Facebook, Twitter, blogs, emails, and frequently updated news sites make the Internet a very distracting place. Since most people do the majority of their work on computers, it can be hard to resist the temptation to check social networking sites instead of focusing on work. When you’re engrossed in fun sites online, it’s also easy to lose track of time, and some people view spending time on the Internet as a potentially addictive activity. Several web-based applications are now available to help keep you on task, including SelfControl, StayFocusd, RescueTime, and Write or Die.
SelfControl is a Mac application that blocks your access to e-mail and websites for a set amount of time. After you download SelfControl, you type in any websites that you want to block and an amount of time. Beware: Turning your computer off or deleting the application won’t let you access the sites you blocked – you must wait for the timer to run out.
StayFocusd is an extension for Google’s Chrome browser that lets you spend a limited amount of time each day on certain sites before blocking your access to them. By using StayFocusd, you can limit your Facebook usage to, for example, 15 minutes a day. The application also allows more flexibility, letting you access Facebook but blocking your access to Facebook’s games or photos.
RescueTime is an application that tracks how much time you spend using software programs and browsing websites. Some businesses install RescueTime on company computers to make sure that employees are not wasting time on non-work related Internet activities. RescueTime works for both Macs and PCs.
Write or Die uses fear to motivate people, especially college students, to be productive when writing essays. Once you start typing in the application’s text box, you must continue typing or a reminder box will appear, telling you to keep writing. If you don’t resume typing, Write or Die will play a shrill noise until you start typing again. If you still don’t type enough words, the program enters Kamikaze Mode, in which your writing will unwrite itself – i.e. delete – until you reach your word count goal.
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