Addicted to Squidoo

Squidoo addiction can be a more serious problem than some people realize. That's how it gets out of hand. But if you are aware of the problem and take action early (ideally, when you first see signs of Squidoo addiction) you can have some hope of getting the situation under control or at least learning to cope with it.

Here are a few points of advice to those with symptoms of Squidoo addiction:

Make sure you have a water boiler nearby.

Some people get so addicted to Squidoo that they find themselves depriving themselves of coffee because they can't tear themselves away from the computer to go boil water. I recommend you get an electric water boiler and keep it near your desk (but not right next to you computer, where you risk spills) so that you can make coffee without stepping away from your desk.

Hire someone to bring you food.

"What?" You might say, "I don't have a maid!" Well, this could be true. Not all of us have room service opportunities available. But you might have other options available. If there are children nearby, for example, you will probably find that many children are willing to run off and bring you food or coffee in exchange for a few coins. In fact, for a dollar, you might be able to convince a child to make eggs for you.

Malnourishment is one of the possible side-effects of Squidoo-addiction. What happens is that people get so glued to the screen and so involved in their lenses, that they can forget to eat. In extreme cases, this can lead to starvation or even death. So it's important to plan ahead and take preventative measures which can help avoid this tradgedy. An enterprising 10-year-old may be just the solution you need.

Move your work space to a location near a bathroom.

Many people with Squidoo addiction have reported trouble getting themselves away from their computers when they need to go to the bathroom. There have been reports of some near mishaps.

One solution to this is to move your desk or work space to a location which is closer to the bathroom so that you can easily access it on short notice (in case you wind up with the need for that last-minute rush).

Another option is to have a bathroom installed closer to where your office or computer is. In some cases, there is no realistic way to set up your desk near the bathroom. But there might be a space nearby where you could have a bathroom installed for ready access. Checkout your local building codes and see what possibilities exist. It might seem like a hassle, but it's much better than risking the embarrassment of a potential addiction-related accident.

Try to get outside.

You might find it difficult to get yourself away from your computer to go outside and get some air. But human beings need to get outside sometimes to feel some air and sun.

There are a few possible remedies for this. One idea is to find an outdoor area where you can sit with a laptop and work on your Squidoo lens. You will need to have a wireless Internet modem, or to work in an area with WiFi.

Another possibility is to incorporate an outdoor activity into your Squidoo operations. For example, if you are a Squidoo adict, you have probably had ambitions to become a Giant Squid (if you aren't one already). Well, have you considered making outdoor activities be the subjects of your Squidoo lenses? How about taking photographs for your lenses? Or doing a lens about horse racing, or mountain climbing? In this way you can get outdoors, and maybe even get some exercise, while you are still "working on your lenses."

I hope these ideas are helpful to you. I will update this lens with future tips, and I welcome any ideas I might get from other Squidoo addicts who may have dealt with this issue themselves.