[polyfractal]

I don't think this is anything new. Before the internet people sat around and watched TV instead of being productive.

You are procrastinating on your projects because you've hit a difficult, unpleasant part. It is easier and more enjoyable to read articles and daydream about finishing your projects than actually finishing your projects. I speak from experience: my deepest character flaw is starting projects and never finishing them. It's a common joke amongst my friends.

Pick a project and force yourself to work on it for at least an hour a day. You'll quickly find an hour really isn't enough time and before long you'll actually be putting serious time into your project. Just push through the unpleasant part (usually the last 10%) and finish it :)

As a college student (it sounds like you are in college based on your Stanford class) you have tons of time. It only gets harder once you get out and have to work 8-6pm every day. Enjoy your excess time and energy while you can, because doing the same later gets exponentially harder.