Comments on: Goal Setting Diaries: The Freelance Writer Fighting For More Billable Hours and Less Web Surfing http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/ Goal Setting and Productivity for People Who Like Technology Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:23:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: priyankar http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-53600 priyankar Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:46:32 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-53600 I too believe that lately i am wasting a lot of my productive time browsing aimlessly and reading news sites. Self motivation is a difficult thing to practice. Its easier said than done. There are distractions all over the web and its not easy to steer clear of them. I spend 12 hours each day with my computer yet I have 4 to 5 billable hours. Need to work on this. I too believe that lately i am wasting a lot of my productive time browsing aimlessly and reading news sites. Self motivation is a difficult thing to practice. Its easier said than done. There are distractions all over the web and its not easy to steer clear of them. I spend 12 hours each day with my computer yet I have 4 to 5 billable hours. Need to work on this.

]]> By: Firany http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-49109 Firany Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:54:52 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-49109 My advice is simple - just block all "fun" websites during the time you need to work. Preferably do it in your router's settings - this way it'll require more effort to un-block them and then block again and you're less likely to procrastinate. My advice is simple – just block all “fun” websites during the time you need to work. Preferably do it in your router’s settings – this way it’ll require more effort to un-block them and then block again and you’re less likely to procrastinate.

]]> By: Allan | nike dunks http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-48461 Allan | nike dunks Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:13:24 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-48461 After calculating everything for 7 days, I came to know the horrible truth, I was not working even 5 hours a day on my living tasks. I am wondering what are good techniques and strategies which can help us maximizing our output. Thanks for sharing your time and output. After calculating everything for 7 days, I came to know the horrible truth, I was not working even 5 hours a day on my living tasks. I am wondering what are good techniques and strategies which can help us maximizing our output. Thanks for sharing your time and output.

]]> By: Randy http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-47695 Randy Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:35:01 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-47695 Boy...wow...I share your goals EXACTLY...even the 6 hours a day. But I also think that's not realistic. Some observations as I've been battling this too. 1) You have to decide how long you will work each session. You can't just say "6 hours today" and then measure by the end of the day. If you're strong in the morning then schedule 90 min, 60, whatever, and time it, and turn off the phone, and record it!..on a piece of paper...a daily chart...green marker...give comments about the FEELING! ... "I DID IT!~" vs. just a check mark. 2) Develop a reward system...there has to be a payoff to not surf. How much money is that surfing really costing you? What hobby/book/ etc.... project that you've been putting off for YEARS! maybe, are you finally going to invest some time in. (for me it's music, singing and maybe songwriting...something highly creative...something both fun and puzzling...something that you'll grow very fond of quickly and really chomp at the bit to get your next work session done so you can have that half hour of fun (Pavlov yourself). 3) 6 hrs. billable?... do you count work hours that aren't billable? One a day "working" on billing, finding new clients, etc. Is 6 too much out of the gate? How about 4hrs. x 6 days instead? Boy…wow…I share your goals EXACTLY…even the 6 hours a day. But I also think that’s not realistic. Some observations as I’ve been battling this too.

1) You have to decide how long you will work each session. You can’t just say “6 hours today” and then measure by the end of the day. If you’re strong in the morning then schedule 90 min, 60, whatever, and time it, and turn off the phone, and record it!..on a piece of paper…a daily chart…green marker…give comments about the FEELING! … “I DID IT!~” vs. just a check mark.

2) Develop a reward system…there has to be a payoff to not surf. How much money is that surfing really costing you? What hobby/book/ etc…. project that you’ve been putting off for YEARS! maybe, are you finally going to invest some time in. (for me it’s music, singing and maybe songwriting…something highly creative…something both fun and puzzling…something that you’ll grow very fond of quickly and really chomp at the bit to get your next work session done so you can have that half hour of fun (Pavlov yourself).

3) 6 hrs. billable?… do you count work hours that aren’t billable? One a day “working” on billing, finding new clients, etc. Is 6 too much out of the gate? How about 4hrs. x 6 days instead?

]]> By: Harel http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-47132 Harel Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:49:25 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-47132 A trick I use when at home is on my linux system on the hosts file, adding a line "127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com" blocks out youtube. Sure, you can then edit the file and delete, but 1) you have to type in your super-user password 2) you then have to find the right line and delete it 3) you feel guilty and are reminded not to stay on too long 4) sometimes just the mental thought of 1), 2),3) makes you decide to NOT edit the hosts file ("sudo gedit /etc/hosts") so you end up NOT giving in to temptation. Helps a lot when I'm home. You can also block some of the advertiser based websites too by the way ;-) Now a question for your or your readers: how do you do the same thing in Windows in a simple, as-few-steps-as-possible way of blocking certain websites from being allowed on one's browser? This would help me avoid more distractions when at work and help more folks..thanks, H A trick I use when at home is on my linux system on the hosts file, adding a line “127.0.0.1 http://www.youtube.com” blocks out youtube. Sure, you can then edit the file and delete, but 1) you have to type in your super-user password 2) you then have to find the right line and delete it 3) you feel guilty and are reminded not to stay on too long 4) sometimes just the mental thought of 1), 2),3) makes you decide to NOT edit the hosts file (“sudo gedit /etc/hosts”) so you end up NOT giving in to temptation. Helps a lot when I’m home.

You can also block some of the advertiser based websites too by the way ;-)

Now a question for your or your readers: how do you do the same thing in Windows in a simple, as-few-steps-as-possible way of blocking certain websites from being allowed on one’s browser? This would help me avoid more distractions when at work and help more folks..thanks,

H

]]> By: Agitationist http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-46969 Agitationist Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:10:09 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-46969 My tip: alter your environment to alter your habits. Move your furniture, computer etc., so that your leisure time is completely separate from work time, and you can't confuse the two. Allow yourself X amount of time in leisure mode for X amount in work mode. <abbr><em>Agitationists last blog post..<a href="http://agitationist.com/why-everyblock-rules-the-neighborhood">Why EveryBlock Rules the Neighborhood</a></em></abbr> My tip: alter your environment to alter your habits. Move your furniture, computer etc., so that your leisure time is completely separate from work time, and you can’t confuse the two. Allow yourself X amount of time in leisure mode for X amount in work mode.

Agitationists last blog post..Why EveryBlock Rules the Neighborhood

]]> By: Rod http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-46767 Rod Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:01:45 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-46767 I agree that 6 hours billable time might be a stretch. How about starting by writing down everything you do, and noting how much time you spend doing it. That was an eye-opener for me. When you have done that, you can work on eliminating one time-waster at a time - that half hour here and there soon adds up to a chunk of time wasted. Also, look at how realistic 6 hours really is. If you get called into a lot of meetings, or have an 'open door' policy on your office, that can be a real time-waster. Can you set aside time when your door is not 'open' so you can focus on the tasks you need to complete to get paid? I have found using an RSS reader to focus on the news I really want helps me avoid reading the distractions on the general news pages. Just subscribe to the feeds that you really do need to know about. There is a lot of duplication in feeds, but even more on news sites. Brad, this a great series - can you provide a follow-up post with info on how the authors of the diaries did in subsequent weeks? I agree that 6 hours billable time might be a stretch. How about starting by writing down everything you do, and noting how much time you spend doing it. That was an eye-opener for me. When you have done that, you can work on eliminating one time-waster at a time – that half hour here and there soon adds up to a chunk of time wasted.

Also, look at how realistic 6 hours really is. If you get called into a lot of meetings, or have an ‘open door’ policy on your office, that can be a real time-waster. Can you set aside time when your door is not ‘open’ so you can focus on the tasks you need to complete to get paid?

I have found using an RSS reader to focus on the news I really want helps me avoid reading the distractions on the general news pages. Just subscribe to the feeds that you really do need to know about. There is a lot of duplication in feeds, but even more on news sites.

Brad, this a great series – can you provide a follow-up post with info on how the authors of the diaries did in subsequent weeks?

]]> By: Daniel Christopher http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-46563 Daniel Christopher Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:15:54 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-46563 It sounds to me like you are just getting bored with this line of work too. You may just want to start keeping your mind open to possible career changes into something that is more creatively stimulating. Its hard to get motivated for something that you really don't want to do! Maybe make a goal to become a writer for your favorite magazine or something instead. It sounds to me like you are just getting bored with this line of work too. You may just want to start keeping your mind open to possible career changes into something that is more creatively stimulating. Its hard to get motivated for something that you really don’t want to do! Maybe make a goal to become a writer for your favorite magazine or something instead.

]]> By: Eric S. Mueller http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-46558 Eric S. Mueller Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:23:00 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-46558 I'm curious if the goal you're setting is realistic. I allow myself some mindless surfing as long as I'm actually getting my work done. I also think you're missing the specific part of the SMART model. Rather than say the general "I want to get 6 billable hours", wouldn't it be better to plan out a list of specific items that you want to do, then work on them and check them off? <abbr><em>Eric S. Muellers last blog post..<a href="http://emuelle1.typepad.com/erics_podium/2009/01/more-mystery-church-shoppers-church-check.html">More Mystery Church Shoppers: Church Check</a></em></abbr> I’m curious if the goal you’re setting is realistic. I allow myself some mindless surfing as long as I’m actually getting my work done.

I also think you’re missing the specific part of the SMART model. Rather than say the general “I want to get 6 billable hours”, wouldn’t it be better to plan out a list of specific items that you want to do, then work on them and check them off?

Eric S. Muellers last blog post..More Mystery Church Shoppers: Church Check

]]> By: Oliver http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/comment-page-1/#comment-46556 Oliver Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:35:08 +0000 http://persistenceunlimited.com/2009/01/goal-setting-diaries-the-freelance-writer-fighting-for-more-billable-hours-and-less-web-surfing/#comment-46556 I have to agree, I think that I need to spend more time doing worthwhile stuff with my spare time! Sometimes I am sitting there, and then the day has just disappeared, and it's really quite depressing when you've wasted a whole day, and you have nothing to account the day for. Thanks for this, I may try a few thing what you're doing too. I have to agree, I think that I need to spend more time doing worthwhile stuff with my spare time! Sometimes I am sitting there, and then the day has just disappeared, and it’s really quite depressing when you’ve wasted a whole day, and you have nothing to account the day for.

Thanks for this, I may try a few thing what you’re doing too.

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