How To Internet Like A Pro
With so much out there on the world wide web, how in the big, huge heck do we make sure to get the most out of every browsing sesh? Like the ocean, there’s no way to traverse every drop of content on the ‘net, but there are a few tips and tricks to keep you hangin’ ten while you surf.
Wrangle Your Algorithm
“Why does *nstagram keep sending me frog content when I want updates from my real, live friends?” This is a question that I ask myself on a regular basis. Fortunately, I can also now answer for myself on a regular basis: it’s because when I am sent the frog content, I sit there and stare (and laugh, and sometimes cry) at the frog content, which insinuates to my algorithm fairy godparent that all I care about is frogs, frogs, frogs. If you want the web to crash waves of relevant content upon the beach of your screen, think about what you’re searching! Consider what you’re pausing on and paying attention to! If you want to find other creatives in your field, seek them out and spend time with their online presence. The more you pause on their pages, the more the invisible computer gremlins will understand that this is the stuff you wanna see.
Follow Your Inspiration
Pushin’ and pullin’ with the tide of my first hot tip, keep tabs (lol) on your internet idols! Find the people that inspire you, then find what inspires them. This will not only broaden your understanding of your chosen subjects, it’ll also open up new mental pathways that will illuminate parts of your brain you didn’t even know were there. Our mentors have their own mentors, who have their own mentors, and so on and so on until the dawn of time. Dry land had to be really freakin’ inspiring to entice a fish to grow legs and emerge from the sea. Though the number of choose-your-own adventure options will grow exponentially, all choices lead to fresh ideas and new motivation.
Manage Your Time
With all of these — dare I say infinite? — options, you could search and scroll for the rest of your long life. If you’re diving into the deep, blue internet with a goal in mind, try the Pomodoro Technique, which breaks your purpose into focused, 25-minute chunks interspersed with breaks. By portioning your screen time into manageable sections, you’re far more likely to come away feeling accomplished. Of course, you don’t need a cute, tomato-shaped kitchen timer to manage the Pomodoro Technique, but I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt.
Sure, sometimes it’s fun to just splash your toesies around in the ocean of the internet. But with so many tasty things to learn (and so much competition to know as much as possible), why not internet with intention?
