what are your favorite productivity apps?

[rocketman]

do you guys have any apps that help you be more productive?

there are two things i am looking for in particular:

1) i know this is out there. i have a huge problem with self control when i'm on the computer and trying to do work. i am looking for some sort of app/program that keeps you from checking your email and other favorite sites. i think i saw something like this on lifehacker the other day.

2) i want to start waking up to a playlist on my computer. the problem is that i set my computer to hibernate at night and so since it's not on, it naturally isn't able to open up the alarm program. now obviously i could just change the settings so that my computer doesn't hibernate, but i was wondering if there was a way to have it turn back on by itself and also begin playing music at a certain time.

anything else is welcome.

[Smarky]

Originally Posted by rocketman

i know this is out there. i have a huge problem with self control when i'm on the computer and trying to do work. i am looking for some sort of app/program that keeps you from checking your email and other favorite sites. i think i saw something like this on lifehacker the other day.

Are you on Windows or Mac, key bit of info there! If your on a Mac, Self control, rocks! Great app! google it!

[TaylorLord]

Hey rocketman how’s it going? It looks like you have a little problem that I would like to call IDD, internet distractibility disease ..The signs and symptoms are unable to focus while working on desktop programs due to the sexiness of the firefox icon, you need to check your email like your somebody famous, you find it hard to do any tasks without going on myspace first...

No that’s not really a disease rocketman, although some body needs to coin a phrase for it lol. Okay so it sounds like from my understanding that you are doing important work on your computer and instead you get sidetracked into going to your favorite sites?

I have four solutions for you:

1. Well not to be captain obvious (this will be the quick fix to your ordeal) but since you do have a big of a problem with this why not just pull the Ethernet cable out of your computer when you absolutely cant surf the net?

2. How bout you go web crazy and dedicate a good hour or two daily of solid internet browsing to get that curiosity out of your system. That way when it comes time to get down to business you won’t be wondering what your favorite blog post is about.

3. There is software alternatives you can try. I know my home cable router will allow me to go online and I can designate a certain time, hour or day that i can use the internet. So I can set my internet to actually turn off from 12pm-2:00 if i wanted to. If you have a high-speed connection using a router I would look into something such as this. I’m sure they may be a few programs that you can buy but I would highly stay away from that.

4. Lets go to the source of this problem. I see that you are working on your computer and you get distracted because you want to do entertaining things rather than the difficult task at hard correct? Well have you asked yourself what is really causing this problem? Maybe you just hate doing what you’re doing and you may want to reevaluate yourself? You stated that you have bad self control well why not work on it and practice self control? To do that I would just get used to working with an internet connection on, this will be your best option in the long run because that is the problem and I think it would do you good to just get used to it.

As far as an alarm clock that will turn on with a song, I have used a program that was actually freeware from download.com. I would do a search once you get there like "mp3 alarm clock" or something along those lines. It allows you to play one song as a wakeup track on a scheduled time per day. Only thing is to use that program you can’t have your whole system go to sleep because you have to have the program in your system tray. It’s fine to have your monitor to go off though, just make sure your speakers are good and loud !

I don’t know of any programs that will actually turn your computer on, log in and boot up the alarm program for you. That seems like a stretch.

I hope this helped good luck and let me know what’s up!

[rocketman]

sorry, im on a pc. :-)

[rocketman]

Originally Posted by TaylorLord

1. Well not to be captain obvious (this will be the quick fix to your ordeal) but since you do have a big of a problem with this why not just pull the Ethernet cable out of your computer when you absolutely cant surf the net?

i'm on my laptop wirelessly - never thought of that. i could just turn off my wireless lol.

Originally Posted by TaylorLord

2. How bout you go web crazy and dedicate a good hour or two daily of solid internet browsing to get that curiosity out of your system. That way when it comes time to get down to business you won’t be wondering what your favorite blog post is about.

i already do this unfortunately lol

Originally Posted by TaylorLord

4. Lets go to the source of this problem. I see that you are working on your computer and you get distracted because you want to do entertaining things rather than the difficult task at hard correct? Well have you asked yourself what is really causing this problem? Maybe you just hate doing what you’re doing and you may want to reevaluate yourself? You stated that you have bad self control well why not work on it and practice self control? To do that I would just get used to working with an internet connection on, this will be your best option in the long run because that is the problem and I think it would do you good to just get used to it.

fair enough

Originally Posted by TaylorLord

As far as an alarm clock that will turn on with a song, I have used a program that was actually freeware from download.com. I would do a search once you get there like "mp3 alarm clock" or something along those lines. It allows you to play one song as a wakeup track on a scheduled time per day. Only thing is to use that program you can’t have your whole system go to sleep because you have to have the program in your system tray. It’s fine to have your monitor to go off though, just make sure your speakers are good and loud !

I don’t know of any programs that will actually turn your computer on, log in and boot up the alarm program for you. That seems like a stretch.

I hope this helped good luck and let me know what’s up!

yeah, i already have alot of alarm clock programs. i have a laptop so i can't just turn the monitor off. i guess it was really a stretch. i guess i will just change the power settings so that it stays on.

[TaylorLord]

rocket since you are using a pc there should be some a setting where you can make just your monitor turn off after a certain amount of time and keep your computer awake! If you are on windows right click your desktop background and hit properties. Then hit screen saver. A small screen should pop up with your current screen saver displayed. Below that you will see an option called "change power settings" click that. A big window will pop up with all sorts of power options. Look to the right hand side and you will see an option that says "choose when to turn off the display" click that. There should be two fields displayed, type in 20 minutes or so for the display. Below that there is an option that says "Put the computer to sleep" make sure the choice "never" is selected! And there you have it!

[FreelanceWanderer]

Rocketman, there's free software called Freedom that keeps you from surfing the web for a certain amount of time, but it's Mac-only. There was an article on it in Slate recently:

Rebecca Traister on using Freedom, internet-disabling software | Salon Life

I searched through the comments on this article, thinking someone may have mentioned a PC version, but no dice.

Dang, maybe you need to get a Mac!

FW
Write for Magazines

[rocketman]

i found this:

Lifehacker - Save Yourself from Time Sinks Online with LeechBlock - Attention

[Asten]

Leechblock is cool, but is there a way to view the length of time you spend on sites? It lets you limit that time, but I'd just be interested to see how much time I spend normally. Is there another app/add-on that does it?

EDIT: Found this in the personal metrics thread: Lifehacker - Six Easy Ways to Graph Your Life - Charts. MeeTimer under Web Browsing. Also, ManicTime keeps track of your applications.

[rocketman]

Originally Posted by Asten

Leechblock is cool, but is there a way to view the length of time you spend on sites? It lets you limit that time, but I'd just be interested to see how much time I spend normally. Is there another app/add-on that does it?

search for an addon called MeTimer - it does just that.