Some people like to use Facebook to keep in touch with friends. But Facebook seems to be designed to entice you to spend (waste) more time on the site. If you just want to use it to keep in touch with people, find old friends, and maybe make business relationships, here are some ways to avoid wasting too much time.
Steps
Step 1. Ignore the requests
When someone sends you a request, you may not see the full details. You may be wondering if it is important, or interesting. But if you really want to limit your use of the site and not indulge in frivolous activities, don't feel the need to respond to these requests. They take time.
- Remember, many people who use Facebook applications send requests to all of their friends. Consider it an open offer that can be ignored. Usually your friends will not wait in the hope that you will accept - they are probably distracted by other things.
- On your "Confirm Requests" page, you do not have to click "Ignore" for all requests. Quickly scroll down the page, look for interesting entries, like old friends that you like to hear from again, and after approving them, click on "Ignore all" at the top right.
Step 2. Stop continuous emails:
- Click on Settings (top right) and select "Account Settings", then "Notifications". Set most of the options to "no". You may need to click "Show more" at the bottom of the page to select all applications and you may need to repeat this step if you add new applications.
- Alternatively, use an email filter to not be distracted by Facebook's many emails. Simply visit the site regularly enough to read about the things that interest you. Check the requests and notifications on the site itself - if you are a few days late it doesn't matter.
- A simple example of a filter: filters all messages from facebook.com. For example, if you use Gmail, create a filter and enter "@ facebookmail.com" in the "From:" field and in the next step select "Skip the inbox (Archive)".
- You could create an email exception for some types of notifications, for example with the text "added you as a friend on Facebook" if you don't want to risk ignoring friend requests. On Gmail for example, when you create the filter, on "Does not contain:" type "he added you as a friend on Facebook". (You can add more than one sentence by using "OR" and writing the sentences in quotes)
- If you use Firefox, you can use the LeechBlock extension to log the time spent on facebook.com and get kicked out after the time you specify.
- Also, instead of visiting Facebook as part of your routine, do it as a reward. This is a good idea if you find yourself using Facebook when you should be working. Tell yourself "I'll give myself 15 minutes when this project is done" or "I'll look at those new photos after I finish this errand". Also consider setting up a password protected temporary internet filter to block facebook.com when you work. Give the password to a family member or roommate you trust and ask them to activate it before you start and deactivate it when you're done.
- Consider ditching Facebook and admitting it's too addictive. Your true friends will understand you.
- Also avoid polls and quizzes - they are addictive and a waste of time. And your friends will likely be annoyed if you tag them in 10 different polls every day.
- Each invitation to install an application includes the option to ignore all requests from that application. By clicking on that item you can block all annoying requests.
- If you don't respond to requests from friends, avoid sending a lot of them - you'd look like a hypocrite.
Step 3. Avoid third party games and applications
Playing games, decorating your profile 2-3 times a day and ranking your friends will waste a lot of time.
Step 4. Go offline to chat
You're about to log out of Facebook when a good friend texts you a message. You stop and talk for a while, and before you know it you decide to look at photos, browse groups and it's been another hour. To avoid receiving messages, click the Chat button in the lower right corner and select "Go offline". This way your friends won't be able to write to you. You can waste a lot of time on Facebook waiting for a friend to reply to a message you sent. So don't feel the need to stay connected after writing to a friend, in chat or on the wall. You will answer the next time you connect.
Step 5. Use a timer when visiting Facebook
You can use the clock timer, or a kitchen timer that sounds when the time is up. Get in the habit of starting the stopwatch as soon as you log into Facebook and log out when the time limit is up. Fifteen minutes may be adequate time for a session.
