Ask HN - How do you avoid distrations? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN - How do you avoid distrations?

2 pointsfactorialboy7 comments

The distractions:

* Unimportant emails

* Facebook

* Twitter

* Analytics (I check them every few hours, do I need to? Probably not)

* YouTube

* Reddit

* HackerNews

How do you discipline yourself?

View on HN

I use my phone as my "communication bucket". I'm only signed into FB, Twitter, personal email, and HN on my phone. When I get a spare moment, I check my phone. I naturally prioritize text messages first, then email, phone calls, twitter, HN, FB, etc. The key here is to be busy enough that you don't have time to check your phone.

Youtube and other online video doesn't distract me. I usually play one in the background when doing other things. I don't even like when news articles or blog posts are video-only. shrug

At work, my inbox is combo to-do list and "eventually get-around-to list". Each project gets its own inbox. I judiciously use rules to route mail to the correct inbox, and routine noise is automatically marked as read. At work, FB, Twitter, HN, texts, etc are still phone-only. (ok, I'm actually on HN at work, but that's due to under-employment :D )

Use these sites only in incognito mode, making yourself login to them every time you want to use. It might just work on subconscious level. Remember to close the window every single time.

Sometimes, I'll log out so the next time I go visit the site, I have the buffer period of login time where I can change my mind before being subject to the content that makes it so attractive.

Well the fact that we're here on HN indicates we may not be the best to dispense advice!

That being said I use a Chrome plugin http://www.stayfocusd.com/ and during my working hours I limit the amount of time I can spend on certain sites. It's actually pretty helpful without making me feel that I'm cut off from my favorite sites - I usually almost never have my time limit expire. It really makes you aware of how much time you're spending on non-productive sites, though.

I'm a big fan of the Chrome addon called Concentrate - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/idfmgklhndkcggamad... . It allows you to create a blacklist of websites and then it doesn't allow you to navigate to them for a set time period. Of course, you could always switch browsers, but if you're resorting to things like that, I can't help you.

My only real method is to turn off my modem, which has problems in itself, but is actually pretty effective most of the time. But now that I just bought the Humble Bundle, even that may not work :D

By making a conscious commitment and developing the willpower and discipline, and sticking to it.

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