Why you should block your procrastination sites
You know exactly what I’m talking about. We’ve all been there.
You know exactly what I’m talking about. We’ve all been there.
One minute, you’re sitting down to work, and the next, you’ve somehow spent 30 minutes scrolling through an online news article or shopping for something you didn’t even need.
So here’s a quick tip: just block access to them. Simple.
A CEO’s guilty pleasure
I once worked with a CEO managing over 500 employees who struggled with time management.
To my surprise, the tip that had the most immediate impact was this one.
It turns out he was spending 1–2 hours every day reading online papers like The Times, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Don’t get me wrong, staying informed is important. It can be super relevant, especially for large companies monitoring macroeconomic trends.
But, in this case, he wasn’t using any of the information for his business decisions. It was pure procrastination, disguised as something “professional.”
Complexity score (and why)
Score: 2/10
This tool is incredibly easy to implement.
You just need to install a browser extension or app that blocks specific websites on both desktop and mobile.
I personally recommend Just Focus or AppBlock It’s a simple browser extension that blocks procrastination sites, keeps track of how long you’ve stayed focused, and even gives you a motivational quote when you try to access a blocked site. And the best part? It’s free!
The slight complexity comes from people who may claim they need access to certain sites for work—like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc., for marketing purposes.
While this can be valid, I still recommend blocking unnecessary sites where possible. I even blocked Zalando at one point because I realized I was spending time browsing clothes I convinced myself I needed. But let’s be honest—I didn’t.
How to implement
1️⃣ Choose a website blocker:
Download a browser extension or app like "Just Focus" to block your most distracting sites.
2️⃣ Add your top procrastination sites to the blocklist:
Identify the websites that take up most of your time and add them to your blocker. This could be social media, news sites, or even online shopping platforms.
3️⃣ Customize for your work:
If you do need access to platforms for business purposes (e.g., social media for marketing), you can whitelist those sites during work hours. Block everything else that’s unnecessary.
4️⃣ Stick with it:
Initially, you might be tempted to disable the blocker when the urge to procrastinate strikes. Stay disciplined and trust the process—you’ll notice an immediate improvement in productivity.
This simple tool can free up hours each week for high-value work. The more you control what takes your attention, the more effective you’ll become.
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