Where Does the Time Go?
By jsitko
@jsitko (1169)
United States
December 29, 2008 11:29am CST
Have you ever noticed that the time spent in front of your computer is totally different than the time away from the computer? It seems that an hour on the computer is way shorter than an hour off of it. I just looked at the time and I can not believe that I have been on my PC for 4 1/2 hours already today. It seems like my husband just left for work and I got on here to catch up on a few things. It is lunch time now and I have not done anything around the house.
The other day, I told my husband that I was only going to be about 1/2 hour more on the computer and then I would be ready to leave. He got busy with something in the garage and then he came back in and asked if I was ready yet. I looked at the time on my PC and noticed that it had been 1 1/2 hours since I told him only 1/2 hour more.
I felt bad but he did not mind as he got busy as well.
Does this ever happen to you? Do you get caught up on things while on the computer and the time just goes so fast with out even noticing?
5 people like this
24 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
29 Dec 08
Absolutely! Just like you say, an hour on the computer seems to fly past and an hour ironing just drags.
How ever many times I look at the clock and promise myself I will just have five more minutes and an hour later I'm still typing away!
I guess it all has something to do with the fact that time goes quicker when you're enjoying ourself 
@andrewdude (197)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
yea i know right? whenever i play my laptop it always seem that the time flys by so fast no matter what your doing, gaming, homework, job stuff, you know, just anything you do on the computer the time will fly
@leeapollo (611)
• China
30 Dec 08
lol.
how time fly!
if you do something you interested, the time past faster than you thought.
if you do something boring or uninterested, the time is unbearable.
I found when I search online or play games ,or watch movies online, I find the time past so quickly.
happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
30 Dec 08
time as no barren when you are busy but time is everthing when you have to be some where and be on time.when you on the computer time have a way of getting away from you.when you check the time it just gone.you ask where did the time go you are not really focus on time when you on the computer unless you have something else to do. so i don,t get on when i have something to do.i wait until iam free to be free.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Annjilena, Thank you for your response. Even when I check the time on my computer it still goes by fast. I will look at it and say to myself, 1/2 hour more. That 1/2 hour more turns into an hour really fast. You are right. The best thing to do is stay away for the computer until all other things in life are done. Happy New Year.
@suruchi86 (1873)
• India
3 Jan 09
Same thing is is being experienced by me also. I think it is due to the involvement and concentration we put on computer work which is liked by us very much. This involvement disconnects us from rest of the world and time flies unnoticed.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I know what you mean. I have spent days at a time on the computer, especially now that I've found mylot. To tell the truth I have had to really discipline myself because once I start I don't seem to know how to start. I began to notice that I was getting on the computer as soon as I got up in the morning and then the whole day would just pass me by. I've had to make myself not even check the weather online on certain mornings so I could get where I knew I needed to be.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Savak03, It sounds like you and I are in the same boat. It could be called an addiction to the computer. Some days I just don't get anything done except making money on the internet. Some days I just say to myself, when I get this finished I will get off the PC or just 30 more minutes... It is a good thing but not so good to let other things in life slide. Have a Happy New Year and thanks for your response.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Msivey, Thanks for your response. I do get pretty focused on what I am doing online. I only truly focus on the time when I have to be else where or if my husband will be home soon and I need to work on getting dinner ready. It is just so much fun posting and surfing. Hope you have a Happy New Year.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
Yes, entire mornings have flown by while I was doing things on the computer - just little tasks, mind you - a bit of reading or some editing or some posting. I try to make myself stay off the computer some days just so that I get other things done.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Cutepenquin, It is easy to blow a half a day away being on the computer. Those little tasks always manage to build up to either bigger tasks or more tasks. There are some days I do not even walk near my computer so I will not get the urge to hop on just for a brief moment. I do not think I ever had a brief moment on my computer but I have had many intentions on those moments being brief. Thank You for your response and Have a Happy New Year.
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
30 Dec 08
That happens to me all of the time - I get so caught up in the computer that I don't realize how much I spent.
@janjee (160)
• Philippines
30 Dec 08
This is actually a common effect when you are having fun with something, such as myLotting :D
Time seems to be going faster because you are busy and you enjoy it. While, it seems to be going slower when you are idle, bored, and waiting for someone.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Janjee, You are so right. I hate waiting for someone, the minutes just creep by and you think you have been waiting an hour and in reality it has only been 10 minutes. Today most of my time is here at myLot. It is a fun place to go. Thank You for responding and have a great New Year.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
30 Dec 08
I can not spend much time on computer. I think spending an hour or two is maximum for me on the desktop. It is really good that you can spend so much time at a strech on the computer. It tires my eyes and even my back starts paining a lot. So I keep short durations on computer.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hey Dropofrain, I usually only spend 3-4 hours a day on the computer, but I have been out of work on short term disability and find myself sitting here trying to make the extra money and having fun at the same time. I do have to get up and walk around every so often and that is when I get things done in the house. The days just seem to go fast. Thank you for your response and have a Happy New Year.
@arvindjee (65)
• India
30 Dec 08
My most of the time in front of computer is fly by checking the mail and surfing here and there. Earlier my some time also goes in checking the scrape in Orkut but since 2 week i am not been able to checking my Orkut, because of New Proxy in my office.
@coolingstar9 (79)
• Singapore
30 Dec 08
Yes, I have the same experience. When I am free, I spend more hours on Internet. I can see the time is running very fast. I believe because we are too focus on that, it seems that the time is so limited.
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi coolingstar, If the internet is unlimited, then the time should be too. It is always a different experience every day, and a lot of fun. There are those days when I need to keep a close eye on the time so I won't be late, but when I have a free day, I am here all day. Have a Happy New Year and Thanks for your response.
@Zanetti (71)
• China
30 Dec 08
I think so.But you're not serious.
If someone like playing games on computer to kill time answer this question,he would smiled suffering.I have ever played WOW so crazy that I didn't sleep last 24 hours.Time was running when the Bosses were killed by our 40 peoples team.And now I don't play any game on computer,and I never stay a long time on the computer except it's necessary.Enjoy time,enjoy everyday.
@mylifeissocool (29)
• China
30 Dec 08
I feel the same way about it, time spent before the screen is much shorter than tme spent anywhere elses for me, i guess it's bcz screen time is really fun, and i enjoyed it very well, sure, without interrupt my work.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
29 Dec 08
i agree with you completely... time flies so fast when i am on the computer... i can sit in front of the computer for hours without i realise it... but when i am working, time seems to go so slow... so yes, i do agree with you on this matter... what i do to prevent myself from sitting in front of the computer for too long is i do other stuffs first and sure that i finish them before i go to the computer... take care and have a nice day...
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi Lingli, That is what I did today, I just got finished with my house cleaning and grocery shopping. Now I am relaxing here and having fun. I will only be able to be on here a few hours today and that is fine. I do not have too much to do today on the computer. Thanks for your response and have a Happy New Year.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
yes of course I do some work on the computer too including selling on ebay and mylot plus emails and source for my side jobs
I used to listen to songs on youtube too, and many times I forgot I was cooking until it was half burnt or forgot to switch the laundry to the dryer LOL
@PlantBuddy (183)
• Canada
29 Dec 08
Right on jsitko. Time flies when you're having fun. But, maybe you feel that time is escaping from you and you are not being as productive as you wish. I often feel like that, Where did the time go and what do I have to show for it? It all depends on whether you are "killing time" with nothing special to do and nobody is waiting for you to finish. Then you don't mind so much seeing how much time you have spent on the computer. Lately, I've been timing myself while on the computer and allow myself usually an hour and then going on to another activity. Then I feel more in control of my day. Would this work for you?
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Hi PlantBuddy, It does go by so fast and I did not get too much accomplished yesterday. Today I was smarter and completed my chores before I got on the computer. I also keep myself a little more focused on those days when I have other things that need to get done. I will need to get off the computer in a few hours, so I am timing myself today. Thank You for your response and have a great New Year.
@internalsoul (159)
• India
30 Dec 08
Thats a great thing which is unnoticed by everyone.when sitting in front of computer time flies..but when not and sitting idle...time seems to run slowly..
