I use the same thing I did to quit smoking. Sort of an OCD-like 'As Good As It Gets' technique.
Step 1. Whenever I feel the 'urge' to read e.g. HN, I close my eyes and quit my browser. Then I breathe slowly and deeply three times, holding it for about 5 secs.
Usually that does it, I regain my senses and go back to work. If it doesn't work:
Step 2. I have to stare at my screen and say, out loud, "I'm the man. I'm getting shit done. I'm King fking Kong." I try to do a victorious or chest-beating gesture as well. Usually I get a little mini-dopamine rush, and then off I go.
I rarely get to step 3. But if the first two steps don't work
Step 3. I'm not allowed to do any work for the next 120 minutes, at all. I can do whatever I want, but nothing useful or productive.
That last one is nuclear. Think about it - if every time you look at that HN toolbar button, you know you're going to lose 2 minimum hours ... would you click it?
It also helps to have free time later to enjoy HN at one's leisure (something that is obviously not the case with smoking..)
Step 1. Whenever I feel the 'urge' to read e.g. HN, I close my eyes and quit my browser. Then I breathe slowly and deeply three times, holding it for about 5 secs.
Usually that does it, I regain my senses and go back to work. If it doesn't work:
Step 2. I have to stare at my screen and say, out loud, "I'm the man. I'm getting shit done. I'm King fking Kong." I try to do a victorious or chest-beating gesture as well. Usually I get a little mini-dopamine rush, and then off I go.
I rarely get to step 3. But if the first two steps don't work
Step 3. I'm not allowed to do any work for the next 120 minutes, at all. I can do whatever I want, but nothing useful or productive.
That last one is nuclear. Think about it - if every time you look at that HN toolbar button, you know you're going to lose 2 minimum hours ... would you click it?
It also helps to have free time later to enjoy HN at one's leisure (something that is obviously not the case with smoking..)