Confession: this blog has become quite a bit of work. In a good way. But not a way that is conducive to cutting my screen time.

Between posting, reader emails, using my limited HTML skills to keep the layout from falling apart and, now, almost daily requests from freelancers to write a post full of “fresh content” with only one link back to a suitable company (no thank you) this blog has become a lot of work. I also get requests from other bloggers and writers for reviews of their work. Almost all of these tasks and projects are things I want to do so I am quite torn.

Can I keep the blog going, help my peers, reply to all of the great emails and comments I receive (they are great – thank you!) and finally get a new header on this blog without breaking open the laptop every evening and on the weekend? For now I do a bit before Henry wakes up, during nap times and when Henry is at daycare a few times a week. But really, the daycare time should mostly be work on freelance gigs and the book I hope to release next fall. I’m quickly seeing that if I don’t streamline some areas of my blogging I won’t have time for other writing.

This minimalist blogger is feeling overwhelmed. Add to that my writing muse is strong right now. I have lots of ideas and not a lot of time to work on them.

I Googled a few things on simplifying my blogging process but they were things I have read before. Work on your writing away from the screen. Yes, lots of ideas come to me while washing dishes or waiting for the bus. Blog posts are composed in my head as I’m folding laundry. I’ve cut down on Twitter time and have pared down my own blog reading. I still follow 80 or so blogs on a variety of topics but I just give myself a time window to read in – it works for me.

In an effort to streamline my blogging, while still posting as much as I like, I bought Rachel Meek’s book Simple Blogging.

I have a lot of respect for Rachel. She has the kind of writing career I would like to one day have. Her blog, Small Notebook, has been a platform to freelancing opportunities and she has built a great community while not taking on any big advertisers or sponsors. She’s also not on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and her blog continues to thrive. How’s that for proving it’s not all about social media?

The book was $8 that I think will be well worth it.

And I absolutely loved this from Rachel:

I’ll post a review of the book once I have read it back to back and implemented some of the strategies.

I love writing here. Writing about my terrible suede jacket the other day had me laughing at myself and your comments were hysterical. Big nod to Christine for confessing about her butt enhancing underwear.

When I get a comment or email from a reader that emptied their garage because of my blog I am both humbled and overjoyed that I am helping people. I won’t be quitting blogging anytime soon but I do want to simplify the process. I think this Simple Blogging book will be a good start.

Any longtime bloggers have tips for me?

This is a the third in a series on digital de-cluttering (Facebook and browsing were previous topics).

Mostly, I really like the Internet. It connects me with friends and family, allows me to research pretty much anything and allows me to write about and discuss minimalist living with other families.

But often I find myself “zombie surfing”: spending time glancing through websites and articles without finishing anything or doing much with real purpose. I check my email but don’t end up answering any of it. I browse Twitter but don’t read any of the interesting articles people recommend and I don’t engage in a conversation. I restlessly move from thing to thing without absorbing much or doing much.

When I zombie surf:

• I spend less time playing with my son
• I talk to my husband less
• the laundry piles up
• dinner is served late
• I experience more writers block (because I am not out living and filling the “well”)
• and the kicker: I don’t read anything mind blowing and I never end up writing much that I like.

In general, I don’t like my days when I spend too much of it online or connected.

And yet, I blog and have self-published a book. To grow both of these things I should be out knocking on a lot of virtual doors and connecting with other writers and bloggers.

What to do?

First, I’m not convinced success with this blog or with my book hinges on tweeting every event of my day and following 5000 movers and shakers. Despite what some people have told me, I still put a lot of faith in quality over quantity.

Second, based solely on observation of myself, I get more done when I spend less time online. When I open my laptop with a set window to respond to emails or write, I write faster. I’m more engaged.

Blog posts or book chapter ideas never pop into my head when I am zombie surfing. They usually happen when I am walking or just going about the rest of my day – housework, time with my son or a discussion with my husband.

To keep myself on track I’m implementing a few guidelines for Internet use starting this week:

• Internet free weekends. This is going to be a challenge. I usually Skype on Saturday afternoons with family. Might make an exception for that but I will use Chris’s iPad to log into Skype so I am not tempted to check my email. I made some attempts at this a while back and when I got it right, and stayed offline for the weekend, I felt refreshed and ready to write on Mondays.
• Put my laptop in a cupboard. In the evening I’m going to put my laptop in a cupboard, out of view, along with my iPod. Out of sight out of mind.
• Check my email only when I have time to respond. Why do I check my email in the morning when I know I can’t really sit down to respond to anything at that moment? Nothing urgent arrives by email – it arrives by phone. So I need to stop checking my email multiple times a day.

It’s not all doom and gloom. I have done a few things in the last two years that have helped me use my connected time wisely and less frequently. If I could recommend two of them they are:

• Be cautious with your smart phone. Don’t keep it in your bedroom at night and leave it at home one day a week. Take the push function off so emails aren’t automatically downloaded as they come in. If you’re really struggling with the 24/7 connection of your smart phone consider switching to a basic cell phone. My husband and I did it and won’t go back to smart phones unless a job requires it. We’ve gained better family time and better dates with no smart phones.
• Lower expectations for your response time. I know, if I was at a job they would not like my attitude about responding to email when you have time, not as soon as it comes in. Sometimes I have a window to engage in a discussion in the comment section here the same day I post something. Other days I might not get to responding for 24 hours or more. I do my best but I’ve also decided that people, particularly anyone reading here about simpler and slower living, will be more than forgiving if I don’t get back to them instantly.

I know I am not alone in the challenge to use the Internet wisely and with intention.

Who else struggles with this? Have you set parameters that work for you? I would love to hear your suggestions for wisely using time online and also what you struggle with.