Let’s walk through a typical day….

You wake up, hit your alarm and look at your phone even before you get out of bed. You check your e-mail, missed texts or call, and of course, Facebook. You get out of bed, get your coffee, maybe some food, and sit down in front of the computer. Flip on Facebook, your e-mail, the news, your other e-mail, a story about a dog, and maybe even another e-mail. You stare blankly, half-awake, looking at other people’s lives, concerns, or photos. Then you rush off to work. Maybe you check your phone on your drive, but definitely before you walk in the doors. Then you sit down at a computer and check some more e-mail, write reports, check Facebook, or whatever else. You drive home, desperately trying not to check your phone while it buzzes at you with very important notifications. Then you get home and check it all again.

Sound anything like you? 

Life does not have to be this busy.

You can relate to a version of this story. We all are constantly connected to our phones and the internet. It does not have to be in this draining way I just described. It is actually wonderful. The way we can interact across the world, feel connected with people we have never met, and spread ideas faster than ever is incredible.

But you have to take control to make it wonderful.

To do this you need to take the time to get away from the internet. You need to take control of what you want your relationship with the internet to look like. It does not control you, you are the one in control. Are you feeling like it is getting out of control? Start here…

• Take a count of how often you check in on your phone or computer throughout one day. Mindfulness is a very useful tool. Becoming aware of how often you do something can often be enough to change your behavior.
• Schedule when you want to check your phone or computer. Take how often you were and try cutting back by 25% or so. You check in 100 times through the day? Try for 75 times. Remember: you are in control.
• Put your phone somewhere you can’t access when you need to focus. Out of sight, out of mind won’t come immediately, but it will come.
• Set an alarm for every 10 minutes you are online. When the alarm goes off, ask yourself if this is what you want to be doing. Latest celebrity news? Is that important to you right now?
• Appreciate all the good the internet and your phone bring you. Be thankful for the technology; it isn’t your enemy. Next time you get off the phone or Skype with a friend thousands of miles away remind yourself how cool that is.

Your life often feels out of your hands, but it does not have to be. If you like these tips on how to get more control over your online life, share it with your friends. If you want more help to create a life you love where you are in control, then check out the 21 Days of Smiling where you are challenged to live a happier, more engaged life every day.

Tell me in the comments below how you are going to take more control over your online life.

Much love, Danielle