Reducing Distraction While Working

If you need to regain some focus while working, here are some options:

Internet Blockers

These products can be set to block certain internet distractions (checking Facebook, Twitter, and other websites) while working to reduce distraction and improve productivity.

1. Freedom (PC and OSX): full version is $10.00; free five-use trial is available.

2. LeechBlock (Firefox add-on, PC and OSX): users specify the sites to block, when to block them and for how long.

3. Website Blocker (Chrome add-on, PC and OSX): same functionality as LeechBlock, but for Chrome.

Reducing Internet Clutter:

Websites can include lots of features – ads, pictures, videos – which can distract from the material the user is reading. The tools below are designed to reduce that distraction by providing a cleaner version of the website.

1. iReader (add-on for Firefox  and Chrome): the add-on situates the iReader icon in the brower’s address bar. Clicking on the icon strips away the extra clutter on the website, leaving the user with a clean page.

 2. Evernote Clearly (add-on for Firefox and Chrome): similar to iReader, but with added functionality, including the option to fully customize the reading experience (set preferences for fonts and colors) and the ability to save content from the Web directly into an Evernote account.

Time Management Tools:

Using a timer is a helpful way to manage productivity. Set the timer for a certain period of time (say 10 minutes), work for that whole period, and then when the time is up, reward yourself with a small break. This pattern can be repeated until work is finished for the day.

There are an abundance of online timers available (here, here, here, and here, for instance).

Time Management System:

Users can take the timer idea one step further and adopt a full-featured time management system.

Pomodoro is one such system. The basic technique used in Pomodoro is to set a timer for 25 minutes, work for that period without stopping, then take a 5 minute break. The cycle of setting, working, and breaking counts as one Pomodoro. This cycle is then repeated, with the user earning a longer break (15-30 minutes) for every four Pomodoros. The Pomodoro Technique website offers guides and products to help get you started.