I do this as well. I still check news, but the affirmative effort required limits consumption. It's not as advanced as some solutions but it's enough to keep me

I do this as well. I still check news, but the affirmative effort required limits consumption. It's not as advanced as some solutions but it's enough to keep me from getting distracted most of the time. I wish I could easily block my personal email without blocking my work email, though (I use Gmail for both). Also, using Pocket has been good for me. If I see something interesting on HN during work hours, I'll add it to Pocket and read it later.