Stop Using Your Computer!

Do you spend many hours a day in front of a computer? If you own a website then it’s pretty easy to spend a ton of time checking emails, chasing links, checking out your favorite social site (digg, facebook and so on) or trawling through your site visitor statistics. Michael Arrington wrote about how to manage an email inbox with 2,433 emails in it. Just imagine that (I hope you don’t get to experience it first hand).

Is this really productive? Is all this effort really making your website great, or is it just filling your time? My experience is that it’s pretty hard to find insipiration for great ideas while you are sitting in front of your laptop.

The only way to really think about what you are doing, or to generate those ideas that can make your website truly great, is to step away from the computer.

Have you ever noticed how your best ideas happen when you are relaxed, when you are not trying hard to think about them? Maybe it’s in the shower, or while walking the cat, or when you’re listening to your Mother on the phone (only joking). This is because your mind is free to wander about and explore new possibilities without being distracted by the ping of new emails arriving.

I recommend taking a half hour break from the computer every day. Take a notebook with you and jot down any ideas that you have. It’s amazing what you can come up with.

Of course this should always be done after you’ve read my latest blog entry!!

Tags: email, Ideas, inspiration, think, time

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