Collab entry for Illustration Friday. This week's topic: "Nutrition"
(What can I say? I felt like drawing a robot. :-) )

Thanks so much to Walter for pointing me to various maps of Toronto Parks and Trails as well as the Discovery Walks in response to yesterday's Blathering. And thanks to Kate for explaining how to get to Edwards Gardens from our new house via the trails; I realize now where I took a wrong turn.

Made Gingered Shrimp with Soba last night, a recipe from one of the Moosewood Cookbooks. Turned out pretty well; so far I have yet to try a Moosewood recipe I haven't liked. I found the recipe online, if anyone's interested.

I recently posted a poll asking how people with constant Internet access stayed productive and minimized their time online. I've been experimenting with a 5-minute timer, and so far it's been working well. Whenever I take a break to check e-mail or "just check a fact", the timer keeps me aware of how much time is passing.

Anyway, here are some of the responses to my poll:

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From Debra Broughton:

"I work one day a week from home & I find it increasingly hard to ignore the internet, especially since I've been blogging. (I justify reading other blogs as part of my own blogging process - it's true but it's also an excuse).

Setting a target number of words helps. If I reach that goal then I allow myself to surf. I don't go as far as unplugging the modem, but won't connect 'just' to check emails until I've made some progress with my writing."

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From Andrea:

"When I am trying to avoid gratuitiously checking email or surfing the web, I detach the DSL cable from the back of my computer.

Sometimes, I set a timer when I am researchig a topic online."

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From netcrimes:

"I get up extra early (6:30 am these days), answer my e-mails, check my YahooGroups that I moderate, look at newsgroups I subscribe to (which I have whittled down to four), look at Google News and the Drudge Report, then get to work writing.

I also make sure I take a lunch break (if I don't, the dogs come and bug me at noon), then the hubby makes me get off the computer at 5:30 or so, when he gets home. I then take a mile walk, come home, take a bubble bath while he cooks dinner (yes, I'm lucky), then we both veg and watch TV or a movie or play a game.

On weekends, I keep my Internet use to an absolute minimum to give my mind a rest and get my veggie garden started!"

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From Lynda:

"I work with constant internet access and although not at home, I do have very little daily supervision. Every morning I make a mental list of the things I need to accomplish that day along with a general amount of time the task should take. From there, I just keep in mind what I have left to do and how long it's going to take me. If I need a mental break by surfing for 5 minutes, I have no problems taking it (although my employers would probably frown on it). For me, the key is to make sure any time spent 'online' doesn't interfere with my mental to do list (which also allows for unplanned problems to crop up)."

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From electricland:

"I have a hard time with that! I have a lot on my plate, and when I'm concentrating on one thing it means I'm neglecting four other things, and I tend to just shut down and do not-very-useful "research" instead. Not very helpful. Strategies that work for me include:

- Have a clear idea of what I need to get done today and this week
- Make a schedule for the day, including 5-minute LiveJournal breaks, and stick to it
- Try to check personal email and LiveJournal only at the beginning and end of the day
- Don't be too hard on myself if I fail in any of my goals -- staying at work until 7:30 isn't going to make me any more productive, and there will ALWAYS be more work"

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From Bill Roper:

"One of my coworkers just got back from a time management class. And he said:

"Three things I am trying to cut down on specifically are answering my emails as they come in, IM chatter while I'm focusing on an in-depth task and off-hand hallway conversations that turn into 10-30 minute discussions."

Now, the third is probably not much of a problem at home, but the first two can be limited. Don't check your e-mail frequently and turn off IM."

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From Thomas Woods:

"At work and at home, I have my mail program set to only check for new
messages every 15 minutes. I am trying to decide if I should double
that to every 30 minutes. Every message gets read, but not while I'm
doing something else. Also, I don't use IM. I have a phone for instant
talk."

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From mdlbear:

"I have DSL at home and a T1 at work; net addiction is a big problem.

The main thing I've done is to make folders on my (Firefox) bookmark toolbar labled AM and PM. Firefox then lets me open the folder in separate tabs. The morning list at home is mostly cartoons; LJ is on both. I only have an AM folder at work, with work-related blogs in it; should probably make a PM one as well.

At work I try to limit LJ and other distractions to that time in the early evening when I've just finished one task and I don't have the time or the concentration to start another."

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Also see:
More ways to stay focused while writing from Keyboard Hack

Any other suggestions? Please post in one of the message boards below or e-mail me, and I'll add it here. I'm going to link to this page from Inkygirl.

TEN MORE DAYS until we get the house.

Fun link:

(thanks to Ray for the link!)

Tools or Actions in Photoshop That, Were They Applicable to Real Life, Would Prove Useful at Various Stages of a Relationship

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