Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#31

Post by makmanalp » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:25 PM UTC

Coding or writing are not uniform tasks. There are ups and downs, parts that are tedious, parts that go smoothly, parts that will not budge one inch despite lots of time put in (bug hunting!). It's not all the same.

Building up on that, you can't control if the next task you have is going to be a tedious or smooth one. If you have a bug, or have to parse a CSV file in your assembly language program, then you just gotta do it. Sometimes there may be a way around it, but most often there isn't. Otherwise, you'd be able to circumvent the whole task in the first place.

You might think you like all ice cream, until someone hands you some anchovies ice cream or something.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#32

Post by danko » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:29 PM UTC

No matter how fulfilling or worthwhile something is, there will always be tedious parts. Always.

It's a refusal to accept this that prevents people from completing tasks -- they hit the inevitable wave of tedium, and they can't grind through it, because they assume anything that's truly edifying will be tedium-free. That's a really dangerous belief.

Now if something is all tedium, then I agree, find something else to do. But there is no project on Earth that won't have frustrating patches where your mind will try to wander.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#33

Post by engtech » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:30 PM UTC

sometimes the problem is long compiles that get you out of flow and give you enough time to load a web browser

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#34

Post by msluyter » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:31 PM UTC

No doubt there's some truth here, but I would hesitate to write off the incredibly distracting and addicting power of the internet entirely. Even when I'm working on something I really enjoy, I find myself breaking to check HN, for example... The problem goes beyond motivation. Speaking only for myself, I'm so used to having my attention divided -- for example, watching TV while also surfing the internet -- that it's difficult to exclusively focus on anything.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#35

Post by leviathant » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:32 PM UTC

If people only worked on truly important things, the world would be a better place. I love what I do, but my brain simply functions in a way that makes it difficult for me to focus. If I have to treat that by removing distractions from my periphery, that's not because I'm not working on something important or because I'm not working on something I love.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#36

Post by watty » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:32 PM UTC

This is poor advice. First off not everyone has the opportunity to work on something important and that they love. Sure, it's ideal and probably a goal of everyone but sometimes it takes steps to attain that goal and sometimes people sacrifice their 8-5 hours to provide for their family.

Secondly, not everyone has the ability to get kickstarted each day to 100% productivity. You're very lucky if you do but I don't. I use Focus Booster and it helps but isn't a cure.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#37

Post by jsm » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:34 PM UTC

I absolutely agree with this sentiment. However, my real goal for this project (apart from learning to code it) was to place a slight barrier between me and a bunch of mindless consumption. It's pretty easy to wake up in the morning, check email, check HN, etc.

I just wanted something to slow me down each morning and bring the focus back to producing. I also have it block me at about 6pm so I have to reflect on my day before going home and reading articles.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#38

Post by ghc » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:35 PM UTC

This may often be true, but if you work on something that is closely tied to the flow of information on the internet then it's almost impossible not to get distracted by your own product. I've been working on a stream aggregation site for some time, and I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself using the product instead of testing it. It's entirely aggravating, but it has nothing to do with working on the right project or not loving it enough.

Imagine what the Reddit developers had to deal with.

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#39

Post by watty » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:37 PM UTC

I'm a software dev but my favorite thing to do in the world is fish. Last month I took a vacation to the Caribbeans, which has some amazing surf fishing. My goal was to get up and fish every sunrise. I did this for 4 or 5 days but ended up sleeping in a few days because, after all, sleeping is fun and fishing can wait.

I do really like fishing and had a goal to do it each day but failed. I'm guessing you think I don't really like fishing after all?

Re: Show HN: Block yourself from the Internet until you write or code each day

#40

Post by Heinleinian » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 6:38 PM UTC

I love what I work on, I also love knowledge. Turns out the internets isn't just a place where people go for the latest Success Kid meme or double rainbow video, it's a link to the entirety of all human knowledge.

Oh yeah, and it's a link to the people I love and care about as well...