59 Words: 9 Tips for Overcoming Online Distractions and Staying on Task

2176 Words: 400
It can be very challenging to stay on task with the lure of the Internet beckoning to you at every turn. Many people are addicted to the various delicacies of the Internet, drawn to each little e-mail like it was the shocking conclusion to the most spellbinding cliffhanger. Many who work must do so under this constant pressure. Although it may be difficult, there are ways you can resist the temptation of the mischievous World Wide Web. Try the following strategies to aid you in your endeavor.
Set your e-mail so that it does not interrupt you to tell you that you have an e-mail
Most of us remember the infamous movie “You’ve got mail.” That little electronic voice promises so much, and upon discovering a correspondence, many people have difficulty stopping themselves from further exploration. The best technique may be to remove the temptation. You can close your e-mail program. You can set it so that it doesn’t break into your work to tell you about an e-mail. Whatever you have to do, you might try to set it so that you will not know when that piece of mail arrives so you will not stop what you are doing to check.
Close other windows
Those tiny little windows on the bottom of your screen seemingly call to you. Just a quick peek you promise yourself again and again as the time slips away. With it exits your productivity. For some, it may simply be best to close all of the windows not relevant to the task on hand. You can bookmark them for easy return later. It may just be too easy to go to them when they are up. Hopefully it will be easier to avoid if you have to open up a new window and search for them.
Turn off the sound so that you do not hear other websites
Many websites have audio, which can be distracting. You might want to mute your sound so that you do not hear these distractions. It may also help you avoid switching over to see whatever the sound is about.
Set specific times for work and keep with it
Make yourself a resolution. Decide on the times that you are going to spend doing your work and avoiding other distractions. You can even set up a little reward system for yourself if you think it would be beneficial.
Updated On: 03/15/2010 Published On: 03/15/2010 Should I send my child to school if there is an H1N1 outbreak?