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Attention Deficit Disorder a.k.a. Multitasking

12/4/2016

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The Disease
​

Multitasking with electronic media, the type we often do at work, makes us more stupid than smoking pot or losing a night’s sleep. It does not simply come at the mental price of lost productivity, but it actively damages our brains. Furthermore, multitasking in social settings is indicative of low emotional intelligence (EQ), a potent predictor of success.

​The Alternative

Having put the myth of multitasking to rest, the alternative is total undivided attention a.k.a. mindfulness at work. As, William James, the great 19-century psychologist and attention expert wrote:
“The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention, over and over again, is the very root of judgment, character, and will.”

The Treatment

As a big believer in simplicity, I believe that a handful of simple interventions will yield major results in curing multitasking.
  • Single device - try to engage only with one piece of technology at a time - resist opening your laptop while watching TV or sending a message from your phone during a conference call.
  • No email interruptions - if your job permits, try to only check e-mail at set times in the day to minimize distractions.
  • No mobile phones in meetings - try to be fully present during meetings - do not just attend - participate; only use devices if you are taking notes or capturing action points.
  • Work in sprints - try to deliberately set times for uninterrupted work on a single task - start small - 15-20 minutes and extend as your ability to focus develops.
  • No multiple tabs - try to only work with one internet window if you are browsing and see how this affects your productivity.

The Healthy State

Above all, I invite you to at least try one of these and see for yourselves what is the impact. I am confident that as soon as you begin to eliminate multitasking from your daily life at work you will discover:
  • You can accomplish more in the same amount of time.
  • You can feel more relaxed under similar circumstances.
  • You can relate more naturally to your colleagues.
  • You can feel less stressed and tired at the end of the day or week.
  • You become more capable of noticing important things and opportunities.
I invite you to realize that all these benefits are within your grasp... To paraphrase William James again - steady attention is the default condition of a mature mind.

Think of it as taking a backward step - returning to what is totally natural to you - but perhaps veiled because of conditioning and prevailing norms.

Among the good quotes about attention, I think one goes to the heart of the matter...

"Life is short. Pay attention or you'll miss it." Anonymous
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    Martin Stefanov Petkov

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