When you’re trying to write a paper, you’ll need ways to avoid online distractions. If you’re on a laptop, it’s easy to open up a browser to check your favorite social sites. Procrastination has become easier with our vast amount of technology. If you want ways to avoid online distractions, start by employing the following techniques.
If you don’t need the internet to do your paper, disconnect your computer from the wifi. If there are certain documents you need to look at, open them and then disconnect. That way, you’ll be able to look at the information you need, but won’t be able to check Twitter. One of the ways to avoid online distractions is to cut yourself off from them completely. If the temptation is there, there’s always a chance that you’ll succumb to it.
If there’s one website in particular that you’re eager to go on, you can make it so that it’s impossible to log into. If you have a trusted friend or family member, ask them to temporarily change the password for you. Don’t let them tell you what they changed it to until you can show them your work is complete. By doing this, there’s no way for you to cheat your way into logging back onto the website.
Most assignments have to be printed out or sent electronically. However, even if your homework has to be done in a word document, you can do it with a pen and paper first. It’ll be annoying to type out everything once you're done, but it’ll save time overall. By staying away from electronics while you’re doing the assignment, you won’t have the chance to be distracted. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to sit outside instead of staring at a screen.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break every once in a while. If you’re completing a large assignment, you don’t have to finish it all in one chunk of time. Reward yourself with a break after you do a certain amount of work. If you don’t give yourself a set amount of time to relax, then you might end up slacking off. It’s better for you to take small breaks to get rid of your temptation.
If you have tabs open for websites you wish you were on, you’re going to wish you were on them. Most of them will say the number of updates that have occurred or if a friend messaged you. Seeing that information will make your temptation worse. So minimize windows you don’t need and close tabs that you aren’t using. Out of sight, out of mind.
It can be annoying when a parent or friend looks over your shoulder to see what you’re doing. However, when you’re trying to get homework done, it can come in handy. If you’re worried that someone will notice you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, you won’t log onto distracting websites. Ask someone in your house or dorm to randomly check up on your progress. It can keep you on track.
If you can handle listening to music while your doing work, do so. It’ll give you a bit of enjoyment while you’re doing what you have to do. Skip the tunes if you know you get distracted by lyrics or will waste your minutes changing songs until you find the perfect one. Only put on music if you know that it won’t negatively impact your work ethic. If you can handle listening while working, then it can help you squash your desire to do something distracting. If you have music on, then you’re getting the same enjoyment you’d get from visiting your favorite website.
The next time you have assignments that you need to finish, try out some of these tips. The faster you finish your homework, the more time you’ll have to do the things you enjoy. Do you have issues with procrastination and distractions?