Comment by cygwin98 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by cygwin98 | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how Jacques avoids the Internet distractions in his new setup as he still has a network connection.

I am also the kind of person who gets distracted rather easily as I have a really broad spectrum of hobbies/interests. I've tried some similar approaches without much success.

Back in old days when I was still a graduate student, I had a paper deadline due in a few days, but I was addictive in Slashdot discussion then. I experimented fully command line work environment: no browsers, no X-windows, only a few linux consoles you can switch among by pressing Alt-Fx. The transition was painful, as I had to look for command line equivalent to view pdf/ps/eps files, gdb is not as convenient as ddd, etc. However, my productivity gain was enormous, at least for the first a few days. The curve quickly flattened and began to fall, as I started to use command line browsers such as lynx/links and I discovered a few legacy games.

Another time I went even further: screw the Internet! I installed Slackware onto an old dell notebook and uninstalled all fun games and apps, unplug the wireless card and went to the public library nearby for a day. Almost the same result, I had done lots of task at an amazing speed initially. Then, I got bored, and wrote a frame-buffer based Galaga-like shooting game and played/improved it for the rest of the day.

Your post highlights the core of the problem. Ultimately, productivity solutions have to include a recognition that technology can only enhance your self-control; it can't replace it. I, like you, have spent days trying to optimize my work space and computer for productivity. It was a waste of time.

The best way to get work done is to get somewhere where you can focus. This includes not just location, but also mindset. If I really want to focus, I have to train myself to avoid thoughts like, "it would be nice if those exceptions that I just added to my hosts file would update themselves based on my browsing habits..."

I go somewhere alone, pop in ear buds playing some type of non-distracting noise, shutdown my email client, turn off my phone, and go to work.

I am one who can also get easily distracted by going to other sites. Usually an article like the one posted here would take me about 25 minutes to read because I'd switch tabs after about the first two paragraphs. The only thing that has helped me is if I can catch myself switching tabs. I think it's kind of "retraining your brain."

There are other techniques that you can try, such as having three computers in separate rooms. One is for your work, another is for play (slashdot, TechCrunch, etc) and the last one is for communication (email, Facebook, twitter, etc) although those could fit under play as well.

ADHD drugs work great (specifically Concerta) but the side effects can be quite bothersome.

The problem with disconnecting is that so many programming problems are best solved by a liberal application of Google. Similarly, I've never found man pages to be as efficient or helpful as a well-constructed Google query. I suppose one solution would be to install OpenWRT on your router and keep a whitelist of sites (or a blacklist if you can easily classify 95% of your time-wasters) for your work computer and allow free reign to your home computer.

https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done

Is such a blacklist. Just helped me finishing my thesis.

The problem I think I'd encounter with a blacklist is that skirting it suddenly becomes an interesting challenge. Proxies and VPNs can get me where I want to go, and the idea that I'm not supposed to makes it more tempting. If I implement a whitelist and block my work comp's MAC address from accessing the admin panel on my router, then I'd have to physically get off my ass in order to circumvent it, in which case It'd be easier to just do the damned work.

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