Productivity is a hot topic. Never have we had more tools to help us work better and faster. This makes sense: time has a monetary value, so the more we can accomplish in a given period of time, the better. Unfortunately, many of the productivity enhancements we’ve seen since the turn of the century have come at a high cost. Now more than ever, people are distracted. The failure to focus on one thing at a time is having far-reaching, negative consequences.
Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that focus and attention are complicated issues. There are a variety of factors that can impact an individual’s ability to focus, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), alcoholism, drug addiction, stress, medications, depression, etc. In no way do I wish to minimize these situations, or suggest that these challenges are easy to address. If you are dealing with something like this, professional expertise may be the best course of action.
Meanwhile, it isn’t difficult to observe that the digital age is changing the way we work, relax and relate.
For example:
WE USED TO… NOW WE…
Watch TV Watch TV, while checking our phone or surfing the Internet
Talk on the phone Talk on the phone, while walking or driving
Share a meal Share a meal, while searching Google about topics that have come up in conversation
Work/study Work/study, while toggling to check social media
Read an article Try and read an article, while suppressing pop-up advertisements and videos
Converse Converse, while checking email and answering texts
Furthermore, a tolerance for interruptions has become woven into the fabric of our lives. We particularly see this in social settings, where behaviors that once would have been considered rude (e.g. checking your phone while out to dinner) are now quite common and normal.
Admittedly, the reach of technology is not all bad. After all, the ability of a school to quickly contact the parent of a sick child is a wonderful thing. The challenge comes as we try to establish healthy boundaries for our attention.
Much research has been done to show that the human brain is most productive when focusing on one task at a time. While individual attention spans vary, it is generally agreed that 15 focused minutes are usually more productive than 25 interrupted minutes. Distractions require us to arrest our thought, refocus elsewhere and then do the same to get back on track. Sometimes, these interruptions are worthwhile, but many times they are not.
In addition to the loss of time required to refocus in the moment, there are other costs to living in a perpetually distracted state, including:
- Forgetting where we put things because we aren’t paying attention to where we are putting things down.
- Miscommunicating because we aren’t fully “tuned in” to conversations.
- Making errors because we are trying to do multiple things at once.
- Lacking complete understanding because we are skimming through letters/articles/books to get through them faster.
- Failing to complete tasks because we are getting redirected mid-course and running out of time.
Finding solutions to this modern challenge is difficult. The landscape and rhythm of life has fundamentally shifted:
- We are expected to be “on call” and reachable at all times.
- We are in regular communication with people in other time zones.
- We have become accustomed to being able to “look it up” instantly
- We expect to be able to buy, eat, watch and inquire 24 hours a day
Nonetheless, acknowledging that there are costs to this lifestyle is the first step in wanting to make efforts to manage the situation.
If you are feeling drained, or see your productivity suffering, here are a few strategies to try:
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
In essence, this is when you challenge yourself to be fully present in the moment, taking in the sight, sound, smell, taste and feel of it. It can be surprising how wonderful a breeze feels if you take a minute to stop, think about it and breath it in. My friend and fellow blogger Linda Samuels has written extensively on this topic. You can read more on her blog here.
INVOLVE THE FAMILY
Many times I hear parents reprimanding their children for staring at their phones or being online, all while they are behaving in exactly the same way. Rather than locking horns with your children, talk about how all of you need to find ways to alleviate the constant pressure to multi-task. Gather ideas from all family members, and be willing to experiment. The goal isn’t for parents to be the screen police; it is to be an ally in the struggle to stay connected while also achieving goals and finding joy.
ESTABLISH HEALTHY WORK HABITS
The message today seems to be that if you are only doing one thing at a time, you are being inefficient. The opposite is actually true. Productivity isn’t about constantly doing multiple things or performing at peak level for 8 hours straight. Just as with interval training for the body, productivity flourishes when we mingle periods of focused activity with periods of rest and refreshment. Don’t feel guilty if you need to put the phone down, get up and walk around or turn off alerts in order to stay focused for a period of time. The Pomodoro Technique provides one approach for blending focused sessions with small breaks in between.
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Few things are more frustrating than feeling like you are running on the treadmill and not getting anywhere. In this highly demanding digital environment, what are you doing to enhance your productivity?
You said this perfectly and I will admit I have become almost immune to this as I feel like I am on call all the time, because of modern technology. But I do feel like I need to step back more now and take it down a notch or two when possible still as I just can’t do it all, especially doing more than one thing at a time. So, thanks for the reminder here today on this.
Janine Huldie recently posted…Easy Halloween Wooden Spoon Mummy Dollar Store Craft
Great comment about becoming immune. As a society, we are all becoming used to these distractions, and yet they still may be damaging. Similar in a way to becoming used to smoke in the air or having to sit in rush hour traffic every day. Some aspects we can’t change, but some we can.
I just saw a news segment the other night that talked about all the technology bells and whistles that have been added to cars to supposedly make our lives easier and more efficient and how they’re just causing more accidents because of distracted driving. Clearly, it’s backfiring! Also, my husband and I notice that whenever we’re out to dinner together that we’re often the only couple not on our phones. I like to think we have a much healthier relationship because we’re connecting with each other and not our cells!
I bet you see the consequences of this lifestyle with your clients as well, Sarah. It is my hunch that the fallout from this perpetual digital connectivity is only beginning to be understood. I’m hopeful that we will develop ways to enjoy the benefits without damaging the “live” relationships with friends and family!
I have limited apps on my phone – Facebook Messenger, but not Facebook itself. That forces me to treat it mainly as a tool for communication and not my default activity.
Very smart idea, Janet. Keeps the “surfing” to a minimum. Thanks for sharing your tip!
This is a great post, Seana. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so accurately.
This is so true in our household. I long for the days when we can sit around the dinner table without the phones. Now, the phones are those uninvited members of the family. The ones that just interrupt you while talking. lol
I’m going to be sharing this one with everyone, even my family. 😉
My client today had the same story… I think we are all struggling with this. One the one hand, we like the feeling of being “connected.” On the other, we know it often keeps us from being fully present in the moment and focused on the conversation before us. Fighting the good fight over here too!
YES. So much of this. I had a whole therapy session wondering if my PTSD was making me lose focus or the society we live in. Probably both, and you named both!
I’m sharing this far and wide.
Thanks for sharing, Tamara! We are making a mistake if we think that there is just something wrong with us and we should be able to simply “get it together.” Many factors are pushing us in this unproductive direction. It is good to know that there are strategies and techniques to help!
Wow! I LOVE this post! It’s true that a real treat comes from giving ourselves permission to do one thing at a time. It’s become automatic to do multiple things which leads to frustration. Thank you for sharing all the ways we can begin taking back our attention!
I believe we are in a bit of a cultural low spot when it comes to attention. It will be interesting to see how we deal with the new landscape going forward. I appreciate your positive feedback, Ellen!
This something I’ve been particularly working on the past few months – working on focusing and being present. Focus allows me to enjoy the experience, whether it’s just relaxing or working on an important project. I’ve put a premium on enjoying experiences rather than just stumbling through them lately.
Such a positive change in the way we approach life. If we always have one eye on something else, we may miss the full blessing of the moment!