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Constantly Divided: Help for Parents Who Blog Obsessively |
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by jenlemen  (November 2006) (rank 17th) |
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There's a little angst in the blogosphere these days amongst the mother bloggers. Some are worried that the wonders of real life are being replaced by the pull of the computer screen. Others are scared that all this posting and commenting is making us disconnected and crabby with our kids--not
exactly the qualities we want to be remembered for. As a recovering online junkie, here are some strategies for reigning in the internet addiction without crushing your creative spirit.
- Set up serious face time that your kids can count on everyday. Everyone will feel better if the family knows when they can count on you to be totally "on" and 100% present. Identify morning and evening major connecting times to logout and get face-to-face with the ones you love. Write down your offline schedule, post it on the frig and stick with it. Your guilt will subside as you make a conscious effort to be completely available. Your days will run more smoothly and everyone will be reassured that you care deeply about the offline realities of home and hearth.
- Establish a routine for blogging and surfing. Sometimes the problem has more to do with the parent blogger not knowing when they will get to their creative work. In this situation, you end up stealing five minutes here and five minutes there and never feel like you finished. Your family on the other hand feels like you are never off the computer. Experiment with setting up "work hours" to create your posts and separate hours to surf for recreation and relaxation. If you can routinize your work, then you can get ultimately accomplish more with less all over the map time investment.
- Use your blogging as a way to reflect on your parenting. Writing can be a very effective tool for self-discovery. Dedicate some of your blogging time to telling honest stories about your home life, parenting experiences and struggles with balance. Knowing you've made a commitment to report to the blogosphere about your parenting progress will give you ample incentive to parent with all your heart when you're unplugged.
- Recharge with non-tech options. All my best posts have come from being deeply involved in the day in day out routine of being a mother and caregiver to the host of little children that come in and out of my house. Being outside with my kids, going on walks, paying attention to nature--these activities always yield big in the blog department. See what happens to your online life when you spend more energy on your offline existence. Going offline for an extended period of time--in my case, even a day feels major--is one way to keep both aspects of your life feeling dynamic and vibrant.
How do you achieve balance between your online activities and the needs of your family?
