So you get on the computer and like James Bond, you have a mission that needs to be accomplished.
You have to write a response email to one of your clients about a upcoming project, write an email to your wedding planner, and write a “I haven’t talked to you in forever but I hope this email will reconcile our friendship” to one of your distant friends in a far away land.
You open up your web browser and immediately get e-hard when you see YouTube (your homepage).
There is a new video of a kitten attacking an empty paper bag, I must watch it at least 3 times, subscribe to the user’s channel, and email it to my friends.
Oh crap your friends, time to get on Facebook.
Wow mike has clearly been hitting the gym, look at Rachelle, man she is becoming bigger than Rosie O’Donnell’s cankles. Sweet Jesus, are those the pictures from Saturday night?
Have you ever found yourself in this loop of never ending bullshit?
No one would like to admit it, but I know for a fact that way to many people waste enough time online to propel a nuclear bomb straight into the home of Al Gore for his invention.
The bottom line is that people inherently act like this all the time. Trying to become a creative and working powerhouse that shovels out 2 novels and 3 around the world trips in a month just isn’t practical for most people.
But at the same time, I would lose my fucking mind if all I did was productive things all day, I would feel like the energizer bunny on crack.
Before you commit Facebook hara-kiri, there is a solution.
The key is developing some middle ground and taking some much needed baby steps in order to divert your attention away from the new event that was just posted on Facebook and towards something that might actually hold some level of impact in your life.
But what if aimless wandering could have a purpose?
What if in some twisted universe your aimless web browsing remained somewhat ambiguous but had a much more defined purpose?
This is how I choose the aimlessly wander when I need time to unwind in front of the computer, and it can be quite magical for getting things done that you want to do.
I think we can all agree that spending anymore than 5 minutes on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube, foursquare, or nearly any other social media platform is a complete waste of time unless you own a business or are trying to procure a career in social media marketing (what the hell is wrong with you? Go outside now)
That being said, there are more interesting ways to divert your “follow the shiny thing” syndrome my young web browser.
Start by thinking about some of the things you actually have any avid interest in your life
This could be anything and everything, from career orientation to personal. Go fucking nuts, from poodles to papier-mâché and everything in-between, just stay away from porn and those damned internet time sinks.
Got a few things? My hotspots are anything related to food and travel
Now if you really love these things that you picked, chances are that you know a websites, blogs, forums, and ever risqué photo galleries that are related to your areas of interest.
Find a few websites that you really enjoy, and bookmark them immediately
These sites will be your new and only fallback for when you need to write an email that you really don’t give two shits about writing, so now your shiny syndrome is at least pointing you in the direction that might help you get something accomplished.
Chances are your interests would serve as a career/business/hobby platform (if they don’t already). By frequenting these types of websites instead of aimless wandering the dark alleyways of social media, you could, and likely will, develop an idea, business, or at least some relief you’re your ADD.
Try it, I promise your Facebook friends will forgive you (but who really gives a damn).
Gabriel
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