# Anti-websurfing quantification using Google Chrome's history & beeminder **URL:** \ **Category:** uncategorized\ **Created:** [June 30, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508 "2014-06-30T16:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anthony\_Peterson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/anthony_peterson/32/685_2.png) [@Anthony\_Peterson](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/Anthony_Peterson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508/1 "2014-06-30T16:07:38Z")
Until now, I’ve used Beeminder exclusively at home, but I decided to fight back against my tendency to slip into web surfing when I hit a hard coding problem, by creating a goal based on my Google Chrome history. The original idea was that I would count the number of 30 minute periods where there was no Chrome history, and count that as one unit in beeminder. But I changed my mind and decided to use a formula based on each interval of no surfing (decided by the gaps between Chrome history entries), and put that into Beeminder, but have it scaled so that 30 minutes of no-surfing corresponds to 1 pt. I ended up using the formula: points = minutes / 30 \* log30(minutes), which gives 1 if you put in 30 for minutes. Using x log(x) type of formula penalizes short periods of productivity more than it rewards long periods, which I needed, but it still makes long periods of productive work more valuable on a marginal basis. So I think this works for me. I do exclude crucial sites like MSDN’s c# reference from the timestamps. What do you guys think about this idea, and is this something I could automate using Google Chrome and Beeminder’s api? Here’s just an example of my timestamps this morning. I will need to dial my road quite a bit to find the best rate, that’s challenging and realistic. 6:54am 8:25am - 91 min - 4.02 pts 8:36am - 11 min - 0.26 pts 8:53am - 17 min - 0.47 pts 9:55am - 62 min - 2.51 pts 10:08am - 13 min - 0.33 pts 10:54am - 46 min - 1.73 pts 10:56am - 2 min - 0.01 pts 10:58am - 2 min - 0.01 pts 10:59am - 1 min - 0 pts 11:27am - 28 min - 0.91 pts 11:36am - 9 min - 0.19 pts Total: 10.45 pts – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Akratics Anonymous” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Lincoln\_Quirk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/lincoln_quirk/32/686_2.png) [@Lincoln\_Quirk](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/Lincoln_Quirk)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508/2 "2014-06-30T16:25:25Z")
Yeah, I like this idea! I fundamentally like the concept of getting more points for longer periods of focus. My instinct is to use a quadratic-type curve rather than a logarithmic one. Also I actually browse the web a lot when in deep focus (e.g., looking up reference material). Also, wouldn’t this count walking away from the computer as a period of deep focus? Because you probably don’t want that 🙂 Given that RescueTime has already implemented the parts where it classifies activities into high/low productivity maybe it would be easier to download the rescuetime data and post-process it to implement the curve? On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 12:07 PM, Anthony Peterson [anthonypete@gmail.com](mailto:anthonypete@gmail.com) wrote: > Until now, I’ve used Beeminder exclusively at home, but I decided to fight > back against my tendency to slip into web surfing when I hit a hard coding > problem, by creating a goal based on my Google Chrome history. > > The original idea was that I would count the number of 30 minute periods > where there was no Chrome history, and count that as one unit in beeminder. > But I changed my mind and decided to use a formula based on each interval > of no surfing (decided by the gaps between Chrome history entries), and put > that into Beeminder, but have it scaled so that 30 minutes of no-surfing > corresponds to 1 pt. > > I ended up using the formula: points = minutes / 30 \* log30(minutes), > which gives 1 if you put in 30 for minutes. Using x log(x) type of formula > penalizes short periods of productivity more than it rewards long periods, > which I needed, but it still makes long periods of productive work more > valuable on a marginal basis. So I think this works for me. I do exclude > crucial sites like MSDN’s c# reference from the timestamps. > > What do you guys think about this idea, and is this something I could > automate using Google Chrome and Beeminder’s api? > > Here’s just an example of my timestamps this morning. I will need to dial > my road quite a bit to find the best rate, that’s challenging and realistic. > > 6:54am > 8:25am - 91 min - 4.02 pts > 8:36am - 11 min - 0.26 pts > 8:53am - 17 min - 0.47 pts > 9:55am - 62 min - 2.51 pts > 10:08am - 13 min - 0.33 pts > 10:54am - 46 min - 1.73 pts > 10:56am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:58am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:59am - 1 min - 0 pts > 11:27am - 28 min - 0.91 pts > 11:36am - 9 min - 0.19 pts > > Total: 10.45 pts > > – > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > “Akratics Anonymous” group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Akratics Anonymous” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Essentiae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Essentiae](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/Essentiae)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508/3 "2014-06-30T16:41:36Z")
Why not just use the RescueTime integration? Essy On 30 June 2014 12:07, Anthony Peterson [anthonypete@gmail.com](mailto:anthonypete@gmail.com) wrote: > Until now, I’ve used Beeminder exclusively at home, but I decided to fight > back against my tendency to slip into web surfing when I hit a hard coding > problem, by creating a goal based on my Google Chrome history. > > The original idea was that I would count the number of 30 minute periods > where there was no Chrome history, and count that as one unit in beeminder. > But I changed my mind and decided to use a formula based on each interval > of no surfing (decided by the gaps between Chrome history entries), and put > that into Beeminder, but have it scaled so that 30 minutes of no-surfing > corresponds to 1 pt. > > I ended up using the formula: points = minutes / 30 \* log30(minutes), > which gives 1 if you put in 30 for minutes. Using x log(x) type of formula > penalizes short periods of productivity more than it rewards long periods, > which I needed, but it still makes long periods of productive work more > valuable on a marginal basis. So I think this works for me. I do exclude > crucial sites like MSDN’s c# reference from the timestamps. > > What do you guys think about this idea, and is this something I could > automate using Google Chrome and Beeminder’s api? > > Here’s just an example of my timestamps this morning. I will need to dial > my road quite a bit to find the best rate, that’s challenging and realistic. > > 6:54am > 8:25am - 91 min - 4.02 pts > 8:36am - 11 min - 0.26 pts > 8:53am - 17 min - 0.47 pts > 9:55am - 62 min - 2.51 pts > 10:08am - 13 min - 0.33 pts > 10:54am - 46 min - 1.73 pts > 10:56am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:58am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:59am - 1 min - 0 pts > 11:27am - 28 min - 0.91 pts > 11:36am - 9 min - 0.19 pts > > Total: 10.45 pts > > – > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > “Akratics Anonymous” group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Akratics Anonymous” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Anthony\_Peterson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/anthony_peterson/32/685_2.png) [@Anthony\_Peterson](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/Anthony_Peterson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508/4 "2014-06-30T16:48:06Z")
I’m just getting into quantifying my work, so I missed out on Rescue Time. I don’t want to go overboard, but if its easy to use then that would be worth it. I will check it out. On Monday, June 30, 2014 12:41:38 PM UTC-4, Essentiae wrote: > Why not just use the RescueTime integration? > > Essy > > On 30 June 2014 12:07, Anthony Peterson \<[antho...@gmail.com](mailto:antho...@gmail.com) \\> > wrote: > > > Until now, I’ve used Beeminder exclusively at home, but I decided to > > fight back against my tendency to slip into web surfing when I hit a hard > > coding problem, by creating a goal based on my Google Chrome history. > > > > The original idea was that I would count the number of 30 minute periods > > where there was no Chrome history, and count that as one unit in beeminder. > > But I changed my mind and decided to use a formula based on each interval > > of no surfing (decided by the gaps between Chrome history entries), and put > > that into Beeminder, but have it scaled so that 30 minutes of no-surfing > > corresponds to 1 pt. > > > > I ended up using the formula: points = minutes / 30 \* log30(minutes), > > which gives 1 if you put in 30 for minutes. Using x log(x) type of formula > > penalizes short periods of productivity more than it rewards long periods, > > which I needed, but it still makes long periods of productive work more > > valuable on a marginal basis. So I think this works for me. I do exclude > > crucial sites like MSDN’s c# reference from the timestamps. > > > > What do you guys think about this idea, and is this something I could > > automate using Google Chrome and Beeminder’s api? > > > > Here’s just an example of my timestamps this morning. I will need to dial > > my road quite a bit to find the best rate, that’s challenging and realistic. > > > > 6:54am > > 8:25am - 91 min - 4.02 pts > > 8:36am - 11 min - 0.26 pts > > 8:53am - 17 min - 0.47 pts > > 9:55am - 62 min - 2.51 pts > > 10:08am - 13 min - 0.33 pts > > 10:54am - 46 min - 1.73 pts > > 10:56am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > > 10:58am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > > 10:59am - 1 min - 0 pts > > 11:27am - 28 min - 0.91 pts > > 11:36am - 9 min - 0.19 pts > > > > Total: 10.45 pts > > > > – > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > “Akratics Anonymous” group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > > email to [akratics+u...@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+u...@googlegroups.com) \. > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Akratics Anonymous” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![amesha1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@amesha1](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/amesha1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/anti-websurfing-quantification-using-google-chromes-history-beeminder/1508/5 "2014-06-30T17:04:57Z")
I wrote a script that counts the number of open tabs in Firefox, and I intend to use it to beemind the number of tabs I have open. I find that I tend to get totally lost in unfocused distraction when I open dozens of tabs (and keep them open for days and days), but if reduce the number of open tabs I feel more in control and am more focused. I wanted to make one for Chrome (even though I rarely use it), but getting the open tab information out of the Chrome profile turned out to be less straightforward. On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 7:07 PM, Anthony Peterson [anthonypete@gmail.com](mailto:anthonypete@gmail.com) wrote: > Until now, I’ve used Beeminder exclusively at home, but I decided to fight > back against my tendency to slip into web surfing when I hit a hard coding > problem, by creating a goal based on my Google Chrome history. > > The original idea was that I would count the number of 30 minute periods > where there was no Chrome history, and count that as one unit in beeminder. > But I changed my mind and decided to use a formula based on each interval > of no surfing (decided by the gaps between Chrome history entries), and put > that into Beeminder, but have it scaled so that 30 minutes of no-surfing > corresponds to 1 pt. > > I ended up using the formula: points = minutes / 30 \* log30(minutes), > which gives 1 if you put in 30 for minutes. Using x log(x) type of formula > penalizes short periods of productivity more than it rewards long periods, > which I needed, but it still makes long periods of productive work more > valuable on a marginal basis. So I think this works for me. I do exclude > crucial sites like MSDN’s c# reference from the timestamps. > > What do you guys think about this idea, and is this something I could > automate using Google Chrome and Beeminder’s api? > > Here’s just an example of my timestamps this morning. I will need to dial > my road quite a bit to find the best rate, that’s challenging and realistic. > > 6:54am > 8:25am - 91 min - 4.02 pts > 8:36am - 11 min - 0.26 pts > 8:53am - 17 min - 0.47 pts > 9:55am - 62 min - 2.51 pts > 10:08am - 13 min - 0.33 pts > 10:54am - 46 min - 1.73 pts > 10:56am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:58am - 2 min - 0.01 pts > 10:59am - 1 min - 0 pts > 11:27am - 28 min - 0.91 pts > 11:36am - 9 min - 0.19 pts > > Total: 10.45 pts > > – > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > “Akratics Anonymous” group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). – You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Akratics Anonymous” group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:akratics+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).