eSolutions for Social Media Addictions

What can you do if you want to write that awesome novel, essay, legal document, blog post or online journal post but you find yourself wasting time on Facebook, or surfing the web, instead? (Facebook, please don't sue me for referring to my frequent forays into your domain as "wasting time.")



From Cathy Day, author (The Circus in Winter and Comeback Season) and professor of Creative Writing at Ball State University, comes this awesome Timer app suggestion for the Mac or Windows computer:  Internet Freedom App. You type in the amount of time you want to be distraction free (up to 480 minutes--that's 8 hours) and it prevents you from accessing the internet until your set time is completed. If you really want to access the net before your timer times out, you'll have to reboot your computer.

It used to be free, but now will cost you $10, a small investment for those of us who need a little extra help with self-discipline. According to the site, author Nick Hornby (Song Book, High Fidelity, and others) has used it. He calls it “absolutely brilliant” on BBC Radio. (Cached MP3).

For those who desire to continue accessing the web, for research or other necessary activities, during their writing time, but need to restrict themselves from social media use, the site also offers a program that will allow access to the web while simultaneously denying access to social media sites. It's called Anti-Social and is also operable on both Mac and Windows machines. It blocks social media sites for up to 480 minutes/8 hours (you type in the amount of time you want it to work), and the only way to get around the block is by rebooting your computer. It costs $15, but if you purchase both software bundled together you only pay $20 for both, a savings of $5 (they explain that for those of us mathematically challenged).

Both applications are available for FREE TRIAL, so there is no risk to trying them out before you spend the money. Happy blocking!

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