Over the last three decades, the internet has become an increasingly important part of our lives and part of society. It allows us to do things we previously couldn’t imagine, and problems related to information or communication are becoming less common and less pronounced.
Yet like much technology, just because we have something doesn’t mean we know precisely how to use it. Some of us have become so dependent on either our phones or computers that we panic if we have to go without for even a moment. Other times we might get caught for hours on sites that only serve to make us angry or misinform us. At times, without the proper precautions, the internet can even be dangerous.
While there are reasons to be concerned, we want to focus on how you can use the Internet to better yourself and everything around you. We are going to spend a lot of time online. The least we can do for ourselves is to make sure we’re treating that part of our lives with as much care as everything else.
1) Find Ways to Help You Learn
The internet, at its core, is about sharing information with each other. And while you can run into things such as misinformation online, fundamentally you can give yourself whatever education you would like on most subjects. You have nearly all the world’s data and learning available to you via the device you’re using to read this article, and the main limitations are your interests, your available time, and your knowledge of how to reach it.
Some ideas include:
- Setting up your YouTube and social media feeds to be filled to the brim with interesting things to learn each day, perhaps playing with it at lunch. You can use your commute to listen to podcasts relating to your interests.
- You can focus more heavily and sign up for an online course (through a college or just something you find on a worthwhile or interesting website) to allow you to get a deeper education on a topic.
- You can use it to quickly take notes or bookmark pages to topics you develop a curiosity on, and then review everything at the end of the day.
2) Expand Your Horizons
While the last point was more about gaining new skills and learning new and interesting facts, the internet can also be used to expose yourself to entirely new ways of thinking and new cultures and perspectives. There are more forums with worldwide users than you could ever count, and you can read about other ways to do things. And while you should think critically and not necessarily take every comment at face value, there is a lot to be gained from browsing other’s legitimate perspectives, and even reaching out to people you’ve never met.
And while many would say nothing compares to actual travel, you don’t need to uproot your entire life to better enjoy, and there are no expectations placed upon you or your family. You can dip your toes in the water in a relatively safe environment.
3) Create a Positive and Encouraging Feed Online
Above all else you might take away from this article, remember this: you are ultimately the one in control of your experience online. If you are being exposed to constant negativity, vitriol, or misleading information, then after a certain point you are the only one responsible for it. You have tools and controls available to you to shape your experience. All you need to do is look them up and use them.
While of course we don’t suggest you stop challenging yourself and exposing yourself to new ideas, you also don’t need nonsense seeping into your online life. You know what you want, and we know that you have the better judgment to determine which ideas are challenging yet helpful and which ones are only there to sow needless discord (and get clicks). Try to find the things that inspire you.
4) Create Conveniences for Yourself
The internet has proven in multiple ways to be an incredible timesaver. You should respect your own time as much as possible, and while you might want to whittle some of the days away resting outside in the park, make sure that whatever you’re doing is your decision. Doing something you don’t want to when there’s a more efficient alternative (often online these days) is wasted time. Doing something you’re enjoying and finding fulfillment in it, however, is hardly ever a waste.
Think about it. What could you use the internet (or services found through the internet) for that currently is a chore for you? Can you make paying bills or fees easier or automate those chores? Can you shop online for things you’d have a drive an hour to get otherwise? Even if you have to pay a shipping or convenience fee, remember that your time can be more valuable than your money. The possibilities are endless, so set aside a little time to look up your options.
5) Remove Unwanted Distractions and Drains
In some ways opposed to TV and cable where you can probably quit pretty easily once your favorite show ends, the internet and many of its websites are designed so that you can lose yourself for hours without thinking about what you’re doing. Yet this doesn’t have to be the case. You can use tools, apps, and formed habits to minimize these negative aspects of the internet and instead create a zone of focus for yourself.
In this regard, we also recommend a form of digital minimalism, as so many of the negative aspects of modern technology and the modern internet lie in the fact that we are constantly being bombarding with ads, ideas, and distractions. One should absolutely read fun things online, but there should be a deliberateness to it.
Finally, minimizing alerts and notifications can also go a long way towards making you feel better. That post from your friend can probably wait (otherwise they’d call or directly message you). You don’t need to know about everything happening all over your country right this second. Few things are as important as your focus, happiness, and peace of mind.
Conclusion
There is so much the internet can do for you, and since it’s developing every single day, we’re also certain that you will be able to find even more methods for it to provide enrichment to your life. Think about what you want to focus on in the coming month or even year and then see what you can do to tailor your online life to your health and needs.
