Lack of focus when working on computers...

[ragtag]

Computers are meant to increase our productivity, but sometimes they seem to do the opposite. The problem (and the great thing about them) is that inside the computer there is a whole world of things you can do, besides your current task. There is an infinite number of possible distractions.

I read somewhere that you should avoid reading, eating and working in bed, as by doing so you would be associating your bed with other things besides sleeping, which in turn could make it harder for you to get to sleep at night.

I think the same may be true for computers. We use them for websurfing, forums, mail, watching films, playing games etc. etc. And in our mind they become associated with a multitude of entertaining tasks. This, at least for me, seems to cause two things:
1) If I'm working on something on the computer, for instance drawing, and I'm tired or my motivation is a little down, I'm much more likely to procrastinate by doing a little web surfing, checking mail or something.
2) Because all these possibilities are there, only one click away, I'm less focused on what I'm acutally doing than I would be if not sitting in front of a computer. Even though I never turn on any instant messaging, mail application, or anything that might pop up to interrupt me when I want to work on something. But just because these things are on the computer, I'm less focused than I would be if drawing on paper.

I don't really have a solution to this, other than try to improve my focus in general. Any and all suggestions welcome?

Ragnar

p.s. I know that for drawing I could just switch to using paper, but I do other work on the computer such as 3D art and programing which can't realistically be done on paper.

[sadavis00]

well, the easiest thing would be to get rid of your games and build some discipline so you don't surf so much while working. one thing that has really worked for me was to stop following sports, that lost me few friends, but I didn't feel the need to check the latest sports scores anymore

[alexander.kharlamov]

Two things I've found very useful for me as far as increasing my computer productivity:

1) Set my homepage to a one where it says in big letters "DON'T PROCRASTINATE". Like this one that I made for myself:

http://www.alexanderkharlamov.com/dont-procrastinate/

2) Delete all the bookmarks to time-wasting sites. Be RUTHLESS . If you make it so it's an effort to remember the URL and then type it, eventually you'll stop going to that site.

[tnantais]

I know how tempting the web & email can be when you're working on something. You hear a song on the radio and you decide you want to find out more about the band, you wonder if anyone has visited your website lately so you check the stats, etc. etc. etc.

I agree with you about the problem of computers being associated with fun as well as work. It's always challenge to concentrate on work when you'd rather be doing something else, on the computer or not. I do a fair bit of work at home and I have the constant temptation of the fridge, the TV, the bed, etc. I cut myself some slack in the early morning, but during the workday I challenge myself to get 7 hours of work in before I do any of these other things.

My computer is hardwired to a cable modem, so one thing that helps is to disconnect the cable when I want to concentrate on something. Having to take that extra conscious step of reconnecting makes me stop and think whether I really need to break my concentration for whatever question has just popped into my head. Of course, sometimes I need to be online to do my work, but if I think about it, I can do most of the hard work while I'm disconnected. (If you've got wireless on a laptop, I suppose you could do the same thing with that little switch that you turn off when you're flying.) Long-term, I should be working on my concentration skills so that I'm not having to use little tricks like this, but it works for me now.

[norbert]

Find your purpose that focuses on others.

[Unplottable]

Recently I unintentionally found a working way to keep the focus on your computer without eh...really eliminating tempting stuffs. However it's quite for comp geeks:
I installed some Linux on my computer but there were some problems and basically everything is wacky except the Open Office. The desktop was plain dull, sound didn't work, internet isn't stable and most website didn't appear right. I still can use the Open Office to type and save documents. Guess what? It's great for doing my papers because there is no "one click to procrastination paradise" anymore.

Ok, back to the present, here is my computer solution. Multiboot the computer, the first one is your normal Window/Mac with all the bookmarks, musics, games...However the second operating system is the work-only one, where you only have what is needed for work, for example typing docs, programming, drawing. No musics, images, videos, bookmarks at all. Make it plain and simple. Personally I use Linux with no sound and video but I think another Window is good too. Make the OS for your work only.

My point is create another battlefield so I can destroy all the tempting RUTHLESSLY without hurting my dark side . I could finish the assignments, restart my computer, turn to the normal beautiful XP and start gaming . At least it's not an easy 1 click. Someday instead of restarting I would shut down the comp and do more productive work, I guess for me this method made the computer become boring and unattractive .

Well, I know a real productive and conscious person doesn't need this, but I'm trying.

[bollenbach]

I find that I've been reading a lot in bed lately when I'm having trouble sleeping.. and I haven't been sleeping great the last few nights.

I just started going back to school (college) yesterday so that has really slapped my sleeping schedule in a different direction.

When I'm laying in bed I'll find that.. if I can't fall asleep I'll put out my book and start going at it. I'm realizing that I'm having trouble falling asleep if I'm not already insanely tired... I guess this has to do with getting my body back into the swing of things.

As for being on the computer.. I think yeah the biggest time killer is things like msn, myspace and forums. This form is great because you're getting positive feedback about how to live a good life.. but I find that I don't really visit forums based on TV shows, video games or other stuff like that.

I'm trying to make it a goal to talk on msn a lot less.. and when I am actually online I put my status to AWAY to create less traffic.

That's my 2 cents

[Ellesse]

Last time, when studying for my exams, I would use a alarm clock, set it to an hour or two and "force" myself to study undisturbed during the specific time. After which I'll reward myself with a short break. I keep repeating until the entire chapter is completed.

Pretty effective 'cos it breaks down the big chapter into small sections with a deadline, and i'll usually persist. Maybe you can try that too, set a timer of an hour or so, work on your drawing. Don't stop until the alarm rings, then have a break (go get some inspiration).

Would be good to try a hybrid of methods and choose the one that's most comfortable for you though

[ragtag]

Unplottable, your approach is interesting. It's basically creating a workenvironment that supports what you should be doing on the computer. I know this works, except I'm probably too much of a computer geek so I would procrastinate for hours by trying to get everything in the Linux installation working properly. (I currently run a dual boot WinXP/Ubuntu Linux box, as well as an OS X iBook at home).

Earlier this year I lost my internett connection for a couple of weeks, and in that time wrote a small computer game to teach myself a new programming language. From time to time I would have a few things I needed the web for, so I would take my laptop to a web cafe and do what I needed. My web use became very focused and effective. My computer use also became more focused, as the most interesting thing on the computer was the programing project I was working on.

Norbert, I've been trying to find my true purpose, but I'm not there yet. It's not easy for me, as I have too many options. I'll keep working on it though.

[gberardi]

Actually, one man, after getting threatened by the BSA, decided that it wasn't worth it to keep Microsoft and a number of other major software companies in his business environment. He switched the whole thing to Red Hat, I believe. He said it was great because now they only install exactly what software was needed to do work. If you don't want to have your employees playing card games or surfing the web while at work, you just don't install that software.

I did something similar when I wanted to learn how to use the command line. I had a really stripped-down Debian installation, and any time I wanted to do something, I would find out what programs were available, apt-get install them, and continue working. Eventually I learned how to make my way around a system. Even today, while I use a streamlined desktop normally, I still use the command line because I am so much faster with it.

Of course, when it comes to being disciplined, I have problems keeping focused on the task at hand. I once tried to change my DNS settings to bounce me from a number of favorite time-wasting sites to a home page that also says something like "Don't procrastinate", but it didn't work too well since it was too easy for me to remove the block.

What does seem to work, however, is timeboxing. I remember being much more productive at my computer while doing laundry. Every 45 minutes, I would stop working, change loads, then start over. You don't waste too much time when you know you only have a few minutes to work. If I have an entire afternoon to work in, I will sometimes only spend 1 hour doing real work, if that. And not necessarily all in a row, either! It was just too easy to think, "Well, I've got hours, so I'll spend just one moment here on this website".

If you say, "I have X minutes to perform this task", you've basically given your mind the idea that you are starved for time and can't waste it. It's a precious resource, and you can always waste time later when you're done. Which brings me to the second tip: plan your goof-off time.

Schedule blocks of time for "whatever". Right now, you have to finish your report. After it is finished, you can check your email or talk with a friend for 15 minutes. Basically, reassure your brain that after this boring stuff is done, it will have some fun. It just has to be patient, but only for a little while.

[MercuryLime]

I've been staying up late working on my laptop in bed for the past couple nights. And after I shut it off, I'm having a lot of trouble going to sleep. I think ragtag said something really important - reading and using my laptop in bed has made it harder for my brain to turn off and go to sleep. I feel like I have all this chatter in my head that won't stop. Sometimes I'll stay up for another hour, give up, and get back on my laptop. I NEED to fix that.

For the computer, my solution is scheduling. But then again, my problem is more checking-email-constantly than browsing other sites. I'm still working on this area, and I'm still checking my email more than I need to.

[Cassie]

Mercurylime, try five to ten minutes of quiet meditation before bed. i bet it'll help quiet your thoughts a lot more.

[Hilary]

I have the exact same issue Ragnar mentioned. I can stop work, start browsing/ checking email, and not even notice I've done so until 10 minutes later.

I really like the idea of creating a work-friendly, procrastination-unfriendly computer environment. It could be as simple as creating a new user on an XP computer and only giving it access to certain programs. Bookmarks and browser history/ autocomplete don't carry across between users. Thanks for the inspiration, I'll use this one!

I've used the timer/ alarm clock method, too, though with limited success. You don't have to set it to an hour or two - ten or twenty minutes can be fine, provided you create the habit of leaping up from your chair and doing something away from the computer as soon as the alarm goes off.

[elainevdw]

Originally Posted by Unplottable

Multiboot the computer, the first one is your normal Window/Mac with all the bookmarks, musics, games...However the second operating system is the work-only one, where you only have what is needed for work, for example typing docs, programming, drawing. No musics, images, videos, bookmarks at all. Make it plain and simple. Personally I use Linux with no sound and video but I think another Window is good too. Make the OS for your work only.

That is a fabulous idea! I may have to try it.

The only problem is that I actually have to browse the internet for work -- doing work research and stuff. And it's so darn easy to type in, www.stevepavlina.com/forums.........

[Precious]

But what about when you want to do something, like in my case learn something, and you set you clock to ring after 1 hour.After that hour, you see that you goal is not accomplished.

Did you lived something like this ?