Are distractions closed? Shut the door, quit Tweetdeck, close the Facebook and Gmail tabs, and set skype to “Do not disturb.”
This is the most useful point for me. Generally when I “wake up” and realize that I drifted into procrastinating, at the beginning, I started focused and on task. But if I have easy access to the internet, my concentration will gradually lessen, and I drift off. Then I find myself looking at pictures of cats on Reddit.
Distractions on the internet are also a way that I prevent myself from ever even starting my tasks—I just start browsing and never begin the work. I’ve made a routine for myself, so that I am only allowed to visit the same things (email, APOD, Bloglines). The instant I’m done, I turn off the laptop and put it out of immediate reach, in a place that I would have to get up and walk to.
This is the most useful point for me. Generally when I “wake up” and realize that I drifted into procrastinating, at the beginning, I started focused and on task. But if I have easy access to the internet, my concentration will gradually lessen, and I drift off. Then I find myself looking at pictures of cats on Reddit.
Distractions on the internet are also a way that I prevent myself from ever even starting my tasks—I just start browsing and never begin the work. I’ve made a routine for myself, so that I am only allowed to visit the same things (email, APOD, Bloglines). The instant I’m done, I turn off the laptop and put it out of immediate reach, in a place that I would have to get up and walk to.