You know you're addicted to the internet when...

A recent survey by the Stanford University School of Medicine shows that 1 in 8 American adults obsessively check emails and surf the internet . It says that basically, they're addicted. Are you that 1 in 8? Or is it somebody in your office or family? (If you have a big family there's probably several afflicted members!)

You know you're addicted to the internet when:

• You zone out while surfing the net or mindlessly browse through pages and don't even remember what you've just read.
• You easily get sidetracked at work with emails instead of doing work.
• You worry what you might be missing when you're not online.
• You have family or friends who are upset by the amount of time you spend online.

Strategies for coping with internet addiction or internet addiction symptoms:

• Turn off email alerts so you aren't distracted while working.
• Schedule specific times during the day to check your email, and stick to only those times.
• Set up regular face-to-face times with people that get you away from the computer (i.e. meet a friend for lunch instead of emailing him/her back and forth all day).