Becoming addicted to YouTube is no joke at all; at first, you just watch a few random videos, after some time you realize that you can't think about anything other than the computer and the interesting things you might see. Abusing YouTube can turn into a severe behavioral addiction and have negative effects on many aspects of life.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Direct Your Attention Elsewhere
Step 1. Satisfy the need for gratification with something else
You can become addicted when you start to need a particular stimulant to feel good or feel fulfilled. Consider positive, healthier alternatives to get the gratification you seek.
Step 2. Find a different pastime
Engaging in another activity that takes your mind off those interesting videos is your best bet.
- Arts and crafts. You may find that making manual projects, even ugly papier mache sculptures or origami, not only alleviates the need for gratification you get from continuously watching videos, but at the same time makes you feel more fulfilled.
- Painting or drawing. Creating is a positive process, constantly watching movies is not. You can get a sense of true accomplishment by engaging in figurative activities while simultaneously avoiding situations where you are tempted to watch YouTube (for example, when you have nothing to do or feel a void in your life).
Step 3. Play a sport
Getting outside and exercising is one of the best alternatives to unhealthy and addictive behaviors. Practicing a team sport not only improves physical health, but benefits social, mental and emotional well-being.
- If you don't have friends who are interested in sports, you can always go to the park and take two shots.
- Find a provincial sports league that you enjoy playing.
- Look for a club that plays shuffleboard, chess, checkers, or even cornhole if you don't want to play physical sports.
Step 4. Play
Musical creativity is another workaround that has many benefits beyond helping you overcome addiction.
- Involve friends who are interested in playing with you. By doing so, you can enjoy social life while trying to get rid of the obsession with online movies. Not only does playing music help you heal addiction directly, it improves your organizational and time management skills, which in turn can prove useful for coordinating what you do instead of wasting hours on YouTube.
- If you played an instrument in the past, brush it off and get back to practicing.
- Take music lessons. Have you always wanted to sing better? You can find a lot of masters available.
- Instead of watching YouTube videos, record yourself playing or singing and then post videos of your creative performances.
Step 5. Define zones without internet
When you are addicted to something online, like YouTube, it is worth setting times of the day or places that are completely off the net or, better yet, where technology is banned.
- Leave your mobile or tablet at home when you go out for a hike or a walk around the lake. Even if you think you want to do something totally immersed in nature or are active in general, for example camping, there are actually many occasions when you can connect to the net and watch videos that you are addicted to.
- When you leave the office for lunch, take a magazine or newspaper to the bar instead of your tablet; Even if you've planned to read an e-book on a device like the Kindle Fire, it's all too easy to quit reading and start watching movies.
Step 6. Take a "technology vacation"
There are programs, camps or vacations organized with the aim of freeing people from the need to access the internet, social media and the web.
- Going out and trying to stay a week, or even just a couple of days, without any access to the web is a great help in breaking the vicious circle.
- By not being able to feed your addiction in any way, you are able to regain control over your internet use, rather than living completely without technology.
Method 2 of 3: Breaking the Bonds
Step 1. Block YouTube from your computer
If you want to break with the addiction permanently, ask a friend or family member to set a password on your device, so that you can no longer view this site.
Step 2. Reduce the time you spend online
Set personal limits on the number of hours you spend with your eyes on the screen - it is generally considered unhealthy to spend more than four hours in front of the computer. Excessive use of this tool can have several negative effects, including:
- Musculoskeletal disorders;
- Headache
- Work-related upper limb disorder;
- Poor eyesight.
Step 3. Take control of the time you spend in front of the computer
If the addiction is in its early stages, you may be able to gradually reduce the need to be at the computer.
Step 4. First, finish the work you need to do on the computer
Respecting the time limits you have set for yourself, make sure you do all the tasks related to the job first, before allowing yourself to watch videos on YouTube. One of the benefits of giving up an addiction is regaining control of time, instead of letting the addiction rule over you.
- Get a time management program. There are software that help monitor the time you spend on various applications; this way, you can get a precise idea of how you spend (or waste) most of your time.
- Use a "parental control" for safe internet use. You can set this type of programs to block access to certain websites or to manage the time dedicated to certain applications each day.
- Use the internet to improve yourself instead of getting carried away by entertainment for momentary gratification. The web is a gold mine of updated information, history and all kinds of knowledge; use it to learn.
Method 3 of 3: Recognize the Problem
Step 1. Accept that you have a problem
Just like with any other addiction, the first step is to recognize that you are suffering from it. YouTube attracts millions of visitors, and it's easy to start spending more time than expected watching videos. It is imperative that you recognize the early signs of an addiction in yourself if you want to treat the problem.
Step 2. Be aware of the alienation
Are you alienating friends, family and people who care about you? When an individual is addicted to something, be it a drug, alcohol, video games or even YouTube, one of the first typical attitudes is the tendency to want to surround oneself only with people who allow the unhealthy behavior.
Step 3. Check your health
Addiction often causes health problems, even if no toxic substance is involved.
- Has your personal hygiene deteriorated? Have you started neglecting cleaning your hair, nails and teeth?
- Pay attention to your eating habits; behavioral addiction triggers a lower awareness of the food you eat.
- Do you suffer from sudden mood swings? Are you irritable, especially when you don't have access to your source of addiction? Depression and anger can be symptoms of the problem.
Step 4. Be aware of the excuses you find
Another sign of addiction is a tendency to invent justifications or to rationalize that it is perfectly normal to continue with the unhealthy behavior.
- People who are not addicted notice negative behavior and want to correct it.
- If you have an addiction, you may find that you are trying to rationalize the reasons why the behavior is acceptable, but the process is a clear indication that there is a problem.
Step 5. Consider the impact on your life
If you have reached the intermediate or final stages of YouTube addiction, you begin to manifest the negative effects on the best aspects of your existence.
- Are you compromising your job? Have you even forgotten to complete tasks due to the need to watch movies online?
- Do you spend less time on other physical activities? Addiction often drastically reduces the time spent exercising, attending social events, or other similar activities.
Advice
- Allow your friends to help you. Don't feel embarrassed by informing them of what's going on; if they are true friends, they will not judge you and will want to help you.
- Don't be too hard on yourself; currently, it is extremely easy to get carried away by technology.
- Consider it a real addiction. Behavioral ones are very serious and have similar consequences to substance addictions.
