I can make a couple of suggestions here, as someone who seriously needs to get off the grid for my own sanity.

1. Don't pick up your blackberry until 10 am, unless you are in a position where if you miss a ping, someone will die.

2. Make a list of five projects you want to accomplish a day. Don't drift to the Internet until you accomplish at least two (maybe one to start if you're really hooked).

3. Plan a weekend away where you seriously cannot have access to technology of any kind. I went sailing in the middle of the ocean and realized I'd gone almost 48 hours without checking in. Then I went to Canada, and there was no signal at all, so I was free. It was amazing to remember what it was like before we were totally hooked. I like myself better when I'm not in a net zone. You listen more. You pay better attention to what's happening around you. You connect with people in real life rather than by txt and emoticons.

I think this is an awesome goal and it can be managed with discipline. I have been accused of major net abuse myself, so I totally relate. I have cut back a lot (no Blackberry or laptop in the bedroom or at the table for meals, those were both a good start). Let me know how you do ... in a properly managed and appropriate time. LOL

This is a good one, especially since most people these days spend soooooo much time on the net.  I am guilty of it myself.  It's so easy to tell yourself you are logging on to do just a couple of things then before you know it, hours have passed!  For me, it's the easiest way to feed my bordom but I should probably do things instead like finish that book I started reading, get some exersice, clean, and most important, spend time with my loved ones.

I am going to take on a challenge that is similar, although mine is going to include tv. I am excited to hear the things you get accomplished!

I think this will be a bit easier as work as dramatically picked up.  Some things that I don't do right now is spend a lot of time on FB.  It's great but is unecessary.  What's necessary is making memories with my family.  We do not have internet at home for the aforementioned reasons.  Plus, I'm not a texter.  So, it sounds pretty easy but it's amazing how much time can be lost in the internet during my hours at work.

Today was okay.  It helped that i had to go out of the office for work.  I guess for accountability sake I should log the time that goes by.  I'll start that tomorrow.  That should be a real eye-opener.

Good luck Jamie! This is a big one for sure--the internet isn't a bad thing, and stuff like MLL is great, but web surfing can be such a huge time sink and we don't necessarily even realize it until the day is over and we haven't spoken to the people we care about or done any of the important things we wanted to do.

This has been quite easy as of late.  My work has really picked up and I was home sick yesterday.

One thing that I have noticed that REALLY helps is not having Facebook on my phone. That had been a huge time waster and I don't miss it at all, actually.

On Wednesday, I was only "surfing" non-essential stuff during my lunch break which is a HUGE improvement.  Yesterday I was home sick so I don't really count that BUT I wasn't online either.  I didn't even read all of my MLL notifications (sorry girls!).

Jamie, I hope you are feeling better today. Your thoughts on this are very helpful as we make decisions on how best to communicate with our members. Over the course of the 21-Day Challenge we wanted to see what interaction we could create with like-minded people focused on the same or similar goals. Our end goal was to confirm that by supporting others with the same goal it will help you stay focused on your own goals. In the end we wanted to have communications that mattered. We still did not get the balance right as if you followed people you will have received a fair bit of email, but going forward we see information sharing being key to everyone staying present. We will be exploring this over the next month as we want My Life List communications to be in the good column of things that we do to interact. You have helped us a great deal, so guess what I wanted to say was thank you. :)

Hey Bill, you are welcome.  You know, when given the chance at whatever job I have, I have to say that I am a great supporting role.  I've never felt like a great leader or a great manager of other people (even though I can do those tasks) but I can be someone's #1 cheerleader and supporter.  For some reason I've embraced that on this site as you guys are rolling out your stuff.  I've gotten some kind of satisfaction out of giving you feedback and letting you know what might work, what might not be working and what's been definitely one way or another.  Even though I haven't met the team (although I already knew Scott), I like you guys and am hoping you succeed in this business venture.   Again, you are very welcome.  :o)

Well, again, today has been great.  I've been so busy at work that I haven't had time to waste on the net.  It's a great feeling to be productive again!

Yay, glad you are feeling better! And even when you are online, I bet it's so much nicer to feel like you're doing it in a healthy way instead of an obsessive way. It's easy to get obsessed for me too, but I never miss Facebook when I don't check it!

Great job Jamie!  I am sure that it feels wonderful to be feeling productive again.  Since I am working from home right now, it is extremely easy for me to lose focus and spend a lot of time on the net as well.  You, along with one other member, have inspired me to st my next goal!  Thank you so much for sharing.

Nicholes, it really helps when you are busy out of your control.  I'm a big procrastinator..  I know it, it's just part of my nature.  So, when things are busy are when I'm most productive.

As of late this has been VERY easy to do.  I've been busier than a honeybee in summer!  ...which is also why my posts have been scarce.

Time wasted on the internet has been next to nill.  It wasn't until yesterday that I got back on Facebook.  I have to say, I didn't miss anything and won't be checking in that often.

Jamie, I hope you realize you are part of what makes MyLifeList.org valuable time spent. The generosity of so many of you have set the tone for the site. A safe place to share what matters. I really don't go to facebook anymore as I find nothing interesting. Soon we will be able to manage your time here with an option for a weekly update. Plus we are in talks with blackberry to go Mobile:) Exciting things coming...

Bill, I can't wait for the Bberry mobile option!  THanks for the compliments!

Again, too much to do in very little time allows me to quick lally-gagging on the internet.  Plus, with bad weather being eminent for the next three days, I really need to get a lot done here at work!

Good to hear from you Jamie! Hang in there and keep up the great work! ^__^

Thanks foley!

Well, just thought I'd a line.  Things on this arena have been great.  I still get a little sidetracked with doing my genealogy research on those pesky relatives that are hard to figure out BUT Facebook has almost become a non-issue.  I hate the new facebook.  It seems that after I connected with the folks I cared about, I was done "cruising" to look for more friend connections (people I actually know in real life).  Now if I could only block the posts from the folks I don't care about and only allow myself to see picutres and status updates from my closest friends and family - WHICH IS WHAT FACEBOOK SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!  I don't share my pics of my kids on there with just anyone.  NOTHING is left public.  and if I was a so-so friend with you, you don't get to see much.  It's like, why am I Facebook "friends" with people I really question whether or not their intentions of wanting to look at my pics or see my updates?  Seriously, there's like possibly 10 folks I care to keep in touch with there.

Anyway, I digress.  I'm very busy at work.  I'm on my first project with the new company and it's very much a learning process doing things for a different company AND for a subcontractor.  I like it very much.  Now just to figure out a way to retire in 5 years.  :o)

OH, and for me one of the things that is helping tremendously is a task list.  Each night, before I go home, I write down the things that I'd like to get done the next day.  The HOT items are noted in such a way to attract my attention.  I basically just tackle those things and only after those things are done do I allow myself some free time on the net.

I love the task list, Jamie. I use a magic list of 5, the things I need to accomplish before I'm done for the day so I can sleep and not wake up in a sweaty panic in the middle of the night. Writing down your priorities (and your goals) instantly makes them more achievable and helps your brain process without constantly feeling like you're forgetting something. When you're really busy, that mental break is so necessary.

I love what you were saying about Facebook. I've been working on an investment document highlighting how we're different, and how our users are different and it dawned on me: It's really about commitment and progress. How much do you want the change you are focused on and posting about? And if you are willing to commit, the network shows up and pushes you along. That's powerful.

Facebook also has this voyeuristic quality to it, where you get to know what people are up to without really ever being in touch. That creeps me out a bit. Those posts that say "Who's been checking your profile"? Scary. A little too much "Mother, May I Sleep With Danger," Lifetime movie fodder. LOL

It's not that I don't see its place in our world. I do. I just want something different out of my time. I'd rather sit here and check in on your goal and feel part of something important than to scan through my Facebook network to see but not feel invested in their random posts.

If you have any thoughts about how MLL is different than Facebook, I'd happily include them in my report. Thanks! I hope you're being super-productive!

I think MLL is different for the reasons you've listed.  I like the concept of living in the future instead of the present or past.  Facebook can be a huge time waster whereas MLL is an attempt to make your life more productive.  It could get to be a huge time waster if you spend too much time on your friends' MLL pages so I kind of like that it's more cyber friends instead of real life friends.

Also, you and Bill "talk" to us!!!  What other pages are there where the investors actually interact with the community to see how and if MLL is serving them well.

I'm sure there are other things too but am too busy thinking about.  :o)-  will write more if and when they come to me.

Loving this conversation.  WM, just by reading what you're writing about how you manage your time, I'm betting you could give me a whole seminar on how to be more disciplined with my own.  Love the listing before bed.  Awesome 'rest peacefully' tool.  

Working Mama, I think you definitely reached success with this goal, LOL. But it's nearly that time of year again ... we're madly planning the 2012 21-Day Challenge. Hope you are great and have lots of fun stories to share, your voice of wisdom is sorely missed! Start thinking of a new goal, because we have some really terrific surprises for our top collaborators. Holidays are creeping up on us, wishing you and your family a wonderful few months ahead and hope to see you back some time soon.