Some good things can become too much of a good thing

I don't even want to calculate the amount of time I spend sitting in front of a computer. Let me just say it is far too much. I use to justify my computer time by saying I was doing my morning time with God (i.e. reading Christian blogs and online devotions, writing about living my own Christian faith, etc.) With this excuse I could explain away why I needed to jump on my computer first thing in the morning and sit there for at least an hour. But the truth is although those activities where Christian in nature, they were still pulling me away from what I should be doing and they were just extensions of a bigger problem--avoiding the tasks at hand by pursuing my own interests. So now let me get really real with you and share with you what I really use the computer for. Facebook: catch up with old friends, look at pictures, and play games (including many rounds of Scramble).Blogs: I haven't been keeping up with all my reading but I have been reading all of my nesting blogs. They give me lots of ideas of things to buy to help redecorate my home and often result in me spending time moving my furniture around to see if I can change our house by just feng shui-ing a wee bit.Celebrity Sites: I have become rehooked on People and eOnline. I stay up to date with all the Hollywood drama by repeatedly stopping by these sites for the latest new feeds.News: I do stop by MSNBC, CNN, and 2 local news channels each morning. There is never much to read there (unless I am looking at the entertainment section) but I always scan the headlines since we don't get a newspaper. Sparkpeople: Tracking my nutrition and fitness, which is a good thing but again, I become enslaved to the process and find myself running back and forth to the computer throughout the day just to see how I am doing.Movies and TV shows: we don't have cable or satellite but we do have Netflix and the Internet. Hence I am never short of something to watch. Lately I have been watching Friday Night Lights and Little People Big World. Sheepishly I will admit I've been watching these shows in the middle of the day. I also tend to watch these shows by myself, even if my husband is home. Bye-bye together time.Emails: I tend not to respond to emails but I love to read them. I will check my email at least 10 times a day. Usually there is nothing dire there. The most urgent thing I might miss is a playdate or scouting cancellation. But I guess if I actually answered my phone, then people might be able to reach me that way.Lesson Planning and Teaching: Yes, I actually do this on the computer and it is beneficial. The problem is I often get distracted by the list of things above :) Household Organization: I also use the computer to make spreadsheets, track our calendar, manage our finances, etc. These are all good uses but again, the temptation to wander results in my procrastinating to the point where things don't get done. Pictures and Scrapbooking: I haven't been doing many pictures or much scrapbooking. I'm not sure why. I guess I'm just a little burnt out and am overwhelmed from being so far behind. Still even if I was still doing this, it is a hobby and not really something I need to be doing everyday, especially not in the middle of the day when I am suppose to be working.So now that I have publicly declared what a slacker I am, I will share with you why I am sharing this with you. I think there are other moms like me who get distracted by all the entertainment options that are right at our fingertips without us ever having to leave the house. I am hoping that they will relate to some of the behaviors and will come to some of the same realizations that I have come to--and that is, I am standing in my own way of what I want. My selfishness and self-centered desires are stopping me from achieving the goals that I have for my household and my children. I don't want that. Sure I want to have fun and enjoy myself while I am staying home but at what expense? So in an effort to regain some balance, I am going to try shutting down my computer all day, every day except for the weekends. It is going to be hard but I really want to move the computer to using if for hobbies when hobbies should be done and for work when work should be done. My hope is on the other days I will find myself more active and involved with my family and my home. Maybe I'll find time to exercise and cook, and just possibly even clean.