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Organize Your Web Surfing

If you love to surf the Net, here are a few ways to organize your time and speed up your productivity.

1) What's your speed? If you surf often and you're still using a dial-up connection, consider switching to a DSL or cable connection. It's much faster.

2) Make an Internet hour. Instead of just getting on the computer 'whenever you find time', designate a specific Internet Hour for each night, or a few nights each week. If you have other family members who access the Internet from the same computer, consider giving everyone a schedule of computer time. This way, everyone will know when she or he can access.

3) Network. If you have several computers in your home, consider networking them together. This way, several family members will be able to surf at the same time. My husband and I have three computers. Each is hooked up to the Internet (we use our cable company to connect to the
Internet) and we regularly access the Internet simultaneously.

4) Keep a notebook. Whenever you hear of a Web site you'd like to visit, jot the address down in a spiral notebook used specifically for this purpose. Store this notebook right near your computer. Visit these sites during your Internet Hour.

5) Set themes. Make Monday night your 'search for recipes night.' Make Tuesday night your 'search for new songs night.' Make Wednesday night your 'genealogy research night.' You get the idea. If you have specific themes set up before you surf, you won't waste time just searching randomly.

6) Stay on track. If you originally set out to find some specific information, but find you're easily distracted if other interesting sites come up, then you need to use a tool to remind you what your original goals were. Set a timer to go off every 15 minutes. If you're still on track with your original goals, great. If not, jot down the web site you're on for future viewing, and then go back to your original goals.

7) Learn search engine specifics. You can find things much faster on the search engines if you know the best keywords and keyword phrases to put in, and how to put them in. For instance, if you use Google, you'll see a link called 'Advanced Search' on their home page. If you use Yahoo, you'll see an 'Advanced' link on their home page. These pages will help you narrow down your search, so you come up with sites that best meet your needs.

8) To bookmark or not to bookmark. Bookmarks allow you to easily return to a page you liked, without you having to remember the web address. Most web browsers, such as Explorer, have a bookmark option. In America Online, this option is called 'Favorites.' Try to only bookmark sites you plan to revisit over and over again, so you don't clutter up your Bookmarks directory. Of course, if you see the Bookmarks directory getting full, weed it out just as you would a thick file folder of papers.

by Maria Gracia - Get Organized Now!
Want to get organized? Get your FREE Get Organized Now! Idea-Pak, filled with tips and ideas to help you organize your home, your office and your life, at the Get Organized Now! Web site http://www.getorganizednow.com

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