Let’s be honest: while using the internet should feel awesome, it doesn’t always feel that way. Despite being arguably the greatest tool ever invented, many people are finding themselves a little fatigued by the internet. Indeed, the web experience has become so stressful that as many as half of all young people would prefer to live in a world where it doesn’t exist.
But this poses a question. Is it the internet itself that’s the problem, or how we’re using it? Most reasonable people would say it’s the latter. The fact is, if you’re spending all your online time doomscrolling on social media or reading the news, then it’s inevitable that you’ll have a less-than-perfect view of the web.
Social media is the low-hanging fruit of the internet. It’s the most accessible, and let’s not forget that Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok all dedicate huge amounts of energy and resources to keep you on the platform. As such, many people find that they spend a lot longer on social media than they would like to.
The good news is that while social media takes up a lot of the time we spend online, they really only account for a tiny percentage of the possible ways to spend your time online. And those other ways can be pretty good for you, if you know where to look and what to do.
This post is designed to give you that information. Below, we’ll run through some ways to spend your time online that are actually beneficial.
Practice Yoga
The internet is generally considered to be bad for your posture (since you’ll be lying down or hunched over a computer) and can be bad for your mental health.
But there are ways to spend your time online that’ll improve both of those things. At the top of the list is practising yoga, which most think you need to do in person at a yoga studio, but can actually be done online. There are a bunch of outstanding online yoga channels that cater to the needs of all levels. The next time you’re growing tired of the internet, put down your yoga mat and spend 30 – 60 minutes engaging in an activity that can do wonders for your mental and physical well-being.
Take a Virtual Tour of a Museum
Everyone knows that visiting a museum can be good for you. The problem is that, unless you live in one of the world’s great museum cities, you probably have all that many opportunities to spend your time exploring the hallways, looking at historical artefacts, and works of art.
Or at least, you won’t have that many opportunities to do so in person. If you’re looking for an enriching way to spend your time online, then consider a virtual tour of a world-class museum. Many of the world’s cultural institutions have put their collections online, allowing you to step into a wonderful learning environment without leaving your home.
Boost Your Brainpower With Classic Games
The internet can feel like it has a negative impact on brainpower. In fact, that feeling is so widespread that there’s even a word for it: brainrot, which refers to the cloudy thinking and shortened attention span that occurs after spending time online.
But as with most negative things about the internet, brainrot generally only refers to social media, which is typically awash with low-quality, mentally numbing content.
Used correctly, the internet can actually boost your brainpower, and you can even have fun doing so. Classic games such as spider solitaire, bridge, chess, and Minesweeper can be played for free online, and all have been shown to offer cognitive skill enhancements. Solitaire, for instance, can improve memory, focus, and problem-solving, and also has the added benefit of functioning as an effective stress-buster. That’s a lot of good that can come from doing an activity which is primarily about having fun.
Start a Blog
Not happy with the quality of the content that you’re finding online? Well, rather than complaining about it, you could take matters into your own hands and offer something of value.
Starting a blog is almost comically easy. You can have one set up and running within an hour or so. Once you have it, you’ll have the perfect space to share your thoughts, feelings, expertise, or whatever you want with the world.
Plus, you never know where starting a blog might lead. While you should start just for the fun of it, you might discover that you eventually build a sizable audience, which can lead to a ton of opportunities.
Make a New Recipe
What’s better than eating a healthy, delicious meal? Instead of doomscrolling, pay a visit to one of the web’s great recipe websites, find something that interests you, and get into the kitchen.
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language can be highly satisfying and rewarding. And there can also be practical benefits — just think how much better it would be to visit South America if you could speak Spanish, for example?
In the past, people had to rely on in-person personal tutors or language learning books. Today, they can do so via the internet. There are plenty of ways to learn a language online, including booking one-to-one online lessons with native speakers, using websites like Babbel, or even just listening along to language-learning podcasts. You’ll make progress even if you’re only committing around thirty minutes a day, and you’ll find that you much prefer spending your time doing that than scrolling through Instagram.
Volunteer Online
The internet doesn’t always feel as positive as it should. But you know what they say: be the change you want to see in the world. If you’re looking to have a better relationship with the web, have free time, and want to make a difference, then consider volunteering online. You can help people learn a language, help youngsters with their academic work, befriend people who are struggling, or be the virtual eyes for people with sight problems.
Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and writer with a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. After earning her doctorate in 2001, she decided to pursue a fulfilling career in the educational sector. So far, she has made giant strides by working as an essay writer for EssayUSA, where she delivers high-quality academic papers to students who need them.
