Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#1

Post by josephjrobison » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:18 PM UTC

I have to work on the internet all day because I do independent digital consulting. But the internet is also the most distracting device in history.

What are you strategies for staying focused beyond the usual suspects of browser-blocking plugins, Pomodoro, etc?

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#2

Post by tinkeredlife » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:32 PM UTC

Procrastinate until you have to do your work.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#3

Post by josephjrobison » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:35 PM UTC

tinkeredlife wrote: post #2

Procrastinate until you have to do your work.

That's the current M.O.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#4

Post by eecks » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:44 PM UTC

Grow up? Sorry to be harsh but I used to be distracted by the internet in college. Now I can take it or leave it and just focus on my work.

Maybe I feel I have exhausted the internet - social networks don't hold my attention any longer, digg/reddit sites just annoy me now because the user bases seem so immature.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#5

Post by sp332 » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:47 PM UTC

eecks wrote: post #4

Grow up? Sorry to be harsh but I used to be distracted by the internet in college. Now I can take it or leave it and just focus on my work. Maybe I feel I have exhausted the internet - social networks don't hold my attention any longer, digg/reddit sites just annoy me now because the user bases seem so immature.

That's jaded, not mature.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#6

Post by ljk » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:52 PM UTC

- minimize unnecessary windows

- install browser plugins that block certain sites for some time. e.g. leechblock on Firefox can block certain sites for X minutes every X minutes, similar to the tomato method

- discipline

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#7

Post by xyzzy4 » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 7:53 PM UTC

You have to work on something that provides so much value to you that you become obsessed with it.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#8

Post by staunch » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 8:00 PM UTC

The hard part is getting started. Productivity is all about momentum. Blocking reddit or whatever is distracting you the most can help you from falling in the procrastination loop.

Start working on something small at first. Tweak a color or whatever to get started.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#9

Post by mindslight » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 8:05 PM UTC

A bit tangential, but develop an awareness of how ambient light affects your concentration on different tasks. Brightness positively kills my desire to focus on intellectual problems.

Re: Ask HN: How do you focus if you work online?

#10

Post by josho » Fri, Dec 11, 2015, 8:10 PM UTC

Go outside and get some fresh air, if that isn't possible step away from your workstation until you are ready to work.

You'll come back to your desk feeling refreshed and ready to focus.

This practice becomes even better when just prior to returning to your desk you devise a plan of action for when you sit down. That way you won't be tempted to sit back down at your desk and check email or see what's new on YC.