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pete · 04:45 PM

I feel I spend way too much time online and would like to limit it somehow. I've told myself that I should often enough, but seem to just default back to old habits. A bit of an addiction. I tried an application called Mac Minder and that worked well (gave the password to my girlfriend..ha ha), but it cost 29.95 to buy and I thought there might be a better way (besides discipline!). Any good suggestions?? Perhaps some cool unix trick?

jasong · Mar 9, 2005, 05:35 PM

2 thoughts, neither of them are Unix tricks, but both are free.

1. Do stuff with your girlfriend. This shouldn't require any explanation.
2. Use the Scheduled Shut Down feature of Energy Saver. Just say you won't use the computer past say 8:00 and have it shut down then.

Personally I find option 1 to be the most appealing one.

-- Jason

Mithras · Mar 9, 2005, 05:40 PM

There is not a technological solution to this. I've periodically blocked MacNN and a few other sites at my router, but of course if I really want to waste time I will.

The approach I've found that works best is simply structuring my day. I found myself wasting much too much time on the computer about a year ago, and what worked for me was simply allowing myself to use the computer as much as I wanted, but only until 8am when I went to work. So if I got up early, I could noodle around, but that was it. After coming home, the computer was simply off-limits. I even cancelled my Internet access for about six months (so I could only get Internet-noodling time in if I came early to work, which was another side-benefit).

So after work, to waste time, I'd have to chat with my wife, or read magazines or books, or watch movies, or do anything else that doesn't involve a computer. All of these were good things! (I don't have a television, which obviously helped)

That "cold turkey" really helped, and while obviously I still spend time fooling around on the Web and getting my desktop icons "just so" and writing dumb programs that sort my iTunes collection or what have you, I've moderated the excesses. I wish you luck!

Detrius · Mar 9, 2005, 05:51 PM

Ummm... we could ban you and your IP address...

E's Lil Theorem · Mar 9, 2005, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by jasong:
...
1. Do stuff with your girlfriend. This shouldn't require any explanation.
...

That should take care of it

pete · Mar 9, 2005, 06:03 PM

My problem is that I'm writing my Ph.D. dissertation and do a lot of my work at home. It's too easy to go online and waste time/procrastinate. Even when I start looking things up (work-related) it's easy to start following links and get side-tracked...I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Mac Minder worked well because it allowed me to schedule time when I wasn't not able to use specific programs, such as safari, mail etc.. I gave myself two hours online every day between 8.30 and 7pm. Before and after that no internet. And that's when I did things with my girlfriend! It's not like I want to rush home just to get online...not yet anyway.

Unless there's some other way, I think I'm going to just pay the shareware fee....it's worth it if it stops me from wasting so much time.

Krusty · Mar 9, 2005, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by jasong:

Personally I find option 1 to be the most appealing one.

Me too ... his girlfriend is pretty cool

Mithras · Mar 9, 2005, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by pete:
My problem is that I'm writing my Ph.D. dissertation and do a lot of my work at home. It's too easy to go online and waste time/procrastinate. Even when I start looking things up (work-related) it's easy to start following links and get side-tracked...I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Mac Minder worked well because it allowed me to schedule time when I wasn't not able to use specific programs, such as safari, mail etc.. I gave myself two hours online every day between 8.30 and 7pm. Before and after that no internet. And that's when I did things with my girlfriend! It's not like I want to rush home just to get online...not yet anyway.

Unless there's some other way, I think I'm going to just pay the shareware fee....it's worth it if it stops me from wasting so much time.

If it was working pretty well for you, then I'd say it's worth the shareware fee.
I'm a PhD student also, and part of that lifestyle change I enforced was going in to the office every day. Or to a coffeeshop, one without WiFi. I know working at home is wonderful, but I do find having other people's eyeballs near my screen keeps me a bit more productive!

Just thoughts. If MacMinder will work out for you, while still letting you get a snack from the fridge whenever you want (rrr, let's not even get into THAT aspect of working from home), then so much the better

midwinter · Mar 9, 2005, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by pete:
My problem is that I'm writing my Ph.D. dissertation and do a lot of my work at home. It's too easy to go online and waste time/procrastinate. Even when I start looking things up (work-related) it's easy to start following links and get side-tracked...I'm sure you all know what I mean.

Mac Minder worked well because it allowed me to schedule time when I wasn't not able to use specific programs, such as safari, mail etc.. I gave myself two hours online every day between 8.30 and 7pm. Before and after that no internet. And that's when I did things with my girlfriend! It's not like I want to rush home just to get online...not yet anyway.

Unless there's some other way, I think I'm going to just pay the shareware fee....it's worth it if it stops me from wasting so much time.

Two things that worked for me when I was writing my dissertation:

1) Do not write at home if you can help it. If you have a laptop, go to a local coffee shop where there IS NOT INTERNET ACCESS. I wrote most of my dissertation in a coffee shop between 8:00 and noon.

2) Spending time online actually helped me take a break. Sometimes long, extended ones.

Detrius · Mar 9, 2005, 07:50 PM

Oh c'mon... you don't think bannination is the best idea??

CharlesS · Mar 9, 2005, 08:47 PM

Give me your admin password and turn SSH on. I'll log in and use a combination of shell commands and AppleScripts to make your life thoroughly miserable if you ever try to use the Internet again. yes, it's a JOKE!

ManOfSteal · Mar 9, 2005, 08:50 PM

DoctorW · Mar 9, 2005, 09:50 PM

Plug your Mac into an outlet timer. Set it for the time you should start working and stop goofing off.

jasong · Mar 9, 2005, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
Give me your admin password and turn SSH on. I'll log in and use a combination of shell commands and AppleScripts to make your life thoroughly miserable if you ever try to use the Internet again. yes, it's a JOKE!

That made me laugh too much, I must be spending too much time online myself.

-- Jason

turtle777 · Mar 10, 2005, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by Detrius:
Ummm... we could ban you and your IP address...

DO IT ! DO IT ! DO IT !

-t

pete · Mar 11, 2005, 02:28 PM

no pleeeease...please don't. I NEEEEEEED macnn or I start shaking with convulsions....please let me stay. I'll cut down my dosage to 75.9 visits per day.

turtle777 · Mar 11, 2005, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by pete:
no pleeeease...please don't. I NEEEEEEED macnn or I start shaking with convulsions....please let me stay. I'll cut down my dosage to 75.9 visits per day.

Pfff, I doubt that you are addicted anyways. Look at your post count: 0.17 posts per day. WTF is that ?

-t

pete · Mar 12, 2005, 01:41 PM

Ah, you just don't know all of my 237 other usernames on this forum!

turtle777 · Mar 13, 2005, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by pete:
Ah, you just don't know all of my 237 other usernames on this forum!

I bet you don't know them either !

But on a serious note:
multiple personalities can be a reason for lack of time.

-t