4 ms·

This is interesting. I reached similar conclusions several years ago and: -turned data off on my phone. The control provided by pull is so much more than push.

by namank 14y ago

This is interesting. I reached similar conclusions several years ago and: -turned data off on my phone. The control provided by pull is so much more than push. (email/twitter/facebook) -email client is not running 24/7 anymore. Same philosophy as above. -started hacking on extended projects - spend sometime every weekend over 5 months on one more challenging project. -stopped posting every link I found interesting on FB/Twitter. -decreased the amount of time spent on things I knew that I knew. -started spending more time in solitude. (resisting the impulse to pull out the phone while waiting at the doctor's office) -actually read books. Before this, I couldn't even remember the last time I had read a book back to back; magazines don't count. Not only does the concentration help but I found the idle state of mind keeps me much more relaxed and it encourages new ideas to pop into my head. (Idle CPU being spent on the subconscious? I don't know but it works.) The overall affect on my life is freaking amazing. If there was ever a book called, "creativity by design", this would definitely be in there.

wizzard 14y ago
I just started taking similar steps a couple of weeks ago as well. - LeechBlock for Firefox, RescueTime as well. - Cleared out my browser bookmarks and history of distracting sites so they don't pop up as suggestions all the time. - Turned off email notifications on my phone and my work machine. It's amazing how easily one little "ding" noise could break my focus. - During the workday I only allow myself to read industry-related articles and blog posts, so I'm not so entertained that I lose track of time. If I still don't feel like I'm getting enough done, then I am considering going back to a dumbphone, making use of timers, and other more drastic measures. So far I'm doing much better though.
brc 14y ago
Similar to me. In fact my hn activity is sporadic because I occasionally entirely block the site at the host file level. I've now got myself a little app that blocks a blacklist site for a specified amount of time. I set this for 2-3 hour blocks, turn off email and get on with things. It's a bit crummy but it works OK. I've never had push notifications on my phone. I use RescueTime but I find it a bit after-the-event. As in, it tells me how bad I was in the prior week. Ultimately, though, it takes self discipline, the same as any other worthwhile task like eating well, getting fit, or maintaining relationships and friendships. If you find yourself mindlessly looking for distraction, I find it helps to stop and question yourself on what task it is you're trying to avoid, and then just get on and do that task.

by namank 14y ago

wizzard 14y ago

I just started taking similar steps a couple of weeks ago as well. - LeechBlock for Firefox, RescueTime as well. - Cleared out my browser bookmarks and history of distracting sites so they don't pop up as suggestions all the time. - Turned off email notifications on my phone and my work machine. It's amazing how easily one little "ding" noise could break my focus. - During the workday I only allow myself to read industry-related articles and blog posts, so I'm not so entertained that I lose track of time. If I still don't feel like I'm getting enough done, then I am considering going back to a dumbphone, making use of timers, and other more drastic measures. So far I'm doing much better though.

brc 14y ago

Similar to me. In fact my hn activity is sporadic because I occasionally entirely block the site at the host file level. I've now got myself a little app that blocks a blacklist site for a specified amount of time. I set this for 2-3 hour blocks, turn off email and get on with things. It's a bit crummy but it works OK. I've never had push notifications on my phone. I use RescueTime but I find it a bit after-the-event. As in, it tells me how bad I was in the prior week. Ultimately, though, it takes self discipline, the same as any other worthwhile task like eating well, getting fit, or maintaining relationships and friendships. If you find yourself mindlessly looking for distraction, I find it helps to stop and question yourself on what task it is you're trying to avoid, and then just get on and do that task.