The web world is a never-ending place of knowledge, work, and entertainment but, at the same time, extremely side-tracking and time-consuming. If you are trying to concentrate on the first two, the third with plenty of distractions is just a click away.
The habit of cyber-slacking is slowly changing into addiction and subtly growing in our work culture.
According to Huffingtonpost, large companies and businesses block several websites that seem harmful to their employees’ productivity. Among these blocked websites are social media apps to limit the time spent there when you are supposed to be working. Other sites that have been blocked are ones that the employers think are unapproved or inappropriate websites to go through during work.
It should be a matter of personal discipline and work ethics, not just your company’s efforts and threats, to avoid wasting time on distracting websites and focusing on work when you are on your employer’s payroll.
There are numerous apps and tools available to help you build better habits at work and not let you procrastinate. These apps not only block a list of websites and apps determined by you as distractions but also allow you to set a schedule or a timer and offer encouragement to work now and play later.
Below is a list of apps to help you focus on work and block distractions.
- Freedom– to block distractions on all your devices at once.
- Serene– to plan and follow through on deep focus sessions.
- Focus– to block distracting websites and social media with scheduling and a progress tracker.
- Cold Turkey Blocker– to schedule system-wide blocking on selected sites and apps.
- LeechBlock NG– for free browser-based website blocking.
- RescueTime– for time tracking with built-in website blocking.
- Forest– to motivate you to put your phone down during work hours.
Whether you are an employer or an employee, here is the ultimate list of websites that should be blocked during working hours to help with productivity:
- Social Media Sites
Social media and networking sites are number one on the list of addictive web pages. Surveys have found that 77 percent of employees use social media at work. Unless you manage your company’s social media account, these platforms aren’t needed for work. The top sites in this category that should be blocked are- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, Tiktok, Tumblr, etc.
- Video-Sharing And Streaming Sites
The second most popular video-sharing website in the world is YouTube. It has videos of all kinds, from news, sports, gaming, music, movies, and shows to funny animals. If you are genuinely using YouTube for work and research purposes, go ahead. But otherwise, it should be in the blocked list with a few other websites and apps such as Netflix, Hulu, DisneyPlus, Vimeo, Dailymotion, HBOMax, Amazon Prime, etc.
- Online Shopping Sites
Unless you are tasked with tracking down materials and quotes for work, online shopping websites are certainly the most common workplace distraction. The most common culprits for online shopping, which should be blocked at workplaces are- Amazon, Wish, eBay, Craigslist, Etsy, Walmart, Target, Costco, Sephora, Ulta, etc.
- Online Dating Apps
Studies find that employee dating site usage has grown over the past years. The workplace is for work. Browsing online dating sites is not acceptable behavior for a professional. Dating sites and apps that should be on the block list are- Tinder, Match, Grindr, Bumble, OkCupid, etc.
- Online Gaming Sites
Playing games or gambling online results in a loss of productivity and wastes the companies’ money. Online gaming websites that need to be blocked at work are- AddictingGames, Bet365, Miniclip, Pogo, CS-Online, OnlineGambling, etc.
- Adult Content Sites
You should block porn websites and NSFW content sites at workplaces. According to a survey, 25% of working adults admit to looking at pornography on a computer at work. Surfing such websites at work is not only unprofessional but also indecent. In addition, there is a risk of virus or malware attacks from adult content sites.
- Sport Websites
When employees host sports streaming parties and talk about the latest events during work hours, it drags down your productivity and your network speed. You can block sports apps and sites like ESPN, NFL, NBA, NHL, etc., at work and enjoy them in your free time.
- Memes And Funny Sites
The occasional browsing bouts of funny images or reading light-hearted articles can surely help you blow off steam between intense work periods. But these websites can quickly turn from occasional glances to full-blown time consumers and allow you to procrastinate for hours on end. Examples of such websites that shouldn’t be allowed during working hours are- BuzzFeed, Imgur, 9gag, etc.
The problem of distracting websites during work has intensified during the pandemic when people work remotely from home with less supervision. This article provides you with a list of websites to block at work, allowing you to focus and give better performance.
