With all due respect to the artistic, creative blogs out there with lots of buttons, photos, YouTube videos, ads and artwork, I find that many of them take a long time to load.
It’s not just blogs, of course. Many websites include snazzy flash intros, animation and complex graphics that are also time-consuming to load–the virtual goodies are cool, but cumbersome, at times. Sometimes I lose interest and move on, but most of the time I really do want to get to the information. So I wait.
Of course, I don’t have the zippiest computer in the world, either, which could account for some of the delays.
At any rate, you may not have noticed how much time is lost simply staring at the screen, waiting. If you kept track, you might be surprised. It adds up.
So in case you’ve never thought of it, my suggestion today is to keep a book at hand–right next to your computer. I’ve seen many of your reading lists, so I know you have a lot to choose from. Pick one and stick a big bookmark in it so that you can flip it open easily.
Then, during lag time waiting for those hefty websites and blogs to load: read.
(Note: Reading isn’t the only way to make the most of your lag time, of course. No one’s stopping you from making out your shopping list, working a Sudoku or crossword, reciting a poem or Bible verse by heart, singing a little song, doing a few leg-lifts–you can engage in numerous activities to increase productivity while you wait, or pick from various mind-refreshing activities. Choose whatever you wish, but make the most of your time. As for me, it’s reading that works for me.)
**Important Update! See comments below. Several alert readers explain an efficient use of browser tabs–if you employ this excellent suggestion, however, you will lose a great excuse to read a few paragraphs while you wait.
**If you do read, nonfiction books work better than fiction, because it’s easier to read nonfiction in paragraph-bursts. I also find it’s usually easier to set aside nonfiction and return to the computer screen once all the bells and whistles have finally loaded. But the multiple-tab recommendation in the comments is a great one–in the end, whether online or in a book, it’s all about reading!
Please visit Rocks in My Dryer for more great ideas!
My previous Works-For-Me-Wednesday Ideas:
Storing Dishes: How Low Can You Go?
Let It Snow, Let Us Slow (Crockpot Steel-Cut Oatmeal)
15 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 13, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Tammy L
I remember when we were on dial-up, the only thing that worked for me (since I hate waiting, like everyone else!) was opening each thing in a new window. That way, I could read what had already loaded while the other pages were loading.
I usually had 10-15 windows open at once! There was always something to read then. 
March 13, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Jessica Snell
Cool tip!
I think the only productive thing I’ve every done with the lag time is to pick up the living room a bit. Well, that and nurse a baby.
Have you ever tried keeping more than one window or tab open at a time? That way, after one loads, you can start a second one loading while you read the first. (My husband introduced me to that trick.)
peace of Christ to you,
Jessica
March 13, 2007 at 11:56 pm
anordinarymom
I hate the lag time … that is probably why I am sitting on the couch right now watching American Idol with my husband
!
March 14, 2007 at 3:59 am
Marcia
I know exactly what you mean – and I have dial-up.
I tidy my bag, paint my finger and toenails, tidy my desk, file some papers, answer an email or two, etc.
I would get “lost” if I had to read LOL
March 14, 2007 at 7:52 am
Fiddledeedee (It Coulda' Been Worse)
We recently downgraded our internet access. Now I have more “down” time. I’m thinking of keeping my manicure supplies near my computer. Give myself a little makeover when things are slow!!!
March 14, 2007 at 9:08 am
Heather
I too just open another window as I don’t do well just waiting. lol! I do have other things to do if the internet as a whole is running slow.
March 14, 2007 at 9:32 am
annkroeker
You all are so smart! I updated my post to point them down to *your* suggestions. While they’re here, I hope they’re inspired to buff their nails, file some papers, clean out their purses, or implement your brilliant multiple-tab solution.
Clever girls. Thanks for visiting–and commenting!
March 14, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Alexandra
We’ve got the computer in a kind of “great room”, right in the middle of the action, so I’m always multi-tasking with the children, etc. during lagtime.
We’ve got dial-up as well…I don’t mind, it lets me get other things done.
March 14, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Lynn
This isn’t about the lag time, during which I get several things done, but a friend’s response to your cornbread offer–to put sugar in for southern friends. A true daughter of the South, she said she would never consider putting sugar in cornbread. Then I remembered ‘way back in college days when I was visiting in a friend’s home, and her mother apologized for serving cornbread only to her husband. She explained that it was baked the southern way, and as he was from the South, only he liked it. I insisted I loved cornbread, so she gave me a piece, and sure enough, it was sugarless…..
March 14, 2007 at 7:39 pm
J. Fergie
good tip! it’s hard to squeeze in time for reading so every little second here and there helps. happy WFMW!
March 15, 2007 at 5:27 pm
annkroeker
J. Fergie: That’s exactly what I mean!
Lynn/Mom: Well, this post isn’t about the cornbread, but I sure have dragged it into as many other posts as possible, haven’t I? I was telling someone else off-line, “I’ve got to move on to a new gag, as the cornbread and wool hats are getting a little old.” However, since you brought it up, I’ll just say that I’m surprised no southern bloggers have mentioned the sweet/not-sweet thing. So whaddaya know? Perhaps I’ve been making it more southern-style than I knew? My southern friend who likes it sweet isn’t from the deep South; she’s from the Kentucky/Tennessee South. It might be an interesting college research project for someone to track regional cornbread preferences, just to see. Because it’s that important. To someone. Somewhere. Maybe.
May 16, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Works-for-my-Friend-Wednesday « Ann Kroeker
[...] Make the Most of Internet Lag Time [...]
August 1, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Parenting Advice « Ann Kroeker
[...] Drawers-by-the-DoorMake the Most of Internet Lag TimeStoring Dishes: How Low Can You Go?Crepes? Mais, Oui! [...]
August 7, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Thick and Chewy, Fast and Easy Pizza Dough « Ann Kroeker
[...] Make the Most of Internet Lag Time [...]
September 26, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Psalter/Proverb Devotional Reading Plan « Ann Kroeker
[...] Make the Most of Internet Lag Time [...]