Distractions, distractions, distractions...

I couldn't even start this blog without getting distracted by YouTube! Seriously, what is that all about?? Is it lack of self control? I wrote about StumbleUpon earlier and talked about how you need self control in order to use it responsibly and not get distracted from other things you ought to be doing. Well, I definitely feel like I am immensely lacking in that area. But I think the internet itself has led me to this point (not that it isn't my fault that I let it get there). Everything is just so readily available. It's right there, at the click of a mouse (that is, if your internet connection isn't a snail). If I randomly wonder about something, like how the British monarchy works, or what the Prague skyline looks like at dawn, I simply Google it. Or if I randomly feel like watching a cute kitten falling asleep or some funny bloopers, I just go on YouTube. 

Don't even get me started on Facebook and Twitter. Everyone knows everyone's business; what someone had for dinner, what party someone went to, who broke up, who got together, etc. It never ends. I don't think I was ever as curious about other peoples lives (nor so informed) until I discovered Facebook. I don't even have to talk to a person for years but know what's going on in their life. 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining that it's there. The internet is an immensely valuable resource that allows us to do things we were never able to before. One example is the recent Japanese earthquake. News organizations posted Tweets almost as soon as it happened, since many news organizations such as CNN already had representatives in Japan who had experience the earthquake. Because the news and information was so quickly distributed, aid from other countries was able to arrive more quickly. Even now, there are Tweets coming in every few minutes or so, updating on the situation with the nuclear power plant. Google has been particularly helpful in providing the person finder. Of course this is only one, and very recent, example. The internet has been a highly valuable tool, particularly in sharing and distribution of information.
However, the distraction issue still exists. For me, at least. I've tried setting boundaries for myself in terms of how many times a day I go on Facebook or YouTube. Once, I decided I'd only go on Facebook twice a day, not more than 15 minutes at a time. I know, it isn't a dramatic boundary, but I was trying to be realistic. This only lasted about a week. Then I had a mini-epiphany. I shouldn't have to set boundaries. I should know when to stop. It's all about everyday, moment-to-moment decisions that I make that will add up in the end. So I should be asking myself, "What am I doing right now, and how will it be for the greater good in the future?"