It pays to be offline
With 12 personal blogs (at present), plus another one I write for, 4 online forums (fora for the grammar purists), two Multiply accounts and a couple more social online networks… you must think that I don’t have an offline social life. Well, you are right!
Of course, it wasn’t always like that. I did have social life before, but the last 3 months of 2008 saw me practically glued in front of my computer monitor. Save for my children and other important chores (which I often delay up to the last minute), it was just me and the internet.
It isn’t healthy I know. But I was satisfied (and fulfilled) in expressing myself through my different blogs, communicating with people through online forums, and meeting new friends while keeping in touch with old ones through various social networks.
I never thought I’d see the day I will grow tired of the online world. After all, it is world full of excitement, with plethora of information – new discoveries as well as old treasures. It is really unimaginable for me to say the word “enough.”
But guess what? It is.
For one, inferior eyesight that used to be so sharp, dictates that I set my sight more on green trees and grasses, blue skies and other real world colors. Yes, it’s easy to blame this on the monitor’s glare instead of the age factor.
Numbing hands and fingers that develop cramps more frequent than my blog posts is also a factor. And Mel and Joey’s recent episode featuring Carpal Tunnel Syndrome didn’t help. Another friend unwittingly forwarded to me an e-mail about the same subject – with pictures to boot! (paranoia sinking in now)
But the main factor really is that, not all those time spent online before really translated into money, although I can only blame myself for that. Because while the internet is a great source of vast information, it is also full of trivial matters that easily distract anyone and navigate him away from his goals – GUILTY!
Does that mean I’m going to stop being online?
HELL NO!!!
In my goals for 2009, my aim is to reduce my internet time. This can be interpreted as being focused on my goals and doing away with those habits that are quite unproductive. What are those habits? Well, I will discuss them more in another post.
As I have hinted in my other blogs, I really would like to spend more time offline. This weekend was a great teaser for me, I met with old friends and fellow community members. I also had to spend more time with my kids. And most of all, I had the opportunity to catch up on a simple pleasure that most bloggers are deprived of – sleep.
Yes, I love blogging, 12 blogs can easily speak for that. But after it has taken over my life, with nothing to prove for it, I honestly believe that I will be more productive in my blogs if I spend more time offline.
Besides, I’m sure to find lots of topics to write by spending some time offline.
Tags: blog, Blogging, blogging tips, carpal tunnel syndrome, inspiration, mel and joey, offline, online, online forum, online network, reasons, Roy, social network, The Struggling Blogger, topics sources
that’s truly remarkable and my admiration goes to you bro! Hehe. Keep it up, and it will not be a hard thing to do when you love what you’re doing.
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Thank you very much bro!
Received the $10 already, thanks!
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Hi Bro. Nice post here. One of my goals is to reduce time online too. Sleep early and wake up early. Am still in the adjustment period now. Ang hirap pag nasanay ka na ganung oras. By the way, your link to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome i think is broken. Check it.
PS Do i need to pay para sa 125×125 banner sa sidebar mo? Project wonderful ba yan?
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Thanks for the alert on the broken link bro. Mahirap nga ang mag-adjust ng time, may withdrawal syndrome, hehehe… pero pasasaan ba’t maayos din natin ang buhay natin, hahaha!
regarding sa sidebar, nope, hindi yan project wonderful. nag-sign up ako dun tapos di ako maka-log in. i don’t know why. would love to have ads on my blog, but i’m clueless on the rates on the terms. maybe you can feed thru PM bro. thanks.
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Grabe ang dami mong blog Kuya Roy haha. Mas marami akong time offline pero mahilig akong magpuyat na ayaw ko sanang gawin, it’s half past 12 midnight na kaya dapat matulog na ako.
About CTS, yung husband ng friend ko na-operahan dahil dun.
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ewan ko ba, palibhasa libre lang ang gumawa ng blog sa blogger at wordpress, hehe…
nakakatakot talaga ang CTS na yan, tsk tsk tsk
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Wow, those are a lot blogs to keep. How were you able to keep them all updated including forums and social networks?
You are right, when you’re online too much, you’ll forget that the real world is offline. You’ll find so many things to write online by living offline.
God bless you on your goals for 2009.
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Unfortunately, I can’t keep them all updated most of the time. One or two blogs get left behind, and when I turn my attention on them, another blog may suffer.
I guess, it’s just a juggling act. But I’m getting used to it.
Thanks for dropping by Elyong.
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hi kuya! yes, it pays to be offline… but in your case, being online probably pays you more.
dont worry, you’ll get used to all these, and when things get easier na, or maybe when one of your kids learn how to blog (lol), you could have a blog break na…
then, makikita ulit kita palakad lakad sa mall, naghahanap ng bagong business venture. :p
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Hi Iva!
Thanks for dropping by my new home. Wish ko lang, all those online time translates to cash, kaso lately hindi e.
sana magbago na ihip ng hangin soon
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kuya, wait ka ng two months magiging okay din yan. lalo na itong blog na ito.
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ay naku! sana mag-dilang anghel ka iva!
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Roy,
I used to be like that also. Maintaining numerous blogs is not an easy task, really. however, I’ve learned to manage my time and spend more on my offline tasks. Mahirap ang laging online. Madalas, nakakahina ng katawan. we need to get some sunlight and a little exercise, too.
jessie’s last blog post..Web Design and SEO Services
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Hi Jessie!
Yes, tama ka. yan mismo ang na-experience ko, manlalambot ang katawan mo kapag lagi ka na lang nasa harapan ng internet at hindi na nasisisnagan ng araw.
Thanks bro!
Roy’s last blog post..A reason for everything and everything for a reason
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what can i say? eh nasabi na lahat nila… ako OK lang na hindi ko ma-update regulary ang isang blog…basta nagagawa ko pa rin ang mga offline activities ko like badminton para hindi magka-Carpal, carpal na yan!
noong December nakapag-Bohol ako, at noong weekend nasa Baguio ulit ako…kaya ayos, nakapahinga na naman.
kung kikita ka ng $1K a month pero manghihina ka naman huwag na lang… kaya take it easy pareng Roy!
so ano? meet tayo sa HotAir Balloon Festival dyan? heheheh
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nakaka-inggit ka naman ‘pre! sarap ng bakasyon a.
aba! punta ka pala ng Hot Air Balloon Festival… ako hindi pa sure ‘pre e.
Roy’s last blog post..Tulang walang pamagat
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roy your http://roysville.wordpress.net/ point to your cpanel…sabi inform daw kita,
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kinabahan ako dun, but I think I see the problem.
it should be roysville.wordpress.com, wordpress.net kasi na-type mo kaya nag-e-error.
thanks nette!
Roy’s last blog post..Cool iPhone app from a 9-year old genius!
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Very nice blog you have here Roy. Medyo less than a year pa lang ako sa blogging world pero I can relate na so much sa having little offline life. Will keep your advice in mind.
It’s nice to meet people din talaga in the blogging world.
I blog on a niche market so I hope maka-earn din ako dito. Any tips?
Charlie’s last blog post..Are You Near Quitting Your MLM Business?
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I wish I can give tips with sense on earning online
pero eto lang masasabi ko… enjoy blogging
Roy’s last blog post..The Struggling Blogger on a new quest: EvilWoobie’s Annual Blog Contest!
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Hi Roy! Nice and interesting piece. First time to drop by your page. I’m pretty sure there will be many future visits. Twelve blogs huh! What a prolific writer! More power!
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Hi Goddy!
Thanks! Hope to see you more here
I tried to click you link, apparently it’s incomplete. You might want to put the complete link so I can visit your site too.
Roy’s last blog post..LPG and an inconsistent Accounting system
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Hello, Roy!
See, I told you there’ll be more future visits from me. But sorry, I’m not that computer-savvy. To visit my site, please click the links below:
http://afriendnamedgoddy.blogspot.com/
http://goddy-thelightersideoflife.blogspot.com/
Hope you’ll find my posts “not that bad”. Thanks!
Goddy’s last blog post..WELCOME TO "THE LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE"
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Thanks Goddy!
Will definitely visit your blog
Roy’s last blog post..The Strongest Link – a classroom presentation
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[...] great time to be offline and catch up with friends again. After which, we’ll go home with enough time to catch the Bb. [...]
FORUMS is correct modern English. FORA is archaic Latin. There are some people out there who think using FORA is clever – it makes them fools. You are correct to use forums.
Tim’s last blog post..How to write winning Government Tenders
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wow! thanks Tim!
I am right after all!
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hey roy. got your hands full on blogging, eh? how do you do that? just dropping by. i have subscribed to this blog.
fifi’s last blog post..breastfeeding in public
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Roy Reply:
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Hi fifi!
nice of you to drop by! yup! hands so full alright, I would have to admit I am having a hard time updating all of them.
thanks for dropping by and subscribing!
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I post every other day and I still feel harassed on my scheduled day of posting. Now, let’s multiply that by 12, add four forums, sprinkle a handful of social media sites or directories. Ewan kung saan ako pupulutin. lol.
Pero baka naman it just takes practice to have a good showing with it. As you ably does.
It’s good you’re weaning yourself away from spending too much time online. It has its benefits, too. A healthier Roy can only benefit the your 12 online children. “,)
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Roy Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
well, if you can only monitor my blogs, I really don’t get to update them regularly… I guess I just have the knack to make it look like I’m doing something about them.
I trick I learned when I was still employed… act busy
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Hello! This caught my attention. I would also want to take my time off the computer during my spare time. I’m a stay at home Mom and earns a little through the internet. I used to be an outgoing person but I got tied inside the house to take care of my kid.
The internet kept me updated with everything. Like you, and now I have astigmatism from 20/20 vision and is also scared to death bcuz of that carpal syndrome.
What I did is to take each day at a time and did other things during my spare time like clean, wax d floor, and iron clothes, and I think that lessened my stress. huwaw! haha
I guess I’m so uptight with all my “deadlines” and because of that I lose sleep like all of us. haha! okay, i guess i need to shut up now and get some haha!
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Roy Reply:
May 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
@fedhz
the good about this is that I now spend more time talking with my kids
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Sir Roy, i know it is too late to comment on this post but i can’t stop myself because in some ways we are related. I have my blog but i do not update it most of the time. I am currently doing SEO stuff and sometimes i also want to go offline. It is just i want to rest my mind and my hand because sometimes it is shaking. By the way, it is nice to know that your also Kampampangan and from Angeles City same here po.
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Hi Paige!
Nice to meet another Cabalen in the blogosphere!
Wow! You’re into SEO! I wish I can really grasp and apply that, so my blogs could benefit hehe…
Thanks for dropping by
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I am sure your blog will benefit po. The funny thing about po in my own blog i am not applying my knowledge in SEO due to busy schedule. LOL! hopefully, if i have time i can update it.
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[...] I have learned early on that being offline is not really that bad, I tried to make good use of that time to catch up on whatever I may have [...]