7 Drastic (And Not So Drastic) Things You Can Do To Boost Online Productivity

When I read about the stream of HubPages success stories where people have accumulated steady streams of comments, followers and income, simply by writing daily or quasi-daily, I sometimes think about how I've been mostly absent on HubPages the past few years, and how life might be different had I stayed with it.

I can still improve my posting frequency just by writing again tomorrow, but if I keep the set of habits I've picked up over the past decade as a gamer and computer user, it'll be a temporary and Oblomovian resolve.

Fortunately, I've begun to notice a few tools and processes for paying attention and staying undistracted online. It's great to have an inner dedication to write, but I've found it also helps to fine-tune my work environment a bit.

Here's what I have found helps free up my time and attention.

1. Occasionally save your most important information to disk or online, and re-format your computer. Many programs, despite their usefulness, can become playthings when there is the temptation to create or do something immediate instead. This was most evident when I was playing MMORPGs, but when I was frustrated with my main goal I would also read documents, browse pictures, create various things with minor building software, and hunt around for music. The other big advantage to this method is that it becomes a major chore to download MMORPGs that require patch after patch just to initialize. Is it really worth it to forfeit fast computer shut-down time and operation for these specially crafted time killers? For me, it hasn't been; I'm glad to be MMORPG-free for the last three weeks.

2. Trash your bookmarks and/or disable autocomplete in your browser. When I began using the Internet, autocomplete was the work of science fiction, or should have been. Now, I can type a single letter and the most-visited site associated with that letter pops up, often like a stranger with virtual candy. "C'mere, kid, and play some Armor Games! Check your email, too!" Yet with autocomplete off, I'm forced to type out the diversionary sites I shouldn't be visiting, and most of the time that gives me the willpower to break off and get back to work. Tossing out irrelevant bookmarks is like throwing out a few dozen excuses to goof off, as well. For lazier days, I pull out #3.

3. Use Leechblock. Leechblock is a great Firefox add-on. It adds time-killing sites to up to six schedulable lists, and you are able to set access by an amount of time per day or per other time period. You're also able to reward yourself on certain days, so as not to totally deny your WoW fix or favorite entertainment site. Best of all, it offers a Shutdown option which blocks access to a list of sites for a certain amount of time. The downside is that a truly addicted browser can take restricted sites off the list to circumvent a shutdown, but it's very simple to re-add addictive sites in a pang of conscience.

4. Get at least 20 minutes of exercise when details start bogging you down and a lack of motivation leaves you seriously unable to focus. Also, make sure you start work when you're the least hungry.

5. Review daily and weekly goals. Is the time you're spending going to help you meet a schedule? A. Harrison Barnes has an excellent piece (also in podcast form) on goal setting.

6. Use the Firefox Window and Tab Limiter. All I really need for open windows to write this article is one window for research and one window for HubPages. I have it set to a fairly easygoing level of enforcement; I'm told to close one Firefox tab if I'm going to see the new website I want. The add-on can play ornery spouse if you want, though, and shut an open window without notice. I seem to be doing all right with two windows while I write this, but if I ever really need blinders on I will cut it down to a one tab maximum and use the "silent switch" option.

7. Limit your background music to a CD, or, less effectively, an online or personal device playlist. I used to try to get things done by browsing YouTube, finding a good song, playing it, then starting work. But then I'd get distracted by related videos and my focus would go in a million different directions. The CD I'm listening to now is Dan Blakeslee's "Your Christmas Companion", a CD I listen to year-round for great background sound. If you're not a Christmas type, I recommend his "Tatnic Tales" CD.

So there you have it: a few quick ways to pare down your virtual environment into a less chaotic, more refined and friendly apparatus. Please let me know what you think, and especially if this hub helps you somehow!

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