Is the internet the problem, or are we?

Finding motivation is easy,  getting things done is another

With today, May 1st, signifying the return of tech journalist Paul Miller to the internet, I was wondering what the impact of the internet has been on my life. And frankly I'm not sure. I don't see it as negative. the negative elements are all mine, lack of concentration, laziness. An inability of planning ahead efficiently. These things just become apparent in the age of Instant Gratification.

When I was growing up, I was allowed virtually unlimited time browsing the internet. It has made me the geek I am. It gave me an advantage in school, because I was curious. I have taught myself 65% of what I know about computers, culture and the english language. But at some point, those advantages don't cut it. I have been sitting on my laurels. 

In my senior year of high school, I made the change of not immediately turning the machine on after I got home. And yes, I got more done. But after the exams I slipped right back into the always-on mentality. And now in college, I find myself in need of a drastic change. 

Procrastination - In psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing more urgent actions with tasks less urgent, or doing something from which one derives enjoyment, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time.

(source: Wikipedia) 

I keep taking on random tasks, playing games to keep me busy (while binge watching old TV shows, to justify the wasted time as being filled better). All the while thinking about those impending tasks.

Every day I think on how I would write that essay, how I would write that report. I've got all the chapters in my head, and none of them in text. I've got outlines of keywords. Complete arguments, but I just can't get them done.

And then there's the Internet.

Hours spent reading about the world, research into the most insignificant subjects, random videos and pictures.

It's easy to say the Internet's to blame.

But really, it's ourselves we have to look at.