Donna, I actually plan time completely away from the Internet so I can focus singly on my writing projects. I get so much more done!

Clinton, I’ve considered the auto response, and I can see how it can be useful in some circumstances. I choose to use it when I know I’ll be a day or more in responding to an e-mail.

Totally agree with you about only checking e-mail 3 times a day. I try to do it when it can serve as a good break from a writing project.

Mine is set to respond with the following:
I try to only check email about three times a day so I can better focus on other things. If you need to reach me before I respond, you can always call me at the number below.
—
Clinton Wu
Co-founder, Skim.Me – Productive Browsing

I find myself now wanting more time to elapse between when an email is received and when I actually respond or take action. Otherwise those that receive a response within a minute think I’m still just sitting there with my inbox open! It’s helped me check email when I’m ready, not when my brain has the pulling desire to distract me from something more important and meaningful that I could be doing.

Thanks for writing Frank. I’m also quite worried about what the Internet and cell phones are doing to kids. Their ability to concentrate is way down, and they interact less with the real world, including nature, but also just paying attention when walking down the street while texting.

Technology has its place, but I think in a decade or so we’ll really get good data on the harm excessive use has done to many of us.

I’m glad I helped out Steve. I do hope you’ll keep sharing your martial arts insights on Facebook!

This post touched a nerve with me, particularly the book recommendation. In my work as a Psychologist with our local school system, I see first-hand how the internet has impacted this generation of young people, especially the way they approach their academic responsibilities.

I recently had a conversation with a high school senior about how I managed my way through high school and college back in days before the internet was at our fingertips. After I mentioned this, she asked, “Mr. Farmer, how did you write papers and do projects for your classes with no internet? What did you do?” It just seems like the internet, to some degree, causes us not to have to work as hard, think as deeply, or make as much effort as we once did. This can be both a good thing and a not-s0-good thing, depending on how we manage our usage of it.

Keep up the good work John,
Frank in Tennessee