home.
ReplyDeleteI work a fulltime job in addition to my blog so it's always a challenge to not get sidetracked by blogging and social media during the day when I'm supposed to be prospecting, emailing and selling. BLECH!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty much online all day!
ReplyDeleteI spend WAY too much time plugged in. Last Saturday, though, my husband and I took a break (for the most part) for the day, and it was really nice.
ReplyDeleteI wish i could get organized enough to stick to a schedule! One of my goals for 2014
ReplyDeleteI'm always working on developing a schedule. It can be so hard to stick to a rigid schedule when doing creative work.
ReplyDeleteI seriously need to unplug more often.