How To: Keep Your Family On-Board for Your Blogging Journey

Some tips from ProBlogger:

- Create Healthy Boundaries. For example, I have established a “no computer time” rule for myself where I don’t use the laptop (or my smart phone) between the time I get home from work and when we get the kids to bed. By setting up this boundary, I free my time and my mind to enjoy my children, play outside or help my wife out with dinner each evening.

- Communicate Your Reasons for Blogging. Why are you investing all this time and effort into blogging anyway? Take the time to tell your loved ones why your blog is important to you and how you see it as a benefit for your family.

- Sacrifice Personal Time, Not Family Time

- Seek Their Input

References:

7 Tips to Keep Your Family On-Board for Your Blogging Journey. ProBlogger.
Image source: public domain.

Excessive Internet use may be linked to depression

Excessive Internet use may be linked to depression. Spend a day offline and connect with friends and family.

Twitter comment by @MiriamETucker: But they're all online!

Your Internet use could be telling you something about your mental health. If you keep up with friends via Facebook or spend more time chatting online with strangers than with family, it might be time to disconnect the computer for awhile — and check in with yourself.

The researchers analyzed internet use and depression levels of 1,319 Britons aged between 16 and 51. An online questionnaire was used to measure participants' Internet use, the functions for which they used the Internet, and their depressive tendencies. Of these, 1.2 percent were "internet addicted."

"Excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first -- are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?"

Using the Web to replace your usual social circle could be a red flag. Instead of spending hours on message boards, pick up the phone and call someone.

Twitter comments:

@BiteTheDust (Robbo) re: internet and depression.... if you skype someone is that using the phone or using the internet? just asking :)

@amacdt Especially if you use video skype - it's a tough one. I find that I really enjoy talking to people with video

References:

The relationship between excessive Internet use and depression: a questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults. Morrison CM, Gore H. Psychopathology. 2010;43(2):121-6. Epub 2010 Jan 23.

Study links excessive Internet use to depression. Reuters.

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Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.