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danielcroft
7,438 PointsIs it just me? (distractions)
Is it just me or when your interest is web design/development or any other technology that once you are at a computer all you end up doing is reading article after article clicking related link after related link. I have around 30 tabs open of thinks i say to my self "that looks interesting ill read that later" then never get round to reading. But also productivity seems to fall off a cliff as you are constantly distracted.
This might just be me, does it happen to you?
8 Answers
Kevin Korte
28,148 PointsHappens to me all the time. One thing that has helped me curve this besides setting aside certain time to just read and learn, and other time strictly to stay focused on the project is to use different web browser. (Chrome and Firefox). If I'm focused on developing, and find an article I want to read while I'm looking for a solution to a problem I have, I copy the URL to the article and put it in the web browser I'm not using for dev. I then minimize that web browser and keep on working. That way I do not wind up with 30 open tabs and see all the distractions right there while I'm trying to work.
It only helps a little.
Paul Rohrer
5,238 PointsYep, I know exactly how that goes - I've managed to get addicted to tons of blogs on web and graphic design, and even find tons of applications and code bits with the intention to use them, but just end up hoarding them. (Github is a dangerous rabbit hole, when you have that habit). That, and just collecting bookmarks of pages that you just "know' will make you a better designer, only to forget all about them.
The internet in general seems to be designed for distraction... YouTube, Reddit, Facebook... you could spend a dangerous amount of your day just clicking through random pages.
I'm also a little bit at a loss, because I studied front end design in college, and maintained a reasonably high GPA in all my web classes - but it's a big wake-up call to realize that being "aware" of something and being able to execute it well in a professional are very different things. I've improved my skills a lot since graduation, but am still a long way from where I would like to be.
I think that's why places like this have great potential. Having a firm direction to steer into with clear and attainable goals feels like a great way to break down the vast amount of information that is out there.
danielcroft
7,438 PointsYes that's another thing i have a lot of in my tabs jquery scripts and plugins that i intend to use on my sites but im not quite ready to add it in yet so i tab the page. I quite easily lose an hour do 20mins work then lose another hour which is making me very inefficient.
Paul Rohrer
5,238 PointsHave you ever tried using something like the Pomodoro Technique, Daniel? http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/ It helps keep you accountable for your time while still giving you breathing room to take a mental and physical break from working. There are even free apps, like Focus Booster, that are designed as pomodoro timers to help you to segment your work from your breaks. It doesn't help much as far as articles and such go, unless you hold yourself accountable to study specific articles in correlation to the technique... It does help a lot, both with getting work done and helping to prevent it from feeling overwhelming.
danielcroft
7,438 PointsI don't know if my will power it strong enough to stick to that but might be worth a try to see if it does work for me and yeah there are apps with timers on like that. Do you use the Pomodoro Technique if so how does it work out for you?
Paul Rohrer
5,238 PointsI use it from time to time, and usually have good results. I use Focus Booster when I do use it, because the color-coding on the countdown timer helps me keep myself accountable. You can tell by the color and width of the timer on your bottom screen how long until your break is, so for me, it helps me resist the temptation to switch to something else.
That, and having the opportunity to "break" and knowing that opportunities to wander are up ahead makes me more willing to up the intensity when I'm meant to be on task. I'm not sure if it's something that will work for everybody, but I've had good results with it. As a chronic procrastinator, it's been a godsend.
It may not work on everything, such as how you mentioned not wanting to disturb the flow when you get into a groove. But for specific activities where you may need a little extra motivation, it may help give you a way to focus... or at least a starting point =)
danielcroft
7,438 PointsWhere can i get Focus Booster? also how long you set your working periods and break lengths that work for you? just to give me some sort of idea.
Paul Rohrer
5,238 PointsYou can get it at http://www.focusboosterapp.com/ - and the work/break lengths are automatically done for you. Essentially, it's 25 minutes of work, then a 5 minute break, followed by another 25 minute work period, and so on. Every four rounds you get a longer break, which is automatically accounted for in the software.
If you are more comfortable with longer session lengths, you can adjust it on their options menu(the italicized 'i' on the right side), but those are the default times that are set when it is initially downloaded. It doesn't hurt to try - the software is free, and pretty lightweight, so it's worth taking a shot at it.
danielcroft
7,438 PointsSounds perfect so i could do first break make tea second break go pee and repeat untill i have no tea bags left :D ^^
Charly Epic
3,564 PointsI'm saving bookmarks and keep in mind what I saw to come back to it again, later on. And usually I will do, because I really like to try out new things.
Chad Shores
Courses Plus Student 8,868 PointsYour website is dope. Nice work.
Charly Epic
3,564 PointsThanks a lot dude :) I'm still working on it.
Matt Campbell
9,767 PointsYup.
I have 3 browser windows open, all stacked with tabs. I have dozens of bookmarks, half of which I don't even remember what they are and my poor iPad has about 30 open tabs in the browser from things I've found.
It's a nightmare. Best thing to do is to just not look for stuff and keep working. I planned on going to be over an hour ago and I'm still bashing about on the internet....I see how this could be misinterpreted but I'm going leave it. ;P
Sharon Walls
9,234 PointsI have this problem as well, both being distracted by reading articles and bookmarking things to use "later"... and later never comes.
I've tried the Pomodoro technique. It works great for some people but I didn't like it. My problem wasn't staying productive; I couldn't taking the prescribed breaks. Once I do start to work I prefer to keep going. When I had to stop it messed up my flow. It would take me about 5-10 minutes to get back into things properly, so it wasted time.
One thing I've discovered is Pocket (formerly Read It Later). I try to add articles to my Pocket instead of reading them right away. Then, when I just feel like reading instead of working or studying, I open up Pocket. The funny thing it is has become like my bookmarks -- Lots of links I'll never read -- but that's okay. At least I'm not reading on work time.
danielcroft
7,438 PointsThats the potential issue i see with the Pomodoro technique, if you got a good flow on and you're focused with no distractions the last thing you want to do is distract your self with a break.
Ernest Grzybowski
Treehouse Project ReviewerAt any given time, I usually have about 3 windows and over 100 tabs in total. I don't think it makes too much sense, but I don't like to book mark things that I want to read. I will usually sit down and instead of watching a tv show or a sporting event or even playing a video game, I will sit there and go through my tabs. It's a never ending cycle, but you can never stop learning. I guess everyone has their own system though.
Chad Shores
Courses Plus Student 8,868 PointsYou guys have way too many tabs open. When you get past 7 shut them down. The human mind has trouble remembering items over 7-9 so if you are trying to work at the same time as having 3 browsers and 40 tabs open, you're not going to get much done.
There are programs that can limit what websites you go to. Set it to only allow google webfonts, adobe kuler, and subtle patterns. The only choice left is to work.
Never had 3 browser windows open. Browserstack handles all that.
My weakness is HN
Sasha Rudie
1,960 PointsWhile I'm a tabaholic, when it's time to get serious, I pare down by saving interesting articles and webpages in Evernote. I swear by Evernote and use it for everything, including taking notes based on the video transcripts in Treehouse learning modules.
danielcroft
7,438 Pointsdanielcroft
7,438 PointsI did experiment with Chrome and Firefox browsers using them in that way a month or so ago i never stuck to it i honestly i don't even read half the stuff i tab. Sometimes i just glance at twitter and i follow a few Envarto sites so straight away that's like 5 pages ive just tabbed.
Jose Guerra
Courses Plus Student 9,338 PointsJose Guerra
Courses Plus Student 9,338 PointsI use this method all the time. Firefox is my read it later browser and Chrome is what I develop in. I.E is for everything else ...