As an online learner technology is essential, but virtual distractions can make it hard to keep your mind on classwork. Whether there are pop-ups for your favorite clothing company, coupons for a new restaurant, or you mindlessly typing in an address to your favorite sports website, they’re all detractors and don’t contribute to your mission of getting your school work done or study time in. What can you do? Besides trying to create your own sense of what you think is self control, you can actual download it and let it do the mental work for you. Here are a few great apps to download to keep yourself in check:
- Self Control (OS X application) –
This app blocks access to incoming or outgoing mail servers and websites for a predetermined period of time. You could tell it to block your access to Facebook, Twitter, and your email accounts for 90 minutes while you get some work done. BUT you cannot undo the action once the timer starts, you’ll just have to get back to work! - Stay Focused (Chrome extension) –
Here you can also set it up to block distracting sites for a period of time or even permanently if you like. - Add Art –
This web browser plugin helps you replace annoying pop up advertisements with art. - Concentrate (for Mac users) –
With this tool you can create an activity to designate your time to, customize actions to run every time you “concentrate”, quit apps, launch apps, “growl” at yourself (a feature to keep you focused), and block sites. - Spirited Away –
Have one too many windows laying around on your desktop? This app automatically hides them if they’ve been sitting around dormant for too long. - Vitamin R –
This is great app will hide the applications, encourages goal setting and focus and uses a timer.
– By J. Mason
Comments are closed.