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Productivity lessons from house-sitting

The last time I was house-sitting, all I did was use Facebook and watch TV. I got really bored. Despite cooking, cleaning and looking after the canine (the reason I was required to house-sit) – I had more time to burn than I ever had at home, where a large amount of cooking and cleaning is done for me (thanks mum!).
The reason for this?
When we are in familiar surroundings we fall into behavioural patterns. As creatures of habit, we do the same things again and again. Our brains do this because they’re lazy – they follow patterns so there are less decisions to make throughout the day, limiting cognitive fatigue.
When we are in unfamiliar surroundings the slate is clean. We must actively decide what to eat, do or spend our time on. We decide every element of what we do.
I’m trying to make myself more productive. The next step in this quest is not only limiting distractions, but also breaking the unproductive behavioural patterns I’ve become accustomed to.
How can you break your unproductive habits?
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Facebook sabbatical

I waste a lot of time on Facebook. A lot. I’m addicted.
I stop by countless times per day to check for notifications and respond to ‘urgent’ comments on my most recent status.

I heard a quote:

“Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than invest it.” ~ Jim Rohn, Business Philosopher

In the interests of being more productive, I’m running an experiment – I’m ditching Facebook for one month. Let’s see:
a) whether I manage without it, and
b) whether I miss it.

But more importantly, there’s a hidden part c) to the equation:
c) what extra will I achieve in that one month?