1. Do not have access to the internet on your work machine. If you don’t have 2 computers, get a netbook for < $300 and connect it to the internet. They should be in 2 different workstations, ideally in 2 different rooms. The thinking is that if you have to get up, you’ll only do it if it’s really necessary. It works pretty well.
2. You should have 2 modes: coding and not coding. For coding, you should be at your desk coding. For not coding you can be anywhere, but “not at your desk”. One of my biggest problems is that I often find myself in one mode when I should be in the other. If you’re having trouble writing code, then you probably don’t know what to write. Grab source code listings, pen, & paper and “get away from your computer”. Don’t come back until you know exactly what you’re going to be working on. Better yet, until you’re “dying” to work on it. On the other hand, if your doing analysis and are stuck, stop. Go back to the computer and code something, anything small, just to get going.
3. End every day in analysis mode. Don’t go to sleep until you have tomorrow’s plan ready. You should wake up knowing exactly what you’re going to be working on and excited to do it.
4. Never text or IM when working. Have the cell phone nearby only for emergencies. For email, go to the other computer once an hour (see #1 above).
5. Try 48 minutes on, 12 minutes off. For long coding sessions, this works pretty well for me:
http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/2006/09/the-power-of…
6. Ipod.