Can too much Internet use lead to insomnia?

Are you experiencing insomnia and spend enormous amounts of time online? {raise my hand} That's me! For the rest of the week, I am going to take a break from blogging here at Back in Skinny Jeans and Noshtopia because I want to see how much blogging and my Internet usage is contributing to this wicked case of insomnia that I have been experiencing the last 2 weeks. I am curious for two reasons.

First, I have never in my entire life had any problems with sleep even during some of  the most stressful and anxious times of my life when I would have been more prone to insomnia. I am wondering if almost 3 years of intense internet use is now catching up to me. Second, one of the major causes of insomnia is over stimulation from things like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and exercise too close to bed. I have been wondering if the Internet could be consider a stimulus too. Makes sense.

This is how much a Pro Blogger can spend online
I am a pro level blogger who spends on average 8-12 hours online 5-6 days a week which is far more than most people. Here's what I typically do in a week:

• Write on average 5-6 blog posts @200-500 words/post a day 5 days/week. My week starts Sunday (so I can have Monday morning posts) and runs through Thursday. Weekends is Fri and Sat.
• Visit other blogs and comment. You have to constantly hit the Internet pavement so to speak in order to build traffic, develop relationships, and get link love.
• I read all my RSS feeds which I have about 100 active ones.
• I am researching for stories.
• I am doing market research for my business.
• I test or play with on average 1-3 new web apps or features a week to see what new things I can use for my blogs and my future blog network plus to retain more experience as a social media expert.
  
• I am social schmoozing on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and ocassionaly on Gather, Team Sugar, Wellesphere, Digg, and Flickr.
• I do all the graphic design on the blogs and the posts, including photo retouching on all the photos I take which is a growing number on Noshtopia.
• I do video and podcasts although I have laid low on that lately because editing is time consuming.
• I answer and send emails. I do my best to answer all the emails I get from readers. Sometimes I cannot because the number is growing faster than I can manage by myself. So, if I haven't answered you, please take no offense. I actually do appreciate follow ups, so don't be shy.
• Offline, I have been working on a couple books, and a product line as well as chipping away on the business plan for Thriving Media my internet business.

Whew! Over the years, I have also gotten better at organizing and managing my time. As you can see, I spend an enormous amount of time spent in front of a computer screen, and now that I look at the list in print, that is a great deal of stimulation. I also realize that I do need help because that is a load of work for one person. Writing 5-6 posts per day 5-days a week can be very stressful, and anxiety causing because if you want bigger traffic numbers you have to keep posting.

... I work hard to make my blogs uplifting places because I want people to leave feeling good, hopeful, or thought provoked in a meaningful way ...

Anxiety from Internet recognition affecting my sleep
Along with blogging, there is dealing with the haters, bashers, and spammers in comments which can take emotional toll and create anxiety which contributes to insomnia. Blogging has helped me grow a thicker skin, but still I'm human and honestly it does hurt when people leave hateful or vicious attacks. As my blogs get more popular, and I personally get more exposure, that also means way more exposure to personal attacks online and honestly, I don't know if I'm ready for that, can handle that, or want it. There is no class on how to handle Internet fame (good or bad). If there is, please let me know and I'll sign up.

I am particular about the blogs and sites I visit on a regular basis because I learned that if I am not careful, I start to get irritable, angry, and depressed if I spend too much time on blogs that are filled with negativity, anger, and antagonism. This has affected my sleep in the past. I purposely avoid the local and world news because most of it is really the selling of negative emotion. This is one reason I love RSS, so I can avoid much of the negativity in the news. But there are times, I will get sucked into some meme somewhere and before I know it I'm lost and 2 hours have gone by.

I spend my time on blogs that make me feel uplifted, good, and hopeful. I work hard to make Back in Skinny Jeans and Noshtopia uplifting places because I want people to leave feeling good, hopeful, or thought provoked in a meaningful way. I pay high attention to quality and nutrition (soul wise). If people are going to take time out of their busy day to visit my blogs, I want them to get good quality stuff. On average, readers spend 1 minute and 20 seconds on my blogs which is a high stickiness number.

Doing mini Internet Detoxes
On the weekends, I make it a point to take at least one full day away from the computer. I literally shut my laptop down and don't open it for 24-48 hours. I do this to help detox my brain, and it does help me refresh. But now with this insomnia, something new, I am wondering if my body is telling me that it cannot take this level of internet usage any more or perhaps I just need a really good long break.

So, I am going to experiment. Today and Thu, I am going to spend only 4 hours online total per day, and on Friday and Saturday, I am not going to go near the internet at all. I'm going for complete shut down. Because the Internet moves so fast, and pro level blogging can get intense, at times it feels like I'm on a treadmill set at one speed and I can't get off. I know this is not healthy.

Insomnia is a cumulation of a multitude of factors
I realize that this insomnia is not just one thing. I've already been addressing physical issues, and bed time routine schedules.I do know that anxiety has been a driving factor. I've been experiencing anxiety from a couple of things including money. Money anxiety is a big issue for many people. Honestly, I did the "Don't Give Up" theme for Monday's inspiring signs more for me because a part of me is that close to giving up on pro blogging as a living. My parents are lovingly helping me out of which I am eternally grateful.

This insomnia is a multitude of things, but I am doing this experiment because I am really curious just how much the internet usage and blogging is affecting me. We'll see. There will be a posting on Thu and Fri but just simple fun stuff that took cut & paste effort.

Have a great weekend everyone, and I'll be back on Monday with an update on what happened during my rest ;-)

PS. How your work life has affected your weight is still coming. I just had to delay it a bit because of this insomnia issue. Perils when you are a one-woman show. I appreciate everyone's patience!