The Internet and Productivity: A Love/Hate Relationship

A productivity specialist who shows yous how to define your day, funnel your focus, and make every moment thing. Read total profile

As hundreds to thousands of American websites go "nighttime" to protest the current SOPA and PIPA proposals that are in front of their government leaders, they accept institute that they aren't alone in this plight. Effectually the world many other websites from many other countries are uniting with their American Internet colleagues, truly demonstrating that the spider web is indeed "worldwide" and assembling the largest online protestation in history.

While Lifehack.org hasn't gone this route today, I'k going to take a look at what the Internet has done (and not done) for those who have wanted to get more productivity out of themselves and their coworkers. Whether you're looking for solutions to bottlenecks in your workload, want to communicate better with your teammates or just want to shape your life so that you can live information technology to its fullest, the Internet has played a part. I'g not saying information technology'southward always been an ally – because for many of us it hasn't – but I am saying it has played a part. The Internet and productivity take a dearest/hate human relationship, and it'southward important to empathise that proposed legislation like SOPA (which appears to take been killed) and PIPA will have a real impact on both sides of the equation.

Why Productivity Loves the Internet

I could very easily bulldoze off course here and talk over why I love that productivity loves the Internet, but I'll do my all-time to avert that.

The ability to utilise comprehensive web apps – whether it exist Asana or Flow – or a secondary web app similar Dropbox to sync upwards your tasks and projects, the Cyberspace has made it so much easier for so many people to get things done. Y'all'd exist hard-pressed to see iOS and Android devices that could sync equally well equally they do if the Internet didn't exist in its electric current form. In addition, websites such every bit Lifehack.org would have a much tougher time getting the message out if in that location was no Internet – because the only fashion they could exist is in impress form. And while productivity sites are pretty pop in the online world, they can't stand on their own in the offline one.

Without the Internet there would be far fewer resources for people to look to should they desire to amend their productivity. As for collaboration tools, they would be a afar memory (or a figment of the imagination) if it weren't for this "series of tubes" – equally one of the US lawmakers described the base technology yous're using to read this piece right at present.

Call up almost it: Without the Internet, productivity tools would be far less advanced than they are today.

That said, some people may not call back that's necessarily a bad thing…

Why Productivity Hates the Internet

When we had electronic organizers and paper planners to assistance united states get stuff done, that'southward exactly what they were for. They didn't bank check electronic mail, they didn't play games, and they didn't do Twitter or Facebook.

But the Internet does all of those things…and more.

The best role about the Internet when it comes to productivity is likewise its worst. Information technology tin help or hurt you, depending on what you, as the finish user, does with it.

The distractions that come with being able to access anything, someday has done as much to impairment the productivity of many equally it has done to enhance it for others. But similar those who choose newspaper over digital despite having the option to go with the latter, users accept the same type of pick when it comes to using the Internet. You can employ it responsibly or you tin can just use it. You just need to be prepared for the consequences either way.

What do I mean past that?

Should you put all of "your productivity eggs in the Net basket" and it goes downward – either in error or on purpose – you had best be ready to deal with what you had on your plate regardless. The thing near analog tools is that you have control over them from offset to end. How you choose to implement them, what ones y'all use, what happens to them before and afterward – that's all on you.

Only with a web app or a software solution that works by connecting to the Net in some fashion, you're giving up some form of control. Even if information technology is a pocket-sized amount, like syncing, information technology can exist a vital corporeality. Losing all of what you've stored online because of a glitch (or maybe a server existence shut downwardly due to violating the terms set out in a state's laws) isn't exactly something you lot're ready for. But you might be wise to practise so.

Your Cyberspace. Your Productivity.

Today is a dandy to sit downwardly and figure out whether or not yous really value the Internet and productivity as a wedlock or if you don't. You're non going to be able to remove the net from the process entirely – e-mail is on the Net, after all – just you tin lessen your reliance on it.

But do you really want to? Or do you really not want to have a pick in the matter?

The Internet is a valuable resource that the world needs. Information technology serves to connect us and can make what used to be impossible possible. Productivity types similar myself (and probable yourself) have tools and tactics we employ every day that involve using it. Many people nowadays brand their living on it. Many of those using it don't understand all of it, and that's fine. The trouble lies when those that don't can command its future.

The only person that should be able to split up the Internet and productivity is you. Don't allow anyone take that choice away from you, no matter how tough that choice may exist.

Editor's Notation: If y'all desire to acquire more than almost SOPA and PIPA, head over to Stop American Censorship.

(Photograph credit: Road Signs Showing the Way to Hate and Dear via Shutterstock)

strangenovence49.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/the-internet-and-productivity-a-lovehate-relationship.html

Share this post