Tan Mei Kuan : Session Two: Recovery Methods

     Computer is indispensable in this day and age but computer addiction could disrupt sleep patterns, relationships and academic performance. This brings me to the theme of my post : Setting time limits. I will focus on setting time limits as one of the methods used around the world to help people recover from computer addiction. I will also discuss the pros and cons of this method.
     Most people find themselves on the Internet longer than they intended. The "next game" or "next episode" button always appears tempting and interesting. Therefore, it is important to set a time limit. The key to setting time limit is moderation. A reasonable time limit that fits your lifestyle is easier to follow.
     After deciding on a suitable time limit, the next step is to enforce and adhere to the time limit. If you are a parent, you can reward your children when they follow the rules and punish them when they violate it. You can give them a five minute warning before turning off the computer. As a parent, you can be a role model by following the time limit yourself. If you are battling the time limit yourself, you can ask your family members to provide you with constant reminders, use a timer to remind yourself or schedule your computer to turn off automatically at specific time. Every time you turn off your computer, remind yourself that you will be able to continue again tomorrow. In my opinion, following the time limit for 30 days are enough to break the old habit.
     Setting a time limit will lead to good time management. You will have a healthy bedtime and wake up time. Besides that, there will be time for computer and also time to engage in other outdoor physical activities to have some non-computer related fun. Next, there will be a balanced time spend on socializing online and socializing face-to-face.
     The cons of this method is that in reality, it seldom works as it requires tremendous dedication and self-control. In the case of teenagers, it is even harder to control as they can access the computer in the privacy of their bedroom. It is difficult for parents to supervise and monitor their children in making sure the time limits are followed because they are almost always busy working.
     In conclusion, it is advisable to set time limits on computer usage to beat computer addiction.