Grievances: The Urge
-
Problem:
Multiple times during the day, I feel an urge to check some kind of internet tick. Sometimes it's an email account, sometimes it's LinkedIn, sometimes it's Twitter, and sometimes it's Instagram.
These urges feel primal in nature, in the sense that I start to feel uncomfortable in a similar way that an itch feels uncomfortable. This usually forces me to change context from whatever I was planning on doing, because I feel the need to switch tabs, pull out my phone, or use some kind of device to scratch that itch.
Boredom - Wikipedia
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
Mosquito-ass problem.
Solution:
- Blockers - block a URL. The only successful blockers I've used are Kindle Blocker and Claude Blocker. These two are most effective over a solution like VPN blockers, or one that makes you do math or something, because they are in line with higher-level creative desires. Reason: When you're at a computer, you have access to applications like Kindle and Claude Code. It makes sense that if your high-level goal is to write software or to read more (mine are), you should reward yourself for reading more or writing code by being able to use these websites. It removes the guilt component of scratching that itch. Having a reason transcends pain
- Don't Keep Your Phone on You, put it somewhere else
- Find something better to do until you do it by default - Doodle, Knit, Dance, make short blog posts
- Stare at the Wall and Fight through the pain
