How many hours a day do you spend online? Is it for work or pleasure? Do you find yourself spending time online when you probably should be doing something active? With over 2.4 billion people online, according to Internet World Stats, not even the most active moms are immune to getting lost in the vacuum of the internet`s clutches.
The information age can be as insightful as it is dangerous, and learning to use it as the former is one of the best things you can do to help keep you and your family`s brain sharp, which in turn helps inspire those bodies to be active and healthy.
A Tool For Success
We spend an inordinate amount of time on social media. According to NetPop Research, the largest chunk of time that most young women spend online is on social media sites. Granted, it`s great to keep in touch, but what is all that browsing really doing for your life at large?
Just like with any other aspect of your life, time management and boundaries are a key aspect of internet usage. We can all easily get lost browsing handbags we can`t afford, or drooling over ideal bodies we`ll never realistically attain . . . but that doesn`t make a single thing better! Instead, use your time online to connect, absorb and inspire, then take that new information and apply it to your life!
Be Aware of Predators
The internet is like Supermarket Sweep for bad guys, it allows them all the creativity they can muster, with an unrivaled cloak of anonymity. Most of us have no idea when we`re being scammed, or worse, when our children are. There are so many different types of identity theft that run rampant online, that it`s hard to tell who is phishing, skimming or thieving, but that shouldn`t stop you from surfing you should just be wary of those looking for personal information.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid anyone asking for personal numbers (unless, of course, it`s a SeeMommyRun forum where you want to brag about your amazing half-marathon time). Your bank should never ask for your PIN number, a forum poster should not be looking for your address, ect. . . keeping identifiable details about you to yourself and teaching your children to do the same is the best way to keep predators at bay.
Don`t Click Away Your Day
As human beings, we like to feel like we`re accomplishing things that we care about . . . saving puppies, running for the cure, etc . . . unfortunately, clicking, liking and re-posting doesn`t accomplish much of anything (except to help advertisers get to know way too much about your personal life). If you really want to spread the word about the 5K you`re running to help raise funds for autism research, take the time to email your friends a personal message in your voice, don`t just forward someone else`s. Making the internet personal is an important part of using it to keep your mind active while getting the people you care about to stop and think for a moment, and hopefully inspire action from them too.
We can`t avoid some of the negative effects of the internet, but we can be a shining example to our friends and families of how to use it as a tool to help you be active, safe and strong!
