5 Tips to Boost Your Online Productivity

Computers allow us to work so much faster, yet many people end up wasting more time on them than they save. Do you ever boot up your trusty CPU with the sole intention of working, only to find yourself mindlessly surfing the net a couple hours later? I used to do this quite often; looking back, I wish I could somehow reclaim all that lost time. Fortunately, I’ve been able to kick this exasperating habit, and I’d like to share some tricks and software I use to boost my online productivity.

1. Block Time-Wasting Websites

Blocking those hour-sucking websites is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to get yourself off the computer. There are a number of easy-to-use browser plugins that carry out this function, like Leechblock for Firefox or StayFocused for Chrome. Most of them allow you to either block the site completely, during a scheduled time or after you’ve exceeded your maximum time limit. However, these programs are usually very easy to disable, and you may be tempted to discretely turn them off when you’re feeling a bit rebellious.

An alternative would be to edit your “hosts” file so you can’t access the website. Although this process is reversible, it takes more effort and in the process, you might stop yourself from committing such “anti-productivity” sins. Just Google “block sites with hosts file” or something similar if you want to learn how to do this.

2. File Everything Immediately

Why file it later when you can do it right away? Computer organization is so easy that there’s really no excuse for having a bunch of files scattered on your desktop. With the convenience of search functions, it’s unnecessary to create any kind of meticulous system. This is especially true with programs and software, as they can usually be accessed very easily. However, when you’re working on projects that require many individual files, you’re bound to eventually forget the name of something you’re looking for. Just having a basic hierarchy of a few folders can save you a lot of time.

3. Speed Up Your Computer

Whether or not you have a habit of procrastinating, speeding up your computer will increase your productivity. Think of how much time you’d save in the long run if your computer was just 20% faster. Unfortunately, processing speeds tend to get bogged down by all the junk that inevitably accumulates. Here’s a list of a few maintenance tasks I do to keep my computer running strong.
• Run CCleaner: The digital vacuum cleaner. Push a few buttons, get rid of all the debris that other software leaves. When I’m doing heavy downloading, I literally free hundreds of megs every couple of days with this awesome piece of software.
• Defrag: I use Defraggler, it’s much faster than the built-in defragmenter. It doesn’t really help to overdo this, once a month or so is usually good enough.
• Uninstall everything you don’t need: There’s no point in keeping stuff you won’t use. Certain browser add-ons can make your Internet especially sluggish.
• Stop programs from starting-up with the computer: I hate it when software starts up automatically when I turn on my computer. The only optional programs I allow to run are the anti-virus software and firewall.

4. Correct Your Posture

Most of us understand the consequences of poor computer posture over time, even if we don’t actively try to correct ourselves. How we position our bodies is absolutely related to how we end up feeling; however, I’m not here to lecture you on proper ergonomics.

For productivity purposes, what I’ve noticed about myself is that I’m more focused on my task when I maintain my physical poise. In addition to the improved breathing and circulation that would promote a higher level of concentration, I believe the fact that it’s necessary to put forth a conscious effort to sit up properly is beneficial. Because we are exerting this effort, it’s less likely that our mind will drift. I’m not saying you should force your back straight, but simply keeping a relaxed, upright position may help you concentrate on your task at hand.

5. Get a Clear Outcome and Do It First

When you don’t know what you’re going to do, it’s easy to get sidetracked. Oftentimes, I’d find myself switching on my PC to work on a project, but because I don’t tell my specifically what I was going to do, I end up checking my email or reading the sports updates before I actually get started. What I do now is decide what I’m going to accomplish before I turn on the computer. I can’t always think of how I’m going to do it because a lot of work requires trial and error, but as long as I have a clear outcome in mind, it’s much easier for me to focus. The key is to restrict yourself from any other activities until you’ve met your goal.