One practice I've found that works really well is to cancel your internet subscription. I am then forced to go to public hotspots to check/answer emails, browse the web, go on hacker news, Facebook, twitter, etc. Most of the time I can just download API docs for the projects/libraries I am working on and don't need a persistence connection. You'll be surprised how much you don't miss out on by simply checking your emails 1-2 times a day.
This has greatly increased my coding efficiency as I am not distracted with being constantly connected to the world. I code "ruthlessly" during the time and when it is time for a break, I head over to my local coffee shop for some free wi-fi and a refreshing macchiato. For emergencies I always have my iPhone connection over 3G. Not only am I less distracted and more efficient, but I'm saving money (cost of coffee < cost of internet) and I find my life to be more balanced.
You must be paying quite a large monthly fee for your Internet. I have thought of this route, but there is a desktop PC to keep updated (linux likes its downloads, but then if I used that system just for production...)
;-), not that much. A decent connection is about $30 - 50/mo. The money saving is merely a fringe benefit, but it does add up over time. I usually just put everything up on my Linode instance where I can remotely manage updates via ssh. As for system updates on my laptop, coffee shops tend to work fine during off-peak hours or you can just head over to a nearby university library (which is also a nice chance to meet smart people).
This has greatly increased my coding efficiency as I am not distracted with being constantly connected to the world. I code "ruthlessly" during the time and when it is time for a break, I head over to my local coffee shop for some free wi-fi and a refreshing macchiato. For emergencies I always have my iPhone connection over 3G. Not only am I less distracted and more efficient, but I'm saving money (cost of coffee < cost of internet) and I find my life to be more balanced.