As someone who makes a living from helping companies that do business on the Web, one of the necessary evils is spending a lot of time online. As much as I enjoy my work and find the Web to be an endless treasure trove of new things to discover and learn, I have a love-hate relationship with it.

On one hand, the Web is enthralling, exciting and enchanting to the point where hours can easily pass. With the exception of watching live sports, the Web has replaced pretty much my television consumption. The Web is the place where I work, play, watch, listen and get entertainment. I happily spend hours in my inbox and on social media services such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

On the other hand, the Web is a time-suck. It chews up hours of time that could be spent doing other things – be it spending time with friends and family, or enjoying activities or hobbies. Even when I recognize that the Web has me by the throat, it can be difficult to escape its clutches.

If recognizing you have a problem is half the battle, then I guess the realization of my conflicted relationship with the Web is a positive sign. The question is what to do about it in ways that provide more balance and healthier lifestyle while still providing the “screen time” needed to do your job and pursue personal interests.

Here’s a few small steps that I’ve been taking:

1. Resisting the urge to get an iPad. I accept the fact it’s an amazing device but the fear is it becomes a constant companion to consume online content given it can pretty much do anything – read books, listen to music, watch movies and television, read e-mail, access social media services, etc. Peter Bregman’s post on “Why I Returned My iPad” is a must-read for anyone not sure whether they really want or need one.

2. Leaving my iPhone at home. I, um discovered this technique by accident when I forgot to take my iPhone on a bicycle trip. It’s liberating to not have it, although it was initially strange not to be able to take photos, read e-mail or surf the Web.

3. Reading more books (paper ones, not electronic). When you spend too much time online consuming content, it doesn’t leave a lot of time to read off-line. The downside is you’re missing out on a medium that lets you learn and, as important, digest information in a way that doesn’t encourage multi-tasking.

4. When online, I’m trying to stay focused on the task at hand. I’m a multi-tasker; a bad one who flips from application to application, Web site to Web site, and social media service to social media service. The work gets done but the process seems scattered and not as productive as it can be. Focusing on one task at a time takes discipline but, at the end of the day (or hour) it is a better and more efficient way to work.

5. Enjoying other activities such as spending time with friends and family, doing sports (my passion is hockey) and doing new things (It’s amazing the things you can make with pears!)

6. Trying not to send work e-mail at night or weekends unless necessary. It’s one thing if I have to work at night or on the weekend, it’s another thing to digitally interrupt other people during “non-work” hours.

Let’s be clear, I’m work in progress. It is impossible to go from 60 to zero overnight but every small step is a move in the right direction.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out this NRP podcast featuring New York Times technology journalist Matt Richtel, who written a series – “Your Brain On Computers”- that looks at how multitasking on computers and digital gadgets affects the way people process information.