Easy blocking of internet access to avoid distractions

Jan 11, '07 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: soulbarn

As much as one would like to exercise pure personal discipline in avoiding constant web browsing and email checking when we need to be working seriously, sometimes it takes a little bit of a forced "fencing off" of distractions. Some routers have timing routines built into their config -- but not AirPorts (as far as I can tell.)

Here's what to do: go buy a cheap household lamp and appliance timer (usually under ten bucks from your hardware store; here's the one I use. I have my timer set to 'turn off' access between 7:00am and 1:00pm. You can get timers that give you one, two, or three cycles daily.

Now, the real tip, with two options:

  1. Put the timer between your cable modem and your AirPort. This will block all access, including to your local network. It keeps your VOIP phone service on.
  2. Put the timer between your cable modem and the AC wall power. Advantage? Maintains LAN access, and if you use a VOIP phone service, it turns that off as well, for total distraction control.
This works best for me when my AirPort and cable modem are in a room far from my home office -- less chance of cheating.

[robg adds: Draconian, I know, but I thought it a creative use of a wall timer to enforce a net-free work time. Of course, since my work time requires that I be on the net, this really wouldn't work in my setup. Reverse the hours though, and I could use it to insure I only go online when it is work time...]

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