Productivity tips for the easily distracted • Hacker News Board

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#41

Post by synnik » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 12:05 AM UTC

city41 wrote: post #19

synnik wrote: post #17

I did something similar - I finished the area under my basement stairs, hung monitors from the stairs above me, and put fabric on all the walls for soundproofing. I have to climb through my storage area, under a shelf, and through a small hole to get in... but that also means I cannot easily get out and take a break. I just keep on working. Likewise, I am so hidden that my kids just assume that I am downtown in my of…

I would love to see a pic of this setup.

It was somewhat difficult to get pics of it, as it is a compact space, but I took a shot at it. (Pardon the pun.)

The "door" from my storage room: http://hikingdave.smugmug.com/photos/i-KNkxxsb/0/M/i-KNkxxsb...

Looking in... Sorry that it is blurry, but you can see that is a not a huge space. I have a gaming chair to sit on, and I keep a big blanket in there. It gets cold, even in summer: http://hikingdave.smugmug.com/photos/i-kpfwhfL/0/M/i-kpfwhfL...

The actual setup. 2 monitors, a laptop table, and my work laptop: http://hikingdave.smugmug.com/photos/i-Lxmh7hZ/0/M/i-Lxmh7hZ...

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#42

Post by city41 » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 12:46 AM UTC

synnik wrote: post #41

city41 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to see a pic of this setup.

It was somewhat difficult to get pics of it, as it is a compact space, but I took a shot at it. (Pardon the pun.) The "door" from my storage room: http://hikingdave.smugmug.com/photos/i-KNkxxsb/0/M/i-KNkxxsb... Looking in... Sorry that it is blurry, but you can see that is a not a huge space. I have a gaming chair to sit on, and I keep a big blanket in there. It gets cold, even in summer: http://hikingdave.smugmug.co…

That's really impressive actually. Inspiring too, I should strive to create a more "remote" space to work in. Thanks for taking the pics.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#43

Post by jdietrich » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 12:46 AM UTC

I've recently realised that large monitors make me less productive for most tasks, as they just tempt me to procrastinate through multitasking. Screen real-estate set aside for documentation ends up being used for Twitter, HN and the deadly random Wikipedia pages. Victorian schools had high windows so the pupils couldn't gaze out of the window. A big monitor just invites me to gaze at something interesting but easy, when I should be staring into the abyss of a thorny problem.

I intend to sell my current setup and buy a little ultraportable and a Kindle DX. The ultraportable will have only enough screen real-estate for actual work, but I'll still have plenty of display room for documentation.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#44

Post by cma » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 3:11 AM UTC

synnik wrote: post #41

city41 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to see a pic of this setup.

It was somewhat difficult to get pics of it, as it is a compact space, but I took a shot at it. (Pardon the pun.) The "door" from my storage room: http://hikingdave.smugmug.com/photos/i-KNkxxsb/0/M/i-KNkxxsb... Looking in... Sorry that it is blurry, but you can see that is a not a huge space. I have a gaming chair to sit on, and I keep a big blanket in there. It gets cold, even in summer: http://hikingdave.smugmug.co…

Looks like a fire trap. Be careful.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#45

Post by keidian » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 3:14 AM UTC

swombat wrote: post #39

jaxn wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought you quit commenting on HN ;)

He only comes back to correct outrageous mis-statements that could potentially damage someone's reputation or hard work - I guess accusing him of being Canadian counts as one of the above ;-)

Hey now, nothing wrong with being Canadian :p

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#46

Post by redthrowaway » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 3:18 AM UTC

cygwin98 wrote: post #10

I wonder how Jacques avoids the Internet distractions in his new setup as he still has a network connection. I am also the kind of person who gets distracted rather easily as I have a really broad spectrum of hobbies/interests. I've tried some similar approaches without much success. Back in old days when I was still a graduate student, I had a paper deadline due in a few days, but I was addictive in Slashdot discuss…

The problem with disconnecting is that so many programming problems are best solved by a liberal application of Google. Similarly, I've never found man pages to be as efficient or helpful as a well-constructed Google query. I suppose one solution would be to install OpenWRT on your router and keep a whitelist of sites (or a blacklist if you can easily classify 95% of your time-wasters) for your work computer and allow free reign to your home computer.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#47

Post by FrojoS » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 4:28 AM UTC

redthrowaway wrote: post #46

cygwin98 wrote: post #10

I wonder how Jacques avoids the Internet distractions in his new setup as he still has a network connection. I am also the kind of person who gets distracted rather easily as I have a really broad spectrum of hobbies/interests. I've tried some similar approaches without much success. Back in old days when I was still a graduate student, I had a paper deadline due in a few days, but I was addictive in Slashdot discuss…

The problem with disconnecting is that so many programming problems are best solved by a liberal application of Google. Similarly, I've never found man pages to be as efficient or helpful as a well-constructed Google query. I suppose one solution would be to install OpenWRT on your router and keep a whitelist of sites (or a blacklist if you can easily classify 95% of your time-wasters) for your work computer and allo…

https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done

Is such a blacklist. Just helped me finishing my thesis.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#48

Post by tshaddox » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 4:49 AM UTC

briandon wrote: post #27

synnik wrote: post #17

I did something similar - I finished the area under my basement stairs, hung monitors from the stairs above me, and put fabric on all the walls for soundproofing. I have to climb through my storage area, under a shelf, and through a small hole to get in... but that also means I cannot easily get out and take a break. I just keep on working. Likewise, I am so hidden that my kids just assume that I am downtown in my of…

I'm not trying to spook you, but be sure to remind your family members to check for you in your basement nest if they can't find/reach you elsewhere. It would be awful to experience a stroke or something similar, be unable to call for help, and not have anyone know where you were.

How do you think that makes me feel, reading that at midnight alone in my one-bedroom apartment?

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#49

Post by X-Istence » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 4:52 AM UTC

jdietrich wrote: post #43

I've recently realised that large monitors make me less productive for most tasks, as they just tempt me to procrastinate through multitasking. Screen real-estate set aside for documentation ends up being used for Twitter, HN and the deadly random Wikipedia pages. Victorian schools had high windows so the pupils couldn't gaze out of the window. A big monitor just invites me to gaze at something interesting but easy,…

While yes my multi-monitor setup gets used for non-work related stuff, most of the time the smaller of the two screens is covered in documentation and terminal windows while my main screen has MacVim maximised with multiple tabs. Being able to quickly move from one screen to another has helped me be a lot more productive.

So it is also about willpower.

Re: Productivity tips for the easily distracted

#50

Post by redthrowaway » Wed, Jun 01, 2011, 5:07 AM UTC

FrojoS wrote: post #47

redthrowaway wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with disconnecting is that so many programming problems are best solved by a liberal application of Google. Similarly, I've never found man pages to be as efficient or helpful as a well-constructed Google query. I suppose one solution would be to install OpenWRT on your router and keep a whitelist of sites (or a blacklist if you can easily classify 95% of your time-wasters) for your work computer and allo…

https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done Is such a blacklist. Just helped me finishing my thesis.

The problem I think I'd encounter with a blacklist is that skirting it suddenly becomes an interesting challenge. Proxies and VPNs can get me where I want to go, and the idea that I'm not supposed to makes it more tempting. If I implement a whitelist and block my work comp's MAC address from accessing the admin panel on my router, then I'd have to physically get off my ass in order to circumvent it, in which case It'd be easier to just do the damned work.