I recently read this post on Jess Lively’s blog about her experiences using the Mac Apps Self Control and Concentrate to help her focus while working on the computer. I’ve been considering trying an app like these myself, so I was really interested to here what she thought. Her experiences with Self Control (in particular of programs not unblocking after the time was up) made me nervous about trying that one since I’m away from home this week at school so I wouldn’t have my hubby here to try and fix my computer if things went wrong. So I decided to try Concentrate.
This app (which has a 60 hour free trial) lets you put together various activities and what will happen when you run these activities. My first test is a Study Time! (Printed Articles) scenario. 
I set Concentrate so when I click “Concentrate” with my Study Time activity, a series of steps will take place. First is that it will launch Evernote since that’s what I’m using to take notes in most classes.
Second, it will set my chat status to “Away” / “I’m studying 
”. The only person I really iMessage with though is my Mom and I don’t think she understands chat status messages. We shall see if she notices!
I told Concentrate to block my three most distracting websites and
decided to have Safari blocked as well because I really don’t need it if I have the articles printed out.
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