How do you deal with internet distractions?

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ModestTiger

I wonder how people focus on improving by playing only online when there's a constant battle against notifications and advertisement and other attention-seeking things always moving on the screen? 

I'm amazed by how some of the top chess players can stream online, read chat, respond to chat and sustain top level performance.

As fortunate as we are to have tactical trainers online, I personally solve all tactics with a board setup instead of solving them on the  computer screen. The convenience of online tactical trainer is amazing but the computer, even with ad-block, i'm constantly thinking about "what am I missing out on today?" question.

Setting up pieces is so time consuming. But maybe my distracted mine is telling me "use your time to read more distracting things on the internet instead" The thought itself is a distraction. And you just know they got you. 

I was playing otb one time against this shady doctor and during the game, he asked me a very distracting question "are you hungry? what you want to eat?" and it was 20 minute into the game and i just couldn't think about the game anymore because a simple question like "what do you want to eat?" can throw your opponent off because instead of considering your variations, you're considering all food options which I have come to believe access different set of neuronetwork in the mind and essentially filing away your chess knowledge just so you can really consider what to eat. 

It's just a very cheeky thing to do. But it calls to question How do top players focus amid such distraction? I mean just think about people walking around magnus during one of his game and they are talking and he overhears a conversation. How does he redirect his mind back into the game? 

IMKeto

Distractions?  What are these distractions you speak of?

ModestTiger
FishEyedFools wrote:

Distractions?  What are these distractions you speak of?

 

You see this is what i mean, now i have to consider all sorts of distractions just to answer this one question and no longer thinking about my initial question anymore or its considerations. 

IMKeto

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ModestTiger
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:

"What's all this I hear about having to deal with internet detractions...?"

 

Nothing more distracting when random classy national master shows up in one of my forum question now I'm asking myself "is he for reals?" "what does he want?" "does he really care about my question?"

It's weird because you would never think how much attention can be harvested from you.

Like if magnus carlsen decided to pull a chair and sat next to you during one of your live games.. I bet you anything you'd be like "wtf? why? what does he want? why is he just sitting there watching me?

And then you're thinking "I can't let him down, i got to win" and you make an overconfident move and you lost the game.