Focus - Leo Babauta [15]
More on beating fears later, in the chapter by psychologist Gail Brenner.
4. Desires. Sometimes we have trouble letting go of these addictions because of desires -- the desire to be successful at something, for example, or the desire to be seen as good at something, or the desire to build wealth. If we have a strong desire to be a successful blogger or Internet marketer, to take just two examples, we might try to connect with as many other bloggers or readers or marketers as possible, and try to attract as many followers as possible on Twitter and our blog, all of which would require lots of time emailing, tweeting, blogging, commenting on blogs, and so forth.
If the desire wasn't there, the need to connect all the time wouldn't be there. Now, I can't say whether you want to get rid of the desire, but it's important to be honest about what your desires are, what the consequences are when it comes to these addictions, and whether that's how you want to live your life. If you're OK with these desires and their consequences, at least you're aware of them.
If you want to drop the desire, it's not simple, but it can be done. I'd suggest first thinking about why you want to drop the desire -- because of negative consequences -- and then be more aware when the desire comes up at different times during the day. Just like addictive urges, desires will come and go, and taking some deep breaths and riding out the desire will help you get through it. Eventually, you'll learn that you don't need the desire.
7: tools for beating distraction
"Man must shape his tools lest they shape him."
– Arthur Miller
This is a resource for those who need a little help in blocking out distractions. It's software that will block websites and other time-wasters, or clear away everything on your computer but what you need to focus on.
It's important to note, however, that these types of software are not a solution, but tools to aid your new habits of focus. It's best to learn new habits of simplifying, clearing distractions, staying mindful of the task you're working on. These tools can help you get started, but they're not absolutely necessary, and if you do use them at first you might find you don't need them forever.
Mac
Freedom – An extreme tool, but an effective one. Disables your entire Internet connection for a time period set by you. Perfect when you really need to focus for an hour or three at a time. http://macfreedom.com
Selfcontrol – Disable access to mail servers and websites that distract you. For example, you could block access to Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, and your favorite blogs for 90 minutes, but still have access to the rest of the web. Once started, you can't undo it until the timer runs out. http://visitsteve.com/work/selfcontrol/
Concentrate – Create an activity (design, study, write, etc) and choose actions (launch or block websites, quit applications, speak a message, and more) to run every time you concentrate. When ready, just click "concentrate." All your distractions will disappear and a timer will appear to help you stay focused. http://getconcentrating.com
WriteRoom – Perhaps the first, and still one of the absolute best, distraction-free text editors. Goes full screen so all you have is your text. No formatting, no nothing -- just writing text. Beautiful program, copied by many others. http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom/
Ommwriter – Beautiful app just for writing. Has a serene backdrop with background music, perfect for creating the distraction-free writing environment (especially if you use headphones). Can adjust some of the settings but most of the time, it's just your text, your Zen-like background, and the music. http://www.ommwriter.com
Ulysses or Scrivener – Two great programs for writers, many more features than