Poll: How do you manage online distractions (social media, messaging apps, news feeds, etc.)? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How do you manage online distractions (social media, messaging apps, news feeds, etc.)?".
View the poll results »
| | | | | Still working on it | Jun 1, 2021 |
It's still a challenge for me. My biggest problem is emails. I receive a lot of messages about volunteer activities that require immediate attention, even when I'm working. Also, I recently published a book and there's a lot of feedback and comment around that.
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 18:52
Spanish to English
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I'm quite busy today, so I shouldn't spend more than a couple of minutes posting this...
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I don't have the smartphone anywhere near me when I am working - it is strictly only for private use.
If anyone rings, it is usually for my husband or a nuisance call - 'marketing', they call it. I get those on the landline too, but as a rule I manage to say 'thanks, but no thanks' and put the receiver down.
Sometimes my colleagues start an active discussion on Facebook - and I take part - but I can ignore it.
Otherwise - what messaging apps, news feeds etc.? I si... See more I don't have the smartphone anywhere near me when I am working - it is strictly only for private use.
If anyone rings, it is usually for my husband or a nuisance call - 'marketing', they call it. I get those on the landline too, but as a rule I manage to say 'thanks, but no thanks' and put the receiver down.
Sometimes my colleagues start an active discussion on Facebook - and I take part - but I can ignore it.
Otherwise - what messaging apps, news feeds etc.? I simply don't use messaging apps or newsfeeds. I subscribe to magazines and newspapers and read them when not working.
Most of the family are working themselves - we do not disturb each other in office hours.
The worst distractions come from CLIENTS! 
Either they are all totally silent, or they send me jobs all at once, then keep adding 100 words here and there...
No, of course I don't believe in conspiracies, but it is incredible how often they seem to synchronize. ▲ Collapse
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I don't use or participate in social media at all; I don’t use instant messaging and I only respond to phone messages when I have the time (most are publicity anyway); I’ve turned off all news feeds.
There are though some non-online distractions I can’t really avoid:
1. Calls or emails from my eldest daughter. She’s also a translator (in a very different field – biotechnology) and she finds easier to ask Mom than to open a dictionary (it’s my fault and I sh... See more I don't use or participate in social media at all; I don’t use instant messaging and I only respond to phone messages when I have the time (most are publicity anyway); I’ve turned off all news feeds.
There are though some non-online distractions I can’t really avoid:
1. Calls or emails from my eldest daughter. She’s also a translator (in a very different field – biotechnology) and she finds easier to ask Mom than to open a dictionary (it’s my fault and I shouldn’t complain as I love helping her);
2. My very needy dog.
I still manage to get my work done on time… ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:52
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Q "How do you manage online distractions (social media, messaging apps, news feeds, etc.)?".
A By not letting them distract me.
The only exception is my cat, which periodically decides it's time for me to stop doing pointless human stuff. To achieve this she jumps up on the table and sits on the keyboard, requiring to be stroked. I have to stop work.
[Edited at 2021-06-01 10:23 GMT]
| | | | matt robinson 
Spain
Local time: 18:52
Member (2010)
Spanish to English
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Teresa Borges wrote:
I don't use or participate in social media at all
Likewise. I took a conscious decision years ago not to get involved with any of that stuff. No regrets so far.
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When I'm working I'm working. "Messages" will be from clients, usually e-mail form.
| | | | Anne Maclennan
Local time: 18:52
Member (2010)
German to English
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| Cat interruptions | Jun 2, 2021 |
Tom,
I know exactly what you mean. I have a cat with the same habit. It is possible to ignore the telephone, but not the cat! She has an instinct for the moment I have finished a translation.
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 11:52
English to Russian
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| Never stopped living for translation | Jun 2, 2021 |
I work to live, not the other way around.
My Iphone is set to announce "Unknown callers" and I don't bother even to look at it. Would check the voice mail later. Other than that, I live my life - answer the phone, read emails if the notification suggests an interesting/useful one, pay attention to my cats etc., etc., etc.
No social media, no forced "news feeds" but not for the sake of non-interrupted translation. Shutdown mode is for teleconferences only.
| | | | | I don’t do social media | Jun 2, 2021 |
I’m not even on ProZ.
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| Some advice for weak-willed persons :) | Jun 2, 2021 |
1. StayFocused - Wonderful Chrome extension that lets you block sites and/or limit time spent on websites. Nuclear option is quite useful.
2. 2FA + password manager - Security reasons aside, 2FA and passwords manager will make it more difficult to login on time wasting websites.
3. Digital wellbeing for mobile. Try to uninstall social media/news apps and and use browser instead.
4. Email notifications - Use different sound for job related emails with Gmail checker +
... See more 1. StayFocused - Wonderful Chrome extension that lets you block sites and/or limit time spent on websites. Nuclear option is quite useful.
2. 2FA + password manager - Security reasons aside, 2FA and passwords manager will make it more difficult to login on time wasting websites.
3. Digital wellbeing for mobile. Try to uninstall social media/news apps and and use browser instead.
4. Email notifications - Use different sound for job related emails with Gmail checker +
Hope this helps! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 14:52
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| Responsibilities | Jun 3, 2021 |
When you reach a certain level of responsibility, with children, bills to pay, a pet and a series of daily issues, these things lose importance exponentially. For the past seven years, they haven't taken more than 5% of my working hours, ever, even if I don't have work to do.
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