from AskMyDaddy

Kick the LinkedIn Addiction

You asked

Has anyone found themselves addicted to online networking like LinkedIn and Facebook?

Seems like I'm always checking my e-mail, seeing who's looked at my profile, checking on who's added a new contact, answering questions, posting questions, etc.

Need a break but I'm afraid my inbox will go on overload if I'm not there to maintain it. Can imagine what some of the power networkers do to strike a balance.

Anyone else in the same boat? Is there prescription?

MyLinkDaddy writes

Do you find yourself regularly checking your email or the LinkedIn web site for messages? Do you feel that the next message may be the one for your big career jump or company sale? Is your eyesight getting worse? Are you growing hair on your palms? Do you have an itching or burning sensation that won't go away? Then you may have LAST, or LinkedIn Addiction Syndrome Turmoil. It affects one of out twenty LinkedIn users. And DallasBlue's famous LinkedIn Un-Addiction Syndrome Turmoil elixir or LUST may just be the answer.

Actually, LinkedIn CAN be and IS addicting. So you're not alone. Why else do people (me included) race to the top to hoard connections or answer hundreds of LinkedIn Answers a week? It can happen in any activity that is social (making new contacts and friends), intellectual (and there is a LOT in LinkedIn to master!), and competitive (which is why LI no longer counts connections).

It's a delicate balance. Many LinkedIn members don’t spend enough time getting to know LinkedIn and so leave too early. And some activity is necessary like forwarding requests. Indeed one could argue that spending a lot of time at LinkedIn.com is no worse than watching TV, playing a videogame, or living on Second Life. Especially when it's a business environment where you may actually be helping your career or company.

It's not a problem unless you can't function, fulfill your other obligations, your girlfriend has left you, or your daughter doesn't know your name. Of course the answer is the same for any compulsion.

A few suggestions:

• Focus first on what is necessary, not optional, when you're on LinkedIn.
• Engage only in LinkedIn activities that are planned and fulfill business objectives.
• Set a time limit on other non-essential usage.
• Turn email notification off and only visit site once a day or less frequently.
• DallasBlue LUST, available at fine drugstores everywhere (not sold by, affiliated with, or using the LinkedIn logo)
• Quit cold turkey (ouch!)

Supernetworkers actually have it EASIER. We don't have a choice. We must commit time to maintain our network, not to “fool around.” As a result we are forced to focus on required activity and as a byproduct innovate and develop processes and tools that reduce our time. So you might want to join the connections sluts.

If all that fails, be like your LinkDaddy. Turn your addition to LinkedIn into a business or join one of our enterprises!