Article: 18 Ways to Stay Focused at Work

Is #1 even possible? even if you planned it down to a T the unforseen will always pop up, say you assign 5 hours for layout, you get it done in 4.5, then check in other browsers ... you could easily spend another hour adjusting to suit IE ....

#2 answer phone message - your call is important to us, however we are currently busy, please hold .... you are number 135 in line ... please hold

#3 if I did that I'd never get anything done, when your coding or designing you get that flow, if you break it you can loose it. I say go hard until done - sleep is over rated

#4 and #5 I never reply so am safe there

#6 umm IM shouldn't be on, is called a distraction - play after work

#7 so go work in the elevator?

#8 become a male, we have this skill called selective hearing

#9 also makes you get up to go pee alot

etc

My biggest tip, if you have an important job you NEED to get finished, get someone to lock you in the broom cupboard and not let you out until your done or if a bad smell starts coming from there, cause that would mean you died.
But seriously, do the horrible stuff first, at least start on it, this way you have all the good stuff to look forward to.
Another is if you cant think (brain dead), then dont try - it wont happen, go away, shoot some hoops, walk the dog, do other stuff until you can get into that groove. Trying to work when brain dead can actually make work for yourself

Yeah #3 was the only one that I thought wouldn't apply so much to programming. Once I get started I like to keep going till I am about to pass out from either lack of sleep or lack of food

So many non programmers just don't understand how hard it is to just turn on a creative programming mode at 9am and shut it off at 5 and continue where you left off at 9 the next day. Artists on the other hand get this.

-Greg

I'm not too sure about this list - it's really just one person's opinion based on his own preferences. The one about eating lunch at your desk really stuck out to me. I think most productivity experts would recommend taking an actual break rather than trying to work through all the time. I find that it's good to give my brain a rest - otherwise things drag on and I find myself procrastinating a lot in the afternoon. It's also good to take a break from the computer so you don't end up with eye strain or repetitve stres injuries.

I do really like the point about keyboard shortcuts. I get really annoyed with programs that either don't have enough keyboard shortcuts or don't allow me to change them. Getting used to keyboard shortcuts also helps to transfer the work across both hands and prevent repetitive stress.

I also really like "Limit time on Digg, Delicious, news sites and blogs" - and that goes double if you've got RSS. Be very selective about what RSS feeds to read, and don't feel the need to read them all as they come in.

I eat at my desk, but I wouldn't program while doing it. I tend to get more typing errors while trying to eat and program, and typos can cause me to stare at a program for hours trying to figure out why it won't work correctly. Hate that. And I think taking an actual break can increase productivity. My work recently took away our breaks completely (we still get a lunch, but if you need a 10 minute break in the middle of the day, no way) and it decreases my productivity. I cannot sit at my desk for sometimes 6 hours straight without a lunch or a break and stay awake (coverage issues) or stay on task. I get plenty of sleep, but after awhile, my mind just says "This is your brain and I need a break so I'm taking a trip to la la land." Taking away breaks was the worst thing my company did, my productivity took a nose dive! So if you can, take a walk around the office for me, would ya?

Is that legal taking away breaks in your country?
I think we are only allowed to work for 3 hours solid before having to take a min 10minute break.

If i'm on a roll I go with it, but if I loose it I take a break. Break can be for 10 min (to drink coffee and smoke outside) or a couple of days if it's just not happening.
I often drink coffee while working but never eat at the puter.

Unfortunately, there is no federal law in the US for breaks, it is up to each individual state to have a break law. There are laws for lunches, but not breaks. And I am unlucky enough to live in New Mexico where there are not many labor laws at all. Employers are only required to give us 20 minutes for lunch, that's it. 20 minutes for a 9-12 hour day for me is not enough. Most employers here realize though that giving breaks helps employees, my current one doesn't seem to feel that way. It's hard coding for hours straight without being able to just walk around for 5 minutes. Maybe I wouldn't be writing this post if I was able to walk around lol!