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:
- 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.
- 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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