If you have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of your time is being wasted through browsing the internet in unproductive ways, you are probably right.

Perhaps your issue is self-control: Before you know it, hours have passed and nothing useful has been accomplished. Or maybe you just lack the technological know-how that can enhance your internet forays. Either way, you’ll be pleased to know that you are not alone. One popular subject of discussion on the web today is browsing effectiveness and here are just a few of the many things you can do to increase yours.

At 43things.com, forum members generously share the methods that have worked to make their internet time more effective. For example, one member Monica explains that having made a list of every situation that calls for turning on the computer, it stays otherwise off, rendering its siren call muted and harmless. Another member, “Funzee,” describes the benefits of a software called Slife that automatically keeps track of one’s time on the computer, forcing the user to become conscious of how every moment is being spent – the browser’s equivalent of a dieter’s food diary.

This list of seven tips at Productivity 501 can also help reduce wasted time. One of the suggestions is to set up a specific time of day during which to visit favorite sites, thus preventing unchecked surfing and ensuring better productivity.

For those looking to work on their technological rather than their personal development, Jason at Space Monkey Pants offers several tips that can help readers get things done and keep up with the latest online. Here you’ll hear about the benefits of browsing with Mozilla Firefox, the importance of using tabbed browsing and the possible time saved by learning to use all available keyboard shortcuts.

And finally, if you like to get your advice visually, check out Help Merick’s video on how to become a more efficient web user. The tips here include simple yet effective tasks such as updating one’s browser, using the built-in search bar, and learning to print only the information needed from a webpage.

Among this veritable smorgasbord of ideas, perhaps there is one that can enhance your browsing experience.

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