Since Economists are concerned with efficiency, I thought I would share some ideas about the efficient use of time, particularly on the internet.
If you read this post, the chances are you spend a lot of time surfing the internet. But, how much of this time is profitably spent? Just because the internet has great possibilities and a wealth of information, it doesn’t mean that it will always increase our productivity. These are some tips to increase our productivity
Have a Clear Purpose
When you sit down to your computer do you know what you intend to achieve? or do you just sit down and see what happens. If you want to spend 30 mins surfing through different sites, that is fine. However, the problem is that we often just surf aimlessly for want of having a clear target. When you turn on the computer have a mental check box of things that you want to achieve and complete. Once these are completed, either turn off the computer or allow yourself to relax and visit sites for enjoyment
Avoid Repetition.
One thing that really wastes time is repeating activities. A good example, is multiple checking of email accounts. It may only take 1-2 minutes, but, if you check it 10 times a day that is 20 minutes. That is a pretty high % of your total computer time. If you checked it once, it may take a total of 5 minutes. There are several sites where we may keep checking, even though not much has changed. If we find we are repeating things, try doing something different.
The Dangers of Forums
Forums and chat groups can be a place to share ideas and learn new information. But, generally, they are a great place to waste time in meaningless arguments. There is no harm in visiting the odd forum, but, be aware of how much time you spend there; also be honest with yourself, what have you actually achieved by reading all the latest forum posts?
Bookmarks, RSS Feeds and Investing Time
When I visit the computers of friends it always amazes me how little they use tabbed browsing and a good bookmark system. There is reluctance when using the computer to spend any time in learning and organising. We always wish to do the easiest thing. However, if we spent 30 minutes organising our favourite bookmarks and used RSS feeds we can easily get more than 30 minutes back.
80 – 20
There is a principle that 80% of our output comes from 20% of our input (time). Time on the Internet can have diminishing utility. The first hour may enable us to do a lot. Find lower prices, pay bills online, and communicate with others. But the second, third and fourth hour we spend will have a significantly declining productivity. Be willing to switch off the computer