Things you could do yourself

Balance is the key.

Long periods of seating in front of the computer screens will pose health problems to our body if it is not balanced by a whole lot of contrasting activity. Thus it is necessary to learn some simple activities we could engage in to prevent damage to our body.

• We should spend 10 or 15 minutes of every hour alternative activities that will keep us physically active, such as running up and down a few flights of stairs, taking the dog for a walk, doing house chores.

Consciously keep changing your posture throughout the day. Change the shape and height of your chair and your distance from the screen. Stretch your back, shoulders, head and your neck every few minutes.

• Practice taking a few deep breaths, often while working at your computer. Get up and move about regularly, try to introduce some aerobic exercise into these breaks. Do whatever it takes to get the blood circulate around in the body, to get your lungs opened up and cleared out.

• Take a break, walk to the shop and buy some fresh food, prepare it yourself, eat it in a relaxed manner. Focus your attention on the food and the enjoyment of it. You can't do this when you are on the Web.

Get up frequently and make a herb tea drink or coffee for yourself. Soothe your throat with hot tea and coffee, which is much better than surfing internet for hours.

Introducing simple eye exercises into our routine can ease most eye health problems. Have your favourite pictures or photographs behind, beside and above your screen and at various distances away. Glance at them regularly. Cover your eyes often with the palms of your hand and open them into the darkness to let them rest. Blink rapidly while looking directly at the sun for short periods. This could prevent over straining your eyes. By looking out of the window, you can focus on more distant objects regularly.

Cold Turkey

Alternatively, another approach called Cold Turkey; the ‘Sudden and Total Withdrawal’ approach could be used. While mentally and maybe even physically demanding, it may yield very positive results. Lock up your computer, destroy your modem, or employ whatever extreme means to prevent yourself access to the Internet. Writing down all the initial reasons on why you are quitting could also help and motivate you through those moments of doubt. For cold turkey to be successful, vigilance is vital. Moments of disturbance, uneasiness, insomnia may distract you but as time passes, these distractions will gradually ease. Keep in mind that every minute off the Web is a victory, and stay focused on getting through each day.

Recognize the Signs of Recovery

• You have successfully stuck to your timetable of Internet usage and don’t overuse the amount of time on-line every week.

• Your partner, parent, or other loved one tells you that they see the difference in your Internet habits and your behaviour toward them.

• You able to restrict on the money you spend for on-line service fees and stay within your budget.

• You able to rediscover those favorite hobbies and activities you used to enjoy in the old days or find new interests that are healthy.

• You able to finish your work assignments or household chores in a timely fashion before turning to surf internet or play games.

• You look back at your time of addiction to the Internet and see a different person from a different time.

• You feel a greater desire to go out with your loved ones and socialize with friends

• You spend more time in communicating with those directly in front of you than to strangers on the Net.

• You have able to see others obsessed with the Internet in a different view and perspective, understanding that they are harming and creating problems to themselves and others.