Productivity Hack: Using the Web to Minimize Internet Distractions
Published on - November 17th, 2010 (by April Dykman) This post is from staff writer April Dykman.
There have been days when I’ve wasted an embarrassing amount of time mindlessly surfing the Internet. While I try to make that the exception rather than the rule, it’s a massive time suck that usually puts me behind on things I actually needed to do that day.
Obviously the web makes life easier in many respects. We have virtually every type of media, every bit of information, right at our fingertips. But with so much media so easily available, it’s easy to stray off-task.
For example, I’m writing an article on a productivity app right now, but I was just sidetracked for a good 30 minutes while researching it because I found a way to put my to-do list on my desktop. That’s not something that needed my immediate attention, yet I stopped writing to chase new browser tabs. Ultimately, I decided probably wouldn’t use it and got back to the task at hand.
Productivity is boring
I don’t particularly like to think about productivity. When I read too much about ways to “maximize your productivity” and squeeze value from every second, it makes me want to curl up on the couch and catch up on missed episodes of 30 Rock.
But we all have tasks we need to complete and things we need to remember. When you have a personal to-do list or a task list for work and need to put nose to grindstone, online distractions can cost you both time and money (and sometimes your sanity as you get closer to due dates). Plus, despite the way productivity talk makes me want to rebel, it feels really good to get things done on time — and even better to finish something early.
Web-based solutions to web-enabled procrastination
Today I’d like to share a solution that’s been working well to minimize procrastination online. When it comes to Internet distractions, I’ve found that technology can help solve some of the problems it creates.
The first application I’ve found helpful is LeechBlock, a Firefox extension. Most likely, there are a handful of websites on which you particularly enjoy wasting time. LeechBlock blocks those sites based on the parameters you set.
To use LeechBlock, you specify up to six sets of sites to block, with an unlimited number of sites in each set. Next, you specify the rules for blocking each set. You can block within certain periods of time, such as between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., after a time limit is reached (30 minutes each day), or both (30 minutes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.). You can block by day of the week, as well.
LeechBlock tracks the amount of time you spend actively looking at a site (it won’t count a tab that is open, but not active), and during blocked times or after reaching your time limit, you’ll be redirected from the blocked site to a page notifying you that you’ve been blocked.
While it’s possible to go around your self-imposed block, LeechBlock offers a password feature to make you take another step before you can bypass. The delay requires you to think for a moment and hopefully remember why you’ve set the block in the first place. LeechBlock recommends setting a “lengthy but memorable” password. Maybe something like getbacktoworkyoubum?
A daily task application
Leechblock has been working well to remind myself when I’m spending too much time on specific sites, but I still needed something to better organize my to-do lists. Without a clear plan each day, it was too easy to get blocked from Facebook only to find new sites to browse that weren’t blocked or to complete random, unimportant tasks around the house.
Paper and pen seemed ideal in theory, but in practice, it wasn’t working out. I had too many repeating tasks, and I would only keep up with a system for a couple of weeks before it fell apart. After looking into a few options, I read that 
Remember the Milk (RTM) was voted the favorite web-based to-do list manager by Lifehacker readers, so I gave it a go.
Launched in 2005, RTM strives to make managing tasks an enjoyable experience. While I don’t know if to-do lists will ever be enjoyable, RTM makes them more than tolerable, and I admit I like checking things off as I complete tasks. I also like knowing that everything I need to remember, from getting a wedding gift for my cousin to taking out the trash on Thursday mornings, is organized in one system I can access from anywhere (There are RTM smartphone apps, as well.).
LeechBlock and Remember the Milk, working together
Recently I read about a great productivity hack that combines LeechBlock’s blocking abilities with RTM’s task-reminding superpowers.
Within Leechblock, you can specify which website you want to be redirected to once you’ve been blocked. If you set Leechblock to redirect you to your RTM task list, you are instantly reminded that you’ve exceeded the time limit you’ve set for yourself, and that you have a list of tasks that need your attention.
This has worked beautifully for me. Not only am I redirected from time-sucking sites, but seeing my RTM task list gives me a jumping in point. Often the hardest part of completing a task list is getting started. After being blocked, I’ll pick a couple of tasks that look quick and easy, and check them off the list. By that time, I’m focused again and I’ve got the momentum to tackle bigger tasks. I’ve used this hack for the past couple of weeks, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how it has improved my productivity.
Since I’m on a get-things-done kick, let me know what you think about this method in the comments, and share any tricks you use to stay on task.
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It would be nice to have this kind of service for the TV. Who knows? I am sure they do in fact make one.
Consider me old-fashioned, but I have always used post-it notes for my to-do lists.
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AC, I use random scraps of paper for to-do lists…discarded drawings, paper scraps, the back side of junk mail letters, and so on.
I find that keeping my to-do list completely away from the computer helps me to be more productive. If I have to go to the computer to check my to-do list, I inevitably get sucked in and before I know it, I’ve wasted 20 minutes online.
I know that’s not true for everyone, though…it’s just that paper lists work best for me.
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Very interesting ideas, April. I may have to give them a go. I suspect I may block time or web sites only to find I drift off into other parts of the web and waste time anyway.
I think we all waste toooo much time, unless our goal in life is to waste time! In that case, maybe we should just change our goals and then when we waste time, we can say we accomplished something
I wrote an article a while back on Time Sucks that is posted on my site. If you want to read it, the URL is:
http://waynemates.com/2010/07/time-sucks/
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I actually don’t have a problem surfing the net. I know what I want to look at, and when I’m done with that, I have no desire to look at anything else.
Is that strange?
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…and suddenly Nancy L.’s participation rate in conversations at GRS drops precipitously!
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Ironically I came across this article while wasting time before getting started on my “real” work for the day! haha Thanks for the tips. One trick I use is to set a timer for 30 minutes. During that 30 minutes I stay focused on my “real” work and when the timer goes off I get to check out a fun website or two. Online Stopwatch (http://www.online-stopwatch.com/) has some good timers you can use right on the website or download and save to your computer. If you have kids, this is a great trick to use for working on homework, too!
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JD, Unfortunately Google’s Task tools is very immature and not nearly as full featured as RememberTheMilk… also RTM has the ability to be displayed inside of gmail or Google Calendar. While you have to become a paid “pro” subcriber to use their smartphone apps, you get quite a bit of functionality with free accounts. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out.
Here’s some info on using rtm with gmail:
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/gmail/
and with google calendar:
http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/googlecalendar/
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I abandoned RTM in favor of Google Tasks. RTM is much more integrated with other web services, but it just got to be too much work for me to maintain it and use it. I would spend more time on my to-do list then actually getting things done.
Google Tasks is missing a couple of obvious and useful features. I just do not understand why it doesn’t allow you to set up your tasks as reminders on your calendar. I still prefer its simplicity to RTM’s advanced features. Plus Google is actively working to improve Tasks. Here is a site where you can submit ideas and suggestions for Tasks.
https://www.google.com/moderator/?icon&expr#16/e=31b21
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Leechblock kept me on task to get my thesis done on time.
Everytime I went to a site I blocked I was reminded how I should be working on my thesis rather than surfing the internet.
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Great post! These hacks are very useful.
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JD: the product placements within your posts are reducing my opinion of your relative objectivity. it wasn’t the leechblock or RTM app reviews, it was your out-of-place google docs recommendation that hardly fit within the parameters of the blog post.
seriously, are you just some sort of advertising maven now? is much of hte other information you post similarly hinged on whether or not the product or services you discuss pay you money? is anything you post worthy of reading without running it through my “this could be bullshit advertising” brain process?
if this continues you will have lost a reader.
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Can anyone recommend the best “To Do” app that will run on either (both?) my iPod Touch and/or iPad, and will automatically keep my task lists in sync between the two devices? I don’t care whether the sync’ing requires iTunes or WiFi connectivity, either one would be fine.
Any recommendations?
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Love it. I baffle myself at how I am always crunched for time but still end up wasting a few minutes here and there on useless sites.
The Leechbox tip is a new discovery for me. Going to put it to use right after I type this comment
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Cool ideas. What works for me is using Google calendar, but I use a hack to make it easier to keep track of things that way. I’ll have to write it out and explain it.
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Thank you for sharing this. I am always looking for more time management tips and I am also blogging about them. I have also tried “RescueTime” and really liked it when I was on the free trial for the advanced features. The basic features are free, but do not remind you, or block you from any sites or programs.
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The internet and television are HUGE timesucks for me. Hours gone down a blackhole that I can never regain. What’s amazing is that every human being on the face of the earth gets the same 24 hours! The people who have consistently productive, orderly, and serene days – where they are slowly but surely creating for themselves the lives they dreamed of, the only thing to account for that is their ability, whether innate or cultivated, to manage their time well.
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I schedule things — particulary things that I don’t want to do — into my Outlook calendar. It gives me a 15 minute warning that it’s time to shake off the mental shackles and get to work, which is very helpful.
This may not work for those of you who are not of a religious bent, but it is adaptable. Since Lent is all about removing blocks from our lives that get in the way of living our best life, this year I took everything that had been hanging around on my multiple to do lists – sometimes for years – put each on a separate post it note, and tackled one each day in Lent (although I didn’t actually have 40 items). These were everything from mending relationships to cleaning the attic. At the end of the season, I only had about 6 items left, and continued to work on them throughout the year. It was nice to see the post-it notes move from one part of the wall in my office to another.
And since they were coupled with a religious exercise each day, which is not something I am good at, Easter was the most blessed in years.
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Try this…
http://macfreedom.com/
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I’ve found http://www.gqueues.com blows both google tasks AND RTM out of the water. I gladly pay $25/year for total google calendar integration + task sharing.
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Does anyone know of a LeechBlock equivalent for Google Chrome?
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Back in 2004 I was working on my master’s thesis. Not trusting myself to wander around online instead of researching/writing, I worked exclusively on our ancient laptop that didn’t have IE (this was in our pre-wireless days!). This had the added bonus of keeping me on the dining room table (more room for all my research tomes) and away from the desktop. Today, I would definitely have to get some sort of block becuase it’s much too easy to find an excuse to wander off-task under the guise of “taking a break.”
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Google does a lot of things well but their task list still sucks. I use RTM in combination with Gmail and Gcalendar.
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Sigh. I have the same aversion to “productivity” as you do. One of my favorite short pieces of advice was from Penelope Trunk (I think), something like: “What’s the most important thing you have to do? Do it. Now.”
I do use Google Tasks.
1) You can put a due date on each task, which puts the tasks in the top row of Google Calendar. I keep my calendar open all day. I put the most pressing tasks on the current day, and the rest for subsequent days. If I happen to get through my tasks, I bring some over from tomorrow & the next day.
2) On the calendar, the Google arranges the tasks in alpha order – kind of annoying. My “hack” here is to put spaces in front of the most urgent items, which moves them to the top of the list.
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I wish I could draw a picture of my response to your comment. Imagine one of those cartoon characters with a little black cloud over his head because he’s baffled/befuddled/perplexed at something. That’s me.
When I write about a product or service, it’s generally because I use it. Such is the case here. I’m not shilling for Google. But I use gmail and the Google calendar and Google docs all the time. It’s part of my workflow. Should I pretend it’s not? And I absolutely wish there was a good tasklist manager that worked with their calendar. (As some other commenters have pointed out, there seem to be a couple of options.)
Two weeks ago, you said you weren’t going to read GRS anymore because it was “schmaltzy, pseudo-psychological bullshit” (and because you thought I was plagiarizing stuff). As a direct response to that comment, my staff writers and I have been trying to feature articles with more concrete take-aways. Now you complain that we’re simply shilling for the things we write about. Give me a break.
Here’s a hint: Today I’m going to set up a Mint account. Tomorrow I’m going to write about it. I’m not doing this because Mint paid me — they didn’t — but because yesterday GRS readers recommended that Mint might be a better option than Quicken, which I’ve used for years. Tomorrow’s post isn’t paid product placement; it’s a real-world look at what it’s like to set up a Mint account.
Despite your accusations, I’m not plagiarizing and I’m not doing paid product placement. I’m doing my best to offer a site that chronicles my journey with money, and helps others on their journeys. If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to read other personal-finance blogs. There are hundreds of them out there.
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I spend a lot of time on the internet. And it’s something I enjoy a lot.
It makes me smarter. I especially enjoy coming across a word I don’t understand. I highlight and right click, then read the definition.
I’m just hoping for Google to make a tablet. Then I won’t be tethered to my desktop.
Eventually, I would think these tablets would be foldable to fit in one’s pocket, that would be a combination of phone, camera, computer, with 24/7 internet access.
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Well said JD – I was totally lost with that dude’s comment as well :-/
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I make a very limited to-do list of my most important things and then do those in the early AM. Then if the rest of the day is a wash, eh. But I also found that turning off the dinging iPhone and shutting Safari means I can’t see email coming in, and so I have to consciously launch it to check. Usually I stop myself. Also, set a goal, like “I will work on this article for 1 hour.” Then when an hour is up it is internet happy time!
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Love tips like this, but i’m limited to IE 8 here at work, don’t suppose you know of something similar to Leechblock for IE?
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I used to live and die by the task functionality in my Palm Pilot. When it died, I moved to a Palm Pre, and the task functionality is quite pathetic. I was subsequently introduced to Evernote, and now use that. I have the program installed on my phone, personal and work laptops. They all sync, so I can update and reference my task list from my phone or either computer. And it’s free! While it is NOT designed as a task list manager, I keep one noted tagged ‘to do’ and list things by day, etc. For example, I have “this week” in bold with tasks underneath; “this weekend” with tasks; “anytime” with other items to do. I cut and paste things as priorities change and delete items as they are completed. I also have separate notes for things like “books to read”, “wines I like” etc. Very useful program.
And JD, I appreciate your honest reviews, and don’t consider it shilling for anyone.
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I echo #28′s comment — I would love to find a good anti-browsing productivity hack, but I can’t install applications or modify settings on my PC. Willpower alone doesn’t seem to be working for me as a day-to-day method. I’ve considered calling IT and asking them to simply block web browsing on my desktop, but I’m hesitant to call attention to my bad work habits.
When I was in law school, during the few weeks prior to final exams, I used to put a little sticky note on my laptop monitor over the spot that displays the browser shortcut in the windows taskbar. The sticky note said “NO!” Believe it or not, this worked really well. But it only worked for those few weeks. When I no longer had something pressing that I needed to work on (final exams), it eventually lost all effectiveness.
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Another endorsement for RTM — I’ve used it for years. The RTM list sits on my iGoogle home page (I rarely go to the RTM site anymore), and I subscribe to the iPod Touch/iPhone app, so i can use it on- and offline. It’s brilliant — bill payments, birthdays, library due dates, all of it goes in there. If I have an idea for a project but no time to work on it at the moment, I schedule it a month out. I even keep my “life list” on RTM. Sometimes I miss paper, but carrying a notepad around with me has never been as effective as this.
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I’m with Kristen #2, for the things I have to do on the computer, I write a list on the back of junk envelopes, and put a star next to the ones that need to be done in the next few days. Then as those tasks get done, I make priorities of what’s left and what’s new.
But I also really liked Laura’s #6 idea of setting a timer. Everyone needs an occasional break from thinking time, and I don’t consider reasonable amounts of time playing games or reading blog sites to be wasting time, because it helps me be more productive, AS LONG AS, I set a time limit; playing one level of a game, or reading one blog post. But I’ll admit, sometimes when I’m tired, I ignore my own time limit. So Laura, I’m going to try your timer trick.
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Actually, I have some other productivity hacks for anyone interested. When I had an upcoming vacation, I changed the start page in my browser to show a photo of the place I was going to visit. This reminded me that I needed to take care of business so that I could vacation worry-free. This worked pretty well for the month leading up to my vacation.
Another trick is to simply orient your monitor so that anyone walking by can see what you’re doing. Peer pressure can be good for you.
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I think of blocking sites as a sort of “Defensive” way to keep myself on task. I choose, instead to be more “Offensive”. By that, I mean that I use the pomodoro technique to structure my work days. It’s kind of what Laura, in comment #6 does, but it’s more formalized. Basically, you set a timer (there are apps for it) for 25 minutes (or whatever block of time you can maintain focus), and then at the end of that “pomodoro”, you take a 3-5 minute break — that’s GRS/Facebook/bathroom/coffee refill time. You repeat that 4 times, then take a 15-30 minute break. Crucially, you DO NOT think about work during the breaks. Equally crucially, if you “break” a pomodoro, by checking email or answering a call, you start the pomodoro over when you’re able to sit back down and focus fully on your work.
I’ve shown the system to my students, and a few of them are converts now! I find it very freeing. I’m writing a dissertation, and the lack of time structure is daunting.
Anyway, here’s the link: http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/
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This is an important discussion and I commend April and JD for opening it.
My two cents, however, is that self-management apps, such as LeechBlock, seem to paradoxically enable mindlessness, not “block” it.
Self awareness is about using the mind, not using a tool to tell the mind to be aware.
This may be extreme but LeechBlock may even introduce moral hazard in that one will allow themselves to be distracted because the app will catch them and steer them back to productive activity. Ultimately, one would be better served trying to catch themselves becoming distracted.
In essence, this is like using a credit card mindlessly and not stopping until it is rejected because the maximum debt limit has been reached.
Bottom line: Self-awareness is only achievable when the self is aware, and without the help of something else.
“At the center of your being you have the answer, you know who you are and you know what you want. There is no need to run outside for better seeing or to peer from a window. Rather abide at the center of your being; for the more you leave it the less you learn.” ~ Lao-Tzu
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Looks like Google Chrome users can get most of the functionality of LeechBlock using StayFocused. (http://google-chrome-browser.com/tags/leechblock)
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I don’t like using Google Tasks within Gmail either, as it is not very user friendly yet.
However, I find Tasks to be much better when used in it’s own tab. Here is a little known URL to bookmark if you use Tasks. Give it a try.
https://mail.google.com/tasks/canvas
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I minimize Internet distractions by doing 99% of my Internet use at the office.
There is a strong motivation to not be “wasting” time, but to just get in, do what I meant to do, and get back out and back to work.
Also, I keep a small bronze Ganesha at my desk. One of his aspects is “remover of obstacles” and I keep him principally to remind me to get out of my own way (i.e. not waste time).
Oh, and J.D. – very nice rebuttal.
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JD, is that an affiliate/paid link for pfblogs.org?
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I’m getting on Leechblock, immediately. Thank you April.
P.S. I appreciate the irony of someone complaining about JD mentioning that he used Google Docs and Calendar, a *free* service that he in no way is affiliated with.
And for the record, JD doesn’t take nearly the income he should from the traffic he gets. This has got to be the most toned down blog on the planet when it comes to promotions.
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Thanks, April, for pulling me totally away from my ToDo list to investigate yet ANOTHER task nazi…LOL. However, like Alan @7 I integrated RTM Free into my Google mail account and I’m very happy with it there. Can easily add, edit from there, and even pull things from your emails. I’d rather it be on my IGoogle home page, but this is almost ideal. My problem with all of these things is that you inevitably have to open yet ANOTHER application to see your schedule/taks. But being as I have to go into my inbox anyway and can leave it open in a tab, this is okay.
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@J.D. Try: http://www.activeinboxhq.com its a free plugin for Chrome and Firefox that turns your Gmail inbox into a full GTD setup. Another service that you may use is: http://www.backupify.com for Gmail backup.
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This is exactly what I need! I find myself getting sucked into tasks (it even happened while reading this article) and I look up and time has been wasted! I’m going to combine these 2 super powers and get back to work.
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I was just this morning wishing for something exactly like LeechBlock! I waste way too much time at work checking my email and other sites throughout the day…
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Another Leechblock type of plugin for Google Chrome: “Chrome Nanny.” Pretty simple to set up. I use it to limit my time on Facebook.
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Probably one of the most creative solutions I’ve heard of in years.
Of course, simple will power does the trick too!
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I tried to use google’s tasks as i use their tools but it is too limited. I also tried RTM 2 times but it never appealed to me
I researched others and settled on toodledo, free features are pretty extensive and the iPhone app is really good
Going to add a new task : check out the blocking tools !
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I love mytomatoes.com as a timing / productivity tool. It counts down 25 minutes, then has a space to enter what task(s) you accomplished during those minutes, then you get a 5 minute break. I like to enter in how many words I wrote during those 25 minutes. It’s so satisfying to look at the list of accomplishments at the end of the day!
I also like the Epic Win app, which I learned about thanks to this blog and Sierra Black’s post a couple weeks ago! I’ve taken out the cat litter every morning since getting the app, for example, but it’s good for other tasks (like writing, or grading student papers), too. I’ll be checking out the sites mentioned in this post, too! Thanks!
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I use “instant boss”, which is a very low tech free little program. It doesn’t block sites or anything. You set a work time and a break time, and it keeps a timer. I set 25 mins with a 5 minute break usually; during the 25 minutes I can only do work, the 5 mins can be used however I want. I hate to think of going HOURS without checking email, but I can always go for 20 minutes without checking.
here it is:
http://appsapps.info/instantboss.php
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I’ve scanned through the posts and found two features I also miss
1) the ability to add a cash accout/private loan. in the past i took loans from my business and i’m paying them back instead of having to pay income tax for them; however, mint lacks this option.
2) the ability to reconcile the damn transactions. yes, a simple checkmark to verify “oh yes, i went through this receipt”. how hard can it be?
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