Ask HN: How do you stop reading the internet when you need to work?

Re:Ask HN: How do you stop reading the internet when you nee... by wheels on Thursday November 06, 2008 @06:16AM (#355569)

Pull the plug on the internet altogether when you catch yourself being distracted. After about 15 minutes once you're into the problem it doesn't matter too much if you reconnect it.

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Re:Ask HN: How do you stop reading the internet when you nee... by RossM on Thursday November 06, 2008 @03:34PM (#356083)

Physically pulling out the network cable from the router (presuming you're at home/in a place where you can) is also a beneficial psychological push to get on with your work.

I do this and have found myself opening Firefox/Outlook/Newsgroup/RSS readers only to find a flat "no connection" page - that immediately scolds me for sidetracking and I get on with what I'm supposed to eb doing again.

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Re:Ask HN: How do you stop reading the internet when you nee... by electromagnetic on Thursday November 06, 2008 @05:04PM (#356164)

Most laptops feature a button to turn off the wireless connection. I find hitting that button has a similar effect, you've just got to restrain yourself from hitting the button again.

My work is writing, so I find it extremely convenient to have internet access as it helps with checking if I've got the meaning correct for words I rarely use in common conversation. It also helps greatly with research, however there comes a time when I have to turn my wireless off and actually use what I've research, etc.

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