Get Me Off The Computer!!!!

October 3, 2007 9:20 AM

Help me get off of my computer every now and then...

OK so here's the deal. I am a college student who pretty much spends most of his time in front of the computer and the tv. I live in a dorm so there really isn't much else to do when I'm not working or in class. Basically what I'm looking for is some motivation to get off the computer. By motivation, I mean some sort of software that will lock me out of my computer at a predetermined time everyday and make it semi-difficult get back on it. I do need to be able to override it just in case the occassional assignment comes up or it's finals week or something. Also, I'm on a Mac.



So does this software exist?

posted by zacharyseibert to computers & internet (16 comments total)

This question has been asked and answered a few times on ask metafilter. Search on "procrastination" for instance.
posted by jouke at 9:24 AM on October 3, 2007

Join clubs and get a job. Then you'll have to go out, and you'll also have something to put on your resume when you graduate.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:30 AM on October 3, 2007

crouton has it. you need to be doing something else entirely. I would love some sort of program that would lock me out of my computer. But, if it has an override or whatnot, more than likely you'll use it and be sitting in the same spot.
posted by Sassyfras at 9:39 AM on October 3, 2007

Such software is a very bad idea--what if you needed to use the computer for homework, and, oh wait, you can't get on for another hour.

I have the same problem, and what I've been trying to do is just hold myself to a time--I'll say "okay, I'm going to spend an hour screwing around, and then I'll spend at least an hour doing something else."

I also concur that getting involved with stuff is key--I've joined 2 groups in the month or so that I've been here, and those have been very helpful in getting me to go out and do stuff.
posted by DMan at 9:39 AM on October 3, 2007

Relevant Lifehacker article about browser add-ons that help productivity. You will need the willpower to not turn it off or use a different browser.
posted by ALongDecember at 9:41 AM on October 3, 2007

This software does exist. It's called a girlfriend.
posted by letahl at 9:55 AM on October 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

You can't make yourself do something for very long that you don't want to do, so solve the root cause of your problem first:

Figure out how to know what you really want to do.

Figure out how to know when to stop preparing to do something and start doing it.

Figure out how to know when you're trying to do too many things at once.

Figure out how to know how to stick to something until it's done.

If you can come up with an answer that satisfies you for the above issues, you'll never worry about wasting time again.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 10:01 AM on October 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

You live on campus?! And you say there isn't much to do?! There have to me regular art, music, lectures, colloquia.
posted by R343L at 10:18 AM on October 3, 2007

You will need the willpower to not turn it off or use a different browser.

Speaking from experience, three or four layers of passwords between you and the config change that will stop it getting in your way is not an adequate substitute for willpower.
posted by vbfg at 10:19 AM on October 3, 2007

What would you rather be doing?

If you don't have a girlfriend, and you're too busy to take on another job or more schoolwork, and you're not really into the college social scene, and you don't like to read novels, then there really isn't much to do besides browse the internet and watch TV.

Me, I play video games. Have you played the new Metroid? It's sick.
posted by Laugh_track at 11:10 AM on October 3, 2007

I live in a dorm so there really isn't much else to do when I'm not working or in class.

This is completely untrue and you know it. There is tons of stuff to do on any college campus, and if you're in the dorms, you have a ready-made social scene every time you walk out the door.

I was in basically the same situation. I had social phobia and agoraphobia. Check into it. It can be treated.
posted by desjardins at 11:40 AM on October 3, 2007

Mac Minder will do the trick, at least for as long as you stick with Tiger. I've found it useful for this purpose as long as you don't hit the aforementioned override button.
posted by streetdreams at 11:52 AM on October 3, 2007

You don't care for dorm activities or college activities, I take it. Probably better for you that you don't drink and party all the time either.

What you could do is set up a particularly annoying alarm clock, well out of reach of your computer chair. Once that goes off, you're out of your computer chair, you turn off the monitor, and you find something else to do. The trouble is, you need something else to do in order to make that work.

Go to the campus fitness center, work out for a while. Go to the campus library and read up on subjects that interest you, or are helpful to your studies. Ask pretty much any student with an arts-based major about events, and they'll likely pitch all manner of performances and displays, or at least their own pet project. You could consider taking on extra major-related projects as well, independent research will do you a lot of good.

Software won't do if you can override it. An alarm clock will get you moving physically, like the first step out of bed in the morning.
posted by Saydur at 12:52 PM on October 3, 2007

Develop the confidence to say to yourself, "Hey! This sucks. I'm not actually enjoying sitting here at my computer. I have better things to do, and I'm going to go do one of them right now" --- and then stand up and walk out of the room.

It helps to have a list of things to do. Not so much the traditional "to-do list" of things that need to get done, but a list of things you could be doing.

I'm posting this and going for a run now.
posted by wtdoor at 2:15 PM on October 3, 2007

I'm a college student to. I'm posting here in the 45 minutes I'm allowed to view metafilter every day after 6pm (a rule instituted yesterday). I use Leechblock.

Also, todoist is great.

These things are quite literally saving my way of life.
posted by phrontist at 3:55 PM on October 3, 2007

The best idea I've come up with for myself (and maybe there's some way to make this applicable for you) is to leave my laptop power cord at work. So I end up with 90 minutes computer time or something.
posted by salvia at 8:03 PM on October 3, 2007