Everyday Systems

I was just wondering, do all of you manage to read all the posts on a daily basis?

I've been trying to read them all, as well as respond to some, but I can't keep up. There are so many (which is great because it means a lot of member participation), but I lack time. Sometimes I go online and tell myself that I'll just spend 10 minutes, but the 10 minutes ends up being 30 minutes or more at a time. I enjoy reading them, and I benefit from the members' comments and experiences, but I'm going to have to reduce the time I spend on -- maybe I should go on just once a day -- but I find that it's become like an addiction where I'm tempted to go on several times a day (why not! another addiction in addition to food. LOL).

Yeah, but we're not fattening!

I go in spurts. I've been all over the boards today, but barely posted for days before.

And I think it's okay not to read it all. I do read most of the general board, but read only selected daily threads (other than my own). I tend to read the threads of people I especially like, or that have said something friendly on my thread... and I don't read them every day. You can read a week's worth in a short time. "Clustering" threads to read makes reading time more efficient.

When I think I'm spending too much time here, I make a plan to cut back. Nothing quite so stringent as Reinhard's "Weekend Luddite" (though you may want to look at that), but just setting a timer every time I get on, or listing what I have to do first (so it's a reward), or whatever. The strategy varies.

And I should probably implement some strategy now.

StrawberryRoan wrote:Yeah, but we're not fattening!

Very true!

I try to post frequently (tho this is the 2nd week since I've recommitted for the umpteenth time lol) as I can but if I don't have time I don't.
I love the support of others and try to reciprocate as best I can.

I do try to get on a few times a day, especially after meals to record what I've eaten, and to stay mindful of my eating.

I just read anything that looks interesting. I only post if I have something to say (this post may disprove that last).

ThomsonsPier wrote:(this post may disprove that last).

but I'm going to have to reduce the time I spend on -- maybe I should go on just once a day -- but I find that it's become like an addiction where I'm tempted to go on several times a day (why not! another addiction in addition to food. LOL).

Positively, I have an n-daily task on my punch card to post to the boards once a day. I scan through the latest posts and see what jumps out at me. There's always at least something -- usually far more than I have time to respond to.

Negatively, I have a ceiling of 4 checks of the board (and personal email) per day ("blimit" -- we). I can post then, but usually I just look quickly and see if there's anything I should mull over for my next posting "task." If I spent any time on social networking, I'd probably lump them into the "blimit" as well, but so far the appeal has alluded me (we have a friend who was just fired on account of her facebook profile, further limiting the appeal).

I'd love to be able to respond to every post on this board, but I know that if I want to continue running these boards for years to come, I have to pace myself.

Much as I love how involved a crowd we have here, that's probably about as much as anyone should be around. No question, it can quickly get unhealthy if you check much more. As with any of other habits we discuss here, you want to get into a long term sustainable rhythm. Moderate web use can be a great thing. But if you're having trouble being instinctively moderate, a little system can be very helpful.

Reinhard

During the N days I usually just leave it on and when I feel tempted, I go on for a bit. There is no way one could read them all. Occasionally when I am in need of a break and have some time I am on too long (like the emerald discussion), but I don't watch much t.v. at all, so I guess it's a wash.

I consider my "Daily Post" thread sort of personal and don't expect anyone else to read it, although I don't mind if they do ...

As for the general posts, I follow the "Post since your last visit" avidly ... there is always something useful or motivating. I try to be efficient about scanning through the posts, and it does take a bit of time, but the ratio of great tips and thoughts vs time spent has pretty much worked out in my favor. I am truly amazed at what a wonderful and supportive community the No-S boards are.

I check first thing in the morning (to post my thoughts from yesterday), again at noon, and then later in the evening if I have time. Obsessive? Because I get so much out of it, I don't think so. I think you have to decide how much help you personally are getting vs the amount of time you spend on the No-S boards. Sort of the same thing about moderation in eating -- assess the benefits?

I tend to follow the same *three-a-day* system that Winnie does...and I too don't think of it as obsessive because I get SO MUCH out of everyone's posts. But I agree - you can't read everything!

Mimi

I too try to keep up, particularly with the No S General Discussion threads and with the Daily Check-ins not so much. I have my No S site set to keep me logged in all the time - I'm the only one that uses my laptop - so once I logged in and clicked on the "view new entries since last log-in" or however it's written on the right side of the top of the General Bulletin Board page. Then I set that page as my Home Page on my browser. I can easily scroll down and see which entries I want to check out. It also keeps NO S right out there so I'm always reminded of it! No escaping! Or you could make it a bookmark (the new entries page) rather than the main site. You can always click on the main site at the top.

The nice thing about that is that it actually takes you right to the bottom of the thread so you don't have to go all the way up and start over.

Although I shovelglove, I'm not as gung-ho and don't feel the need to get all creative with my moves-I'm just pleased that I do it. . . so I don't read those threads often.

I've even got it as a Home Screen Icon on my iPod Touch so if I'm killing time somewhere that there is WiFi, I can catch up.

Also I've found that when there is something I'm wondering about or know that I've seen a topic somewhere, I use the Search at the top of the page and put in some key words and I find all kinds of good stuff.

Good luck.

Well, I have the General Discussion page in my Favorite file and I stay logged on so I can do a quick check whenever I want, sometimes respond if there are new posts. Altho I had forgotten for almost a month (couldn't remember where it was, I now click on the Index and go back to the Daily check in each morning as well)

I spent one night when I had spare time going back through a lot of the old threads, learned a lot.

I am the only one on my laptop as well so that's not an issue.

mimi wrote:I tend to follow the same *three-a-day* system that Winnie does...and I too don't think of it as obsessive because I get SO MUCH out of everyone's posts. But I agree - you can't read everything!

Mimi

It's true that we get so much out of everyone's posts, which is why I was trying to read everything -- I didn't want to miss anything. However, I realize that I don't have time to read all posts, so I try to just go through the list quickly and only read a few in detail.