Comments on: Removing Distractions http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/ Gary Barber rants on user experience, and the controlled chaos of the Web Industry Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:05:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: eric http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-5804 eric Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:59:59 +0000 http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/#comment-5804 I also set myself a time limit, like one hour or so. Only at the end of that time will I allow myself to check email and such forth. I don't do this by setting an alarm clock or anything like that. No setting the email check schedule for 60 minutes. The reason why is that if I'm right in the flow at the 59 minute mark then I do want to keep on going until I realise the time has passed. One easy way I do this is to set up a special playlist which only has 60 minutes of music in it. When the music stops, maybe I'll notice, but if the music is still going then I keep going .. and I can put off the temptation to check email etc because I know the music will stop eventually. It's also a good chance for a bio break - stretch, walk around, grab a snack, vent the spleen, whatever. I also set myself a time limit, like one hour or so. Only at the end of that time will I allow myself to check email and such forth.

I don’t do this by setting an alarm clock or anything like that. No setting the email check schedule for 60 minutes. The reason why is that if I’m right in the flow at the 59 minute mark then I do want to keep on going until I realise the time has passed.

One easy way I do this is to set up a special playlist which only has 60 minutes of music in it. When the music stops, maybe I’ll notice, but if the music is still going then I keep going .. and I can put off the temptation to check email etc because I know the music will stop eventually.

It’s also a good chance for a bio break – stretch, walk around, grab a snack, vent the spleen, whatever.

]]> By: Gary Barber http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-5800 Gary Barber Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:15:37 +0000 http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/#comment-5800 @KatB - the opposite for me, the silence can just eat at me, I have to have music around me to almost carry me forward. @KatB – the opposite for me, the silence can just eat at me, I have to have music around me to almost carry me forward.

]]> By: KatB http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-5799 KatB Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:30:27 +0000 http://manwithnoblog.com/2008/02/09/removing-distractions/#comment-5799 I would have thought that it was better to turn off music altogether? I would have thought that it was better to turn off music altogether?

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