“Home is where you hang your @.” ~ Author Unknown

Freelancing from home opens a whole new world. If you’ve never had time to play on the Internet, you might find it difficult to limit that play time.

Of course, I am guilty of losing myself in cyber land as well. I think it’s something a lot of us struggle with.

You may want to check the price of something you’ve been wanting to buy, email your friends, chat on IM (Instant Messenger), catch up on social media sites, or even play games on Facebook. But none of these things are going to help grow your business.

Yes, social media will help you build your brand, but you can only devote so much time to it. Don’t lose sight of your business goals in the process, okay?

I’ve decided to share a few tips to help you focus your energy – and time! – toward achieving the success you dreamed of when you first decided to reach for the sky.

5 Tips for Avoiding Internet Distractions

1. Disconnect. That’s right. My number one tip is to unplug yourself from the Web and focus on your work. If you’re unplugged, you’ll be less inclined to Google something or chat with a friend.
2. Unsubscribe from everything you don’t – or will never – read. It’s pointless (and very stressful!) to have a gazillion emails you need to continuously delete. Select a few subscriptions (like ours!) you value most and let the rest go.
3. Keep your priorities straight. Surfing the Web is not a priority. If it’s research, that’s one thing, but getting lost in cyber space does not reflect work. Right?
4. Limit blog reading until you’ve finished a certain amount of work. Use your favorite blogs as a reward to ensure you won’t get lost in the blogosphere.
5. Don’t use social media as a procrastination tool. Yes, social media can be business-related, but if you’re just talking about what you had for lunch or what you’ll be doing over the weekend, get back to work!

Sometimes distractions can’t be avoided—especially if they’re life-related, but don’t let the Internet become a crutch for you to check out of reality or avoid your work. Surfing the Web won’t pay the bills.

The Internet is an awesome thing. It’s a valuable resource on so many levels, but it can also very easily become an escape mechanism and cause you to lose sight of your priorities. Don’t let that happen.

And remember, less is more. Enjoy the zen!

What do you find most distracting online and how do you avoid internet distractions?

Photo Credit: Salvatore Vuono