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.
* 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.