One problem I have in keeping this kind of regime is that I often find myself going around my blocking software, e.g. through using private browsing. Do you have a recommendation for something that works more generally?
Have you tried software like RescueTime? I have used it in the past and was happy about it (it is a more comprehensive system than just plain blockers; also tracking what you are wasting time on; allowing differeent levels of usefulness etc)
The fundamental problem is there is no way you, as system administrator, can force yourself not to disable your own blocking software. This is a question of psychology, not technology. Blocking software can provide friction at its best.
Modifying your /etc/hosts file is a general solution, if you use Linux. I never bothered to find out if there is a good nontechnical solution since the /etc/hosts file works well for me. If someone else was your system administrator then that person modifying your /etc/hosts file might get around the “disable your own blocking software” problem.
I have never used RescueTime. I prefer open source software that lets me control all of my own data.
Warning: Infohazard
The Tor browser can get around modifications to your /etc/hosts. However, regular so-called “private” browsing cannot.
One problem I have in keeping this kind of regime is that I often find myself going around my blocking software, e.g. through using private browsing. Do you have a recommendation for something that works more generally?
Have you tried software like RescueTime? I have used it in the past and was happy about it (it is a more comprehensive system than just plain blockers; also tracking what you are wasting time on; allowing differeent levels of usefulness etc)
https://www.rescuetime.com/
The fundamental problem is there is no way you, as system administrator, can force yourself not to disable your own blocking software. This is a question of psychology, not technology. Blocking software can provide friction at its best.
Modifying your
/etc/hosts
file is a general solution, if you use Linux. I never bothered to find out if there is a good nontechnical solution since the/etc/hosts
file works well for me. If someone else was your system administrator then that person modifying your/etc/hosts
file might get around the “disable your own blocking software” problem.I have never used RescueTime. I prefer open source software that lets me control all of my own data.
Warning: Infohazard
The Tor browser can get around modifications to your
/etc/hosts
. However, regular so-called “private” browsing cannot.I know I’m 2 years late, but here’s a open source alternative for Rescue Time if anyone is interested.