Comments on: Data On The Damage Of Distractions http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/ Helping Creative People Create Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Produce More By Getting Into The Flow at LifeDev http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-635 Produce More By Getting Into The Flow at LifeDev Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:34:19 +0000 http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/#comment-635 [...] Interruptions are the bane of productivity, whether they come from other co-workers or your environment. While a distractive environment can severely hamper your ability to focus (email pop-ups in your taskbar, loud music, etc.), other people can be the biggest causes for a lapse in productivity. Part of the interruptions are mandatory, but a culture where they happen frequently never does anybody good. It’s no secret that interruptions are bad for just about everything. [...] [...] Interruptions are the bane of productivity, whether they come from other co-workers or your environment. While a distractive environment can severely hamper your ability to focus (email pop-ups in your taskbar, loud music, etc.), other people can be the biggest causes for a lapse in productivity. Part of the interruptions are mandatory, but a culture where they happen frequently never does anybody good. It’s no secret that interruptions are bad for just about everything. [...]

]]> By: Does Your Job Suck? Maybe You Need A Cup Of Tea at LifeDev http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-606 Does Your Job Suck? Maybe You Need A Cup Of Tea at LifeDev Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:28:42 +0000 http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/#comment-606 [...] So what’s the equivalent of this tea time or siesta in America? I can’t think of one either.  Why? I’d say it’s because we are such a results-driven society.  We work from 8-5 (give or take a few hours) with breaks consisting of water coolers, lunches, and playing around the web when the boss isn’t looking.  Hrm. We already know that office workers aren’t that productive anyway, so why not change the work model around and see what happens? While you can’t necessarily work much on your to-do list while taking a nap or chatting with friends and family, you’re gaining great relational skills.  Isn’t this crucial with businesses as well?  I know companies love hiring people with communication backgrounds for this very reason.  Plus, you’re actually getting up from your environment to something else.  Sleep is always good for you, and when it all comes down to it people matter more than money. [...] [...] So what’s the equivalent of this tea time or siesta in America? I can’t think of one either.  Why? I’d say it’s because we are such a results-driven society.  We work from 8-5 (give or take a few hours) with breaks consisting of water coolers, lunches, and playing around the web when the boss isn’t looking.  Hrm. We already know that office workers aren’t that productive anyway, so why not change the work model around and see what happens? While you can’t necessarily work much on your to-do list while taking a nap or chatting with friends and family, you’re gaining great relational skills.  Isn’t this crucial with businesses as well?  I know companies love hiring people with communication backgrounds for this very reason.  Plus, you’re actually getting up from your environment to something else.  Sleep is always good for you, and when it all comes down to it people matter more than money. [...]

]]> By: glen http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-522 glen Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:52:09 +0000 http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/#comment-522 <blockquote>"increasingly, we are longing for more signal and less noise, fewer and more meaningful relationships, and to get to the bottom of things (vs. to stay on top of things)."</blockquote> I like where you're going with this. I agree with you in the fact that some of us just haven't <em>adapted</em> enough to keep up with the constant distractions. Become more efficient in the way we handle them is going to be crucial as more and more distractions become commonplace.

“increasingly, we are longing for more signal and less noise, fewer and more meaningful relationships, and to get to the bottom of things (vs. to stay on top of things).”

I like where you’re going with this. I agree with you in the fact that some of us just haven’t adapted enough to keep up with the constant distractions. Become more efficient in the way we handle them is going to be crucial as more and more distractions become commonplace.

]]> By: Linda Stone http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/comment-page-1/#comment-517 Linda Stone Fri, 17 Nov 2006 07:46:22 +0000 http://lifedev.net/2006/11/data-on-the-damage-of-distractions/#comment-517 Great post! We are at, what I believe, will be a tipping point, with regard to how we evolve the way we pay attention. That is, while today, we pay, what I call, continuous partial attention, increasingly, we are longing for more signal and less noise, fewer and more meaningful relationships, and to get to the bottom of things (vs. to stay on top of things). It's interesting to watch those under 20 use technology. They KNOW where the off switch is. They prefer to SMS vs. deal with intrusive phone calls or burdensome email messages. They will begin to show the rest of us new ways to use the technologies and we'll discover new ways on our own as we move from "always-on" toward more balanced lives. Great post! We are at, what I believe, will be a tipping point, with regard to how we evolve the way we pay attention. That is, while today, we pay, what I call, continuous partial attention, increasingly, we are longing for more signal and less noise, fewer and more meaningful relationships, and to get to the bottom of things (vs. to stay on top of things). It’s interesting to watch those under 20 use technology. They KNOW where the off switch is. They prefer to SMS vs. deal with intrusive phone calls or burdensome email messages. They will begin to show the rest of us new ways to use the technologies and we’ll discover new ways on our own as we move from “always-on” toward more balanced lives.

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