A user on Stack Exchange's Workplace forum asks:
"How do I stop wasting time on Reddit at work?"
While the question is specifically geared at a single social network, the suggestions in the answers will certainly apply to just about anything that wastes a person's time when they should instead be working. In fact, the user does bring up other social networks and timewasters, while explaining that this has been a major problem for him for years.
The original post is a bit lengthy, but worth a read, with this pertinent quote that sums up the basic problem:
"I was given a project to work on and made progress on it. However, the job is entirely remote, and I work alone. There is almost no oversight of my work, even from my manager. With no one to hold me accountable but myself, I soon found myself wasting a lot of time surfing the internet."
I appreciate the honesty in the post. The user has tried numerous things to improve but can't seem to get to the root of the problem. It's become more or less an addiction, which I'm sure many of us can relate to.
The top answer might not be an ideal solution, but it's the most realistic one, even though it technically doesn't get to the root of the problem:
"The solution for me is that my company requires me to log my time – so long as the work gets done and the time is logged for it. So long as I am available and answer messages/emails promptly during the day – no one bats an eyelid.
"This does, however, mean that if I have had a particularly distracted day at work, I might be up in my own time catching up – the work is done, they have gotten their 8 hours of my time out of me – everyone is happy.
"But being forced to document your time will help you be a little more disciplined on those little breaks."
The ideal answer would be to train yourself to ignore the urge to waste time and exercise discipline and self-control. But like I said, the answer above is more realistic. It allows the person to accept some weaknesses while still endeavouring to get work done. It also allows some accountability that may end up improving a person's work habits over time.
Now on to this week's hand-picked productivity links!
