In the past two weeks, I have done a huge amount to increase my productivity and manage my 'habit'. I have tripled my RescueTime (YC W07) productivity score in a matter of days, here's how I did it:
* LeechBlock for Firefox. There's always ways "around" these blocks, but it's more of a matter of disincentivizing the bad behavior, not disabling it.
* Use a feed reeder, keep it off.
* Working in an office. I've been telecommute contractor for 6 months now. I recently started working onsite for a company, and it's done wonders.
* Watching the "Productivity for Programmers" screencast at PeepCode. I am very anti-self-help, but this screencast has a lot of very helpful, practical advice rooted in common sense and backed by science.
Most of the advice my wife had been trying to tell me for months, but it took Lars Pind's explanation to really crack through my thick skull. It's not even about going through "the motions" of setting goals and all that. It's more about being able to ask your self - "what am I doing? Is this really productive?" - and being able to know when you're being genuine and when your brain is lying to yourself.
I used to think that I need to work in an office is a prerequisite for getting things done, and since becoming an off-site consultant, I've completely changed my mind. I found that the commute does wonders to dull the brain. In addition, while in someone else's office, the environment almost invariably sucks. Lousy chairs, horrible flickering fluorescent lights and no sunlight, nasty cubicles. Then there's everyone who comes by to say something or interrupt me. Horrible.
In my home office, I control the environment. I have an excellent chair, plenty of natural light, and the ability to go to the kitchen to munch on an apple or some other good snack. I don't have to make excuses if I want to go for a run at 2pm.
The major downside of a home office is that I feel like I have to be more productive than the on-site members of my team, and end up putting in more hours. In an office, I watch the clock like a hawk and get the hell out at 6 o'clock sharp, unless there's an emergency.
YMMV, of course. It seems like productivity in an office varies widely from person to person.
He needs to read with a purpose, as in pick out a goal with some sort of metric (eg learn rails) and work towards it. Time will pass anyway, you might as well have something to show for it.
I like the way pg often uses a computer without internet. In fact, after posting this comment, I'm going to shut down this computer's net access for a bit so I can focus.
I read years ago about Jerry Pournelle having a separate computer on the upper level of his home with no internet connection at all, for the purpose of focusing on writing. I thought that was a neat idea, and tried it myself, but eventually started sneaking a wireless laptop with me, and before much longer gave up on it entirely.
It's weird. For years, I really did use computers with no network access whatsoever, and then with some basic telephone-line connections that were usually off, and now with wifi/broadband pretty ubiquitous, it seems unthinkable to get off the network. I feel like something is very wrong here, but... ooh, I just got an email; it must be time again to check to see if I've sold any more albums at CDBaby.com ...
My home is completely without external connections, except for a cell phone. To waste time online I have to go through quite an effort. Apparently, I've succeeded.
I enjoy HP's service for this reason. It's a joy reading my online content while riding public transit and I find I can keep my focus and delve as deep as I need to. Sure they are just trying to sell more ink cartridges, ($1500 a gallon- I would too) but in doing so they are giving us a worthwhile tool/service. Here is the link-
http://www.tabbloid.com/
Yeah, as much as I agree that it's important to be aware of the negative effects of having so much information readily accessible, I also think it's important not to forget the positive ones. Sure, it's bad when I find myself checking myself checking my RSS feeds every five minutes instead of working, but when I think about all the interesting, entertaining, and truly useful things I know now that I didn't know about a year ago, I realize I learned a lot of them from reading my RSS feeds.
On the other hand, here's a thought about why checking his Google Reader RSS feeds constantly might be rotting his brain: intermittent rewards. Here are some links:
>One of Skinner's most important discoveries is that behavior reinforced intermittently (as opposed to consistently) is the most difficult to extinguish. In other words, intermittent rewards beat predictable rewards. It's the basis of most animal training, but applies to humans as well... which is why slot machines are so appealing, and one needn't be addicted to feel it.
I know it's screwing up my productivity. I've noticed that when I'm stuck in someplace with no internet, like while riding in a car, I'm much more productive.
Also I second the recommendation for LeechBlock, it's a really great firefox addon.
* LeechBlock for Firefox. There's always ways "around" these blocks, but it's more of a matter of disincentivizing the bad behavior, not disabling it.
* Use a feed reeder, keep it off.
* Working in an office. I've been telecommute contractor for 6 months now. I recently started working onsite for a company, and it's done wonders.
* Watching the "Productivity for Programmers" screencast at PeepCode. I am very anti-self-help, but this screencast has a lot of very helpful, practical advice rooted in common sense and backed by science.
Most of the advice my wife had been trying to tell me for months, but it took Lars Pind's explanation to really crack through my thick skull. It's not even about going through "the motions" of setting goals and all that. It's more about being able to ask your self - "what am I doing? Is this really productive?" - and being able to know when you're being genuine and when your brain is lying to yourself.