How to Avoid Internet Distractions

How do you avoid Internet distractions in the modern era?

This 2 minute video reveals a trick that I use to get stuff done.

Leave your comment and feel free to share some Facebook love.

  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Right, time to hit the coffee shop… leave your comments below, or forever hold your peace.
    Dean Hunt´s last blog ..Don’t Fear Failure My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.davidgeere.com David Geere

    My personal tips are:

    - low level playing music from spotify in the background. Some lists:

    http://open.spotify.com/user/davidgeere/playlist/50eimPTuwZgzNqyLfjqgCz

    http://open.spotify.com/user/davidgeere/playlist/4a9n4Xpk2loJLaFGHB3QHZ

    - Second is that I close my email often. I shut it down and don’t open it until I have completed my current task or need to use the email. Some clients have an offline mode… don’t be scared of using it. My client of choice is PostBox Inc

    - Thirdly, I shut down skype, IM and other things. Essentially if something can pop up a little alert, make a ‘ding’ or generally is able to shout at you in the middle of something then close it!

    - Fourth, if you are like me you use your bookmarks toolbar in your browser. You have a few items there such as invoicing and email, but perhaps also facebook, iplayer, fav forums, a link to twitter etc… I start my day by using view->toolbars->hide and hide that thing. It’s amazing how much of a habit you have where you pop your mouse up and click on that facebook link… removing it makes a big difference to how many times it will distract you.

    - Bonus tip… have a shower or a walk before you start working. Getting air or fresh water ‘resets’ your mind. You can come back to your computer fresh and just get on with things.

    I still use a notepad too and it’s good to get started on a pad is it starts the mind working… then move back to the computer and carry on minus the distractions.

    This is aimed at those that perhaps have to work at the computer and can’t pop down the coffee shop… perhaps a designer, animator, forum admin etc

    I hope that these may help someone in addition to your tip Dean, or worst case a few people just got some new spotify music :)

    Cheers,
    David
    David Geere´s last blog ..Apple owns your head My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Superb advice Dave.

    I personally can’t focus with music in the background… I agree ref the tabs, a Facebook tab in your browser can be like a glowing “push me” button.

    Best to close all tabs down.

    Dean

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  • http://www.davidgeere.com David Geere

    I’m the same with music, the worky list has been especially crafted by me over the years specifically for helping me focus while working.

    E.g. I couldn’t do it with the radio on in the background… but with this list of tunes I can… though I do have it very quiet. The beats keep the mind ticking. :)
    David Geere´s last blog ..Apple owns your head My ComLuv Profile

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  • Darrell Turner

    Dean, good stuff, but you could do it in 60 seconds just as well. Even 45.

    Darrell Turner
    Executive Producer (video for 106 destinations and 1000+ resorts)for travel industry

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  • http://twitter.com/brandonellistv Brandon

    I like your technique of going to the coffee shop and taking pen and pad with you. I think that’s something mentally that get’s you focused and helps remove distractions from your way. I think it’s all a mental game really. Getting your head in the right spot to be productive you know. For me often go to Starbucks as well though I stay pretty productive on my laptop as long as first I have an idea of what I am going to get done. For that I like to use a pen and pad and jot down what I need to done. I would like to get one of those livescribe pens that you can write and record your voice and easily put it up on the web later.

    I have 3 different products I plan to release this year so I need these tips. Thanks for the vid. man!!

    Brandon
    Stay Focused! Stay Caffeinated!
    Brandon´s last blog ..BrandonEllisTV: RT @aplusk: I wanna "Walk on water" this is wicked http://nowmov.com/v/Oe3St1GgoHQ My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://deanhunt.com Dean Hunt

    Darrell,

    But how would I squeeze the bad jokes into a 45 second version? ;-)

    Dean

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  • peter

    i tend to unsubscribe from various sellers-apart fro the ones i like

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  • http://www.incredibleinternetmarketing.com/how-to/search-engine-optimization-made-simple/ James

    Yes Dean…the ipad was classicly bad!!!Old School pad…old school jokes :-)
    James´s last blog ..By: CyberSonic Man My ComLuv Profile

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  • Reggie

    Dean,

    Great tip; been using it for years, since I am old shool – 60 years old :)

    The only problem lately, here in the states, is that most “coffee shops” — Borders, Books-A-Million, others with the in-house “meeting place with food” — have become very loud social/business meeting rooms. That’s not too bad, except when they are frequented with rude people of the baser sort who simply do not understand the concept of social graces and “quiet voices”. Not to add the fact that some locales feature book readings, kid play times, et.al..ad nausea. Public libraries…FUGHDEDABOUTIT!

    Lately, I take some pre-recorded jazz/classical music on a ‘lil portable system, go to a secluded wooded area near my house and work away. Nature helps.

    Reggie
    == What do we say about local merchants, their competitors, and owning ALL the local SERPS on page one of Google?

    “When you’re there, their not!! Muuuhahahaaaa!

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  • http://marketingforwahm.com Emily

    OMG, I loved that iPad joke! Length for me was more than quick. Great quick video.

    Here is a tip from the 4 Hour Work Week revised book: The program is called Freedom and it keeps you from using the Internet. It is at biblio.org/fred/freedom the price is $10

    I also use “write or die” at http://writeordie.drwicked.com/ to write and not stop.

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  • http://mariadelpilar.ineways.eu/ Maria del Pilar Diez-Calderon

    Your videos fascinate me. I watch them twice and 3 times. Your speech is so clear for me to understand you that I love them. You are an incredible magician I saw certainly how the letters placed themselves in the correct order to form the word, you have created your own notebook Ipad.

    Distractions…I used to switch off my notebook computer. I believe that that was a different reason. Because I love writing with my keyboard.

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  • Kamil

    Hi Dean.

    Old school is unbeatable. However, I prefer to simply decide not to check my email until, say, 4 pm, and that stops me from checking other stuff as well automatically as I’m in “no distraction mode” just by doing that :-)

    Cheers
    Kamil

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  • http://www.airhammersite.co.uk/free AirHammer

    I use the Eban Pagan tactic:

    Focus one one task for 50 minutes

    Ten minute rest

    Another 50 min session

    Then half hour rest

    Rinse and repeat…

    Plan you distracting tasks into a 50 minute session.

    Works for me xx

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  • http://www.webuildyourblog.com Andrew@BloggingGuide

    I play soft music…and I don’t open facebook, youtube or anything until my work is done. The temptation and the urge is there but you should have discipline. Discipline is the key so you’ll stick to doing things that needs doing.
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  • http://productreviews4today.com Janice Phillips

    Dean,

    I like your style.

    I often head to the local public library … and even though I have my laptop with me, it’s like being in an office, but with a hush all around. And the fact that they will kick me out when they close is enough incentive to save the email and games for when I get home.

    I’ve got a yellow iPad — who knew?
    No Facebook, yet.
    Janice Phillips´s last blog ..Write for People … Not Search Engines My ComLuv Profile

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  • http://www.52tube.com/ 52tube

    Dean, good stuff, but you could do it in 60 seconds just as well. Even 45.

    Darrell Turner
    Executive Producer (video for 106 destinations and 1000+ resorts)for travel industry

    Current score: 0
  • http://www.arsizvideo.net/ arsizvideo

    I often head to the local public library … and even though I have my laptop with me, it’s like being in an office, but with a hush all around. And the fact that they will kick me out when they close is enough incentive to save the email and games for when I get home.

    Current score: 0
  • http://www.theassembly.co.za James

    Yes, but what if you actually work ON Facebook? I handle promotions for a nightclub, and as you can imagine alot of it takes place on FB… I am constantly going to it for info, making announcements, updating events, and everytime I do so i’m confronted by updates, notifications and the ever-tempting newsfeed. What can I do??

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