Are We More Distracted by Technology Today Than Ever Before?
Are You Distracted by Technology?
This image above says it all. How many times are you in a meeting and get interrupted by a cell phone while a computer is still running? And it looks like they may have been having breakfast or lunch at the same time. Do you think being distracted by technology is helping us to be more or less productive? Do we really think because we are multi-tasking we are being more productive?
Yesterday I had 2 deadlines for articles to be completed. I had started one a while back and the other only in my head. I had to charge my cell phone before leaving the house so I did it in another room (unusual for me) and came on the computer to write and did not have the internet up and running. To my amazement I had completed both in less than 45 minutes. Was it because I wasn’t distracted by technology?
I usually have the email up and Twitter or other networks on while I am doing other things. I’m always thinking the more things you can do at once the more that gets done. Not today. I’m going to try this more often and see if my theory of focusing on one thing at time will produce more. (Since I did not follow my own advice prior)
According to Microsoft tag we are checking our cell phones 150 times per day. Do you reach or exceed that number? I sure hope you have a responsive theme for your blog or website with that much usage on mobile.
Time Killers
OfficeTime.net, creator of the popular OfficeTime time and expense tracking software for Windows and Mac computers and iOS devices, recently conducted a survey of working professionals on their Biggest Time Killers.
Survey participants were asked to name their top-three time killers. Of all the ways people manage to squander their time each day here are the top ones:
- Email (47%)
- Procrastination (42%)
- Social Networking (36%)
- Meetings (34%)
- Surfing the Internet (30%)
- Rounding out the Top 10 were non business-related conversations (24%), dealing with computer / technical issues (23%), “bureaucracy / red tape” (19%), travel time / commuting (14%), and playing computer games (10%).
Amazing to see how much we are distracted by technology today in this survey. The only ones that are not technology driven are possibly meetings, red tape and travel time.
What are the biggest technology distractions in your day?
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About Lisa
Helping Others to Thrive Online Through Social Media, Blogging and SEO. What good is knowledge if you cannot share it with others?
20+ years experience in marketing/advertising with 3 years experience blogging, social media and SEO.
32 Responses to Are We More Distracted by Technology Today Than Ever Before?
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Wonderful post Lisa!
Oh yes! I think most of us would nod our heads as we are distracted by technology.
Speaking of myself, it’s the social networking and emails that distracts me more than ever. But just like you tried this time, whenever I am working on a writing project I just have my work related things open, rest everything is shut completely off. But yes, I do take a break after every half an hour to check things up and go right back (this again I have to stop because sometimes you get caught up with the same distractions once again).
I guess what works well and what most of the people do as I’ve been reading online a lot about time-management is that they complete their tasks first thing in the morning and then come online to do anything else. Meaning they remain away from their emails and other things till they end their tasks, which happens quicker then, and then come online. It does make sense and works wonders too as I tried it out a couple of times as well.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Harleena, that sounds like a good idea. I do look at cell phone first so I will try to adjust that in the am and see how it works. I sometimes do start with offline tasks when I awake before 5 am so folks don’t think I’m nuts on Twitter or FB so early
Social networking, specifically Twitter. I’m always checking my phone or laptop for twitter updates. I’m such an addict. Great post Lisa
I can honestly tell you that YES technology is a distraction. Mine is definately twitter. I can do that all day and realize the whole day is gone. It’s like being in a casino gambling and starting in the morning and coming out the next day! Although I pride myself on multi-tasking, sometimes having too much of it can make me feel like a baby in an exersaucer…spinning around and hitting each thing but not accomplishing anything. I have found that the most effective way to get things done is to set a schedule for twitter, facebook, pinterst, socia networking, blog reading, checking email, etc and to stick to it. With things like hoot suite and being able to plan facebook posts, you can still attend to your “social” areas and get things done when you are taking time to get something done. I have found during the summer with the kids home, that too has become a key to survival.
How do you manage your time? Do you have a method to you maddness?
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Oh yes, I can say mine is usually Twitter too on the phone. I like to set a time too – I glance at it and say okay only 10 minutes more. Many nights I don’t need 8 hours and that’s how I manage the “madness” of it all:) Plus my kids are now grown. I don’t know how you moms do it all now!
I am very distracted by social networking, specifically Twitter. I’m always checking Twitter for updates, talking with friends, etc. I pretty much carry my phone everywhere with me so you never know where I’m tweeting from. Does it interfere with my duties? Sometimes but not for long.
Great post!
You know I am too Brenda – we live there (like our 2nd home). What did we do before all this technology? I know I got bored waiting in line or for a computer to start up.
Life before Twitter was boring )
Nope, not me! First off, I don’t use my cell like most people so no one calls me on it and I don’t have internet access so that’s very easy for me.
I will check my emails but that’s for my comments on my blog. Other than that I’ll check email certain times throughout the day but not every time I get one. I’m not distracted by social media because I have more important things to do.
Glad you found just by putting your phone in another room that you were able to knock out that work quickly. See, the world didn’t collapse and no one died because you didn’t answer your phone.
Great post Lisa, thanks for sharing this.
Enjoy your week now!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..What Facebook Can Teach Us about Rapidly Growing Your Blog
Adrienne, how do YOU Do it?? I could not believe you did not have internet access on your phone. I couldn’t live without mine now
You seem to be everywhere all the time. I had to re-read your comment twice and wonder “How does SHE do it?” Do you have a “pad?” Yes, no harm done when I left my phone in another room 
I know Lisa, I’m still living in the 60′s… But seriously, I’ve never been a big cell phone user. Oh, I have one but I work at home so I’m online ALL DAY LONG. When I head out somewhere, the last thing I want to do is talk on the phone or get online. If I’m expecting calls I’ll forward my phone but other then that, no problem at all. You know, if you’ve never had it you don’t miss it.
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Maybe we should all be living in the 60′s to get done what you do Adrienne
That’s like my parents – they don’t have a dryer or a dishwasher. Feel if they never had it why start now? Keeps things simple in some respects.
Hi, Lisa, good question
I believe it depends on who you ask and what kind of work they do. If you work in a computer and gadgets infected environment the chance of getting distracted is much bigger than for someone a job that involves a lot of manual labor.
To get the distraction level down we can set some rules (the following are some we use at work)…
* Cell phones – Off, or on vibrate mode
* Mail – short and to the point
* Meetings – short(er) and are performed standing up instead of sitting down
* Teams – once-a-day sprint meetings where all communicate and know what’s going on, instead of replying, forwarding and interpreting mails in 10,000 different ways
* (…)
It works. Work without INTERNET however would be impossible for me. Google is my best friend!
my 2c worth…
I love mail – short and to the point Jan
And meetings standing up is great. Don’t get too comfortable that way. I hear you on Google. How did we look things up so quick before?
Hi Lisa,
That’s a great one dear. That’s wonderful that you could able to do both articles in 45 minutes without being distracted by mobile or internet. So you gonna pull up network cable next time?
I’m not much into mobile if I’m at home and able to work with PC. Anyway I do text a lot. 300 text messages or something per day if my girlie isn’t online to chat with while on my computer
However I disable data connection on mobile, ’cause it distract me a lot with notifications. As I’m on PC, I do check ‘em when I have a time. You know relationships matters. Mostly I get emails due to comments made on my blog and all others will be on social networks. I was playing games most times earlier, but now I don’t get much time as I play with my blog.
I think we need to kill our time too
I mean, not wasting it. If I feel, I’m not doing my best and tired, I do play games, check mobile, do some maintenance, surf internet which helps me to off from my work and get back some time later with fresh eyes 
It helps me wake up overnight and get more things done.
Cheers…
(dofollow)
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Great idea Mayura on the cable:) I can’t imagine 300 texts per day too! I have disabled many of those mobile updates, drove me insane with constant sound or lights. I tend to do my best work in the am. I’m no good tired.
A very nice post and a great concept — focusing on one thing at a time. I’ve read several authoritative studies that point to the fallacy of multitasking as a viable way to increase productivity. I suppose you just accidentally came to realize the truth of these studies yourself. It’s amazing, isn’t it?
When I write, the only thing i have on in the way of technology is Spotify (my music account). I don’t have Twitter, email, or anything else running as these are terrible distractions for me. The music I listen to while writing is even different that what I listen to at other times. I listen to praise music or classical during my writing duties.
Other times I may listen to praise music, but often I listen to rock, pop, or dubstep (Dubstep Fridays). When engaging in social media, I usually create a sort of party atmosphere. I think it makes my engagement more authentic and brings out my personality.
Do the studies suggest which music is best Samantha? That would make for an interesting read. I try not to have Twitter on until I’m finished writing. I sometimes have it on while working on inventory as it can be a little dull.
Hi Lisa,
The studies didn’t talk about types of music specifically — that’s just my personal input. Different genres affect me in very different ways, so I use one type of music for writing, one type for social media engagement, another type for admin tasks.
S
Nice Post. Most of us are confused with Technology. You want to avoid it and at the same time just can’t do without it.
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That’s true Soumya, I had to overcome that with blogging and websites. Had to learn how to do it myself on some things. Always something new to learn with technology.
(dofollow)
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Hi Lisa,
I would say that mine is Twitter but now I schedule my tweets a little more often and try not take a peek on my iPhone too often ツ . I think it’s rude to the person that we are having dinner or even at tweet-ups. What is the point of a tweet-up if we are not going to converse?
At our recent Miami tweet-up, the Wi-Fi was sketchy which is good because we all talked to each other instead of tweeting at each other. ツ
Ann
Ann, me too!Twitter it is but I’m trying to glance at it less and I love using the Buffer for it. I have been to one Tweet-Up and it’s so nice to meet folks in person! I would agree, why be on the phone at the same time? I have to look around for of those meet-ups in the area, thanks for the reminder on it and commenting.
Hey Lisa!!
I like the concept that you have highlighted. You are almost correct at your point. In today’s scenario, we are surrounded by so many latest technologies that distractions automatically comes. Latest updates on mobile phones, different kinds of gadgets and even the technologies such as psp or x-box made for kids to play are also highly designed.
That’s true Aditi, and the kids are growing up with and are not afraid at all but it may be re-wiring their brains with all the multi-tasking.
Hi Lisa,
Old post, Sorry! Had to comment. I think technology is a distraction.
life before facebook and twitter was boring.
Most of us confused with the technology.
One thing is that you can let this but you are nothing without this.
Reading this article reminded me of my management lessons at College, like we learn lines of authority in Management. The list is very impressive and informative. Truly helpful and guiding towards adopting the approaches.
I have thought that too, especially when standing in line or waiting for something. I just take out my smartphone and am not bored anymore
Hi Lisa,
I think my biggest distraction is Facebook, and some of the groups I belong to. There is a lot of my time taken up to promote my site and help other bloggers do the same thing with theirs.
I need to set up a better space for me to do steady writing so I can be more productive. Great post! Sally
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Thanks Sally – yes Facebook can be very distracting. I never stay on there too long. I always check the clock when I log in.
Yes, most of the times I am distracted by technology. Am in front of my PC more than 8 hours a day, and this has been my life for the past 2 years.
Paperworks, Excel Worksheet, Word Documents… all those stuff. The problem is, when there is a power shortage – I cannot proceed to any of them. That’s what technology here.
Distractions:
1. Browsing webpages
2. Social media -facebook, etc.
3. Email
4. Cellphone
Blogging has become my leisure habit, sometimes I am also distracted by blogging “itself”, and when I intended to blog, I am distracted by several “tricks” and “how to make money quick” on the web.
That is when I started to develop my time management. Multi-tasking is not all bad, but if you don’t know how to set priorities, problem arise. So, for the time being, I try my best to stick to a schedule, filtering “musts from should”, and refraining myself to believe “every promise” I read on the internet.
Nice discussion Lisa.
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Thanks Prime Aque, I would agree browsing webpages is the biggest time sucking activity. Social media is right there too with it. I like that word “Filtering”. Need to do more of that.
Hi Lisa
Today I uninstalled RescueTime, as my PC is running slowly and I have to remove some stuff that isn’t 100% essential. But while I was using it, I found my biggest time drains – not that any of them surprised me.
At work I am distracted by email far more than I would like. I’ve started to hold back on replying to emails immediately, and instead see if one person emails me with several requests in a row. When this happened for the first time, I politely suggested we should have an informal meeting and discuss all of his requests at once. Perhaps replacing a series of emails with a meeting wouldn’t work for everyone. But it worked really well in this case. It was faster and much more beneficial to discuss the requests face to face. We even came up with some ways to do things better than wouldn’t have come up had I replied via email.
I’m frequently distracted by social media. I haven’t got a great solution to this one, but at the moment I’m on a bit of a commenting kick, which is both something I want to do and a good way to reduce my time mindlessly reading every social media comment I can find. It’s a tough one, but a bit of balance is the key. After a few more comments I’ll go and do something else, maybe take a break
As for travel time / commuting, I think that’s a silly one. It’s a necessity for many of us, but not a true distraction like the others. If you commute to work, there may be ways for you to make the most of the time. For instance, reading or writing down ideas while on the train can help to ensure the time is not lost. You could prep yourself for your daily projects, or simply zone out and listen to music. This last idea might be a good one if you drive to work, and are therefore unable to read or write while you drive.
Phones are easy to address. Put it on silent if you don’t want to disturbed. Yes, there might be an emergency, but would you answer the phone while going to the bathroom? During a meal? While chatting with a friend? Many do, but I think it’s the height of rudeness. We have to balance the ability to check everything 24/7 with what’s a true emergency and actually needs our immediate attention. Not all “urgent” issues are truly urgent. We shouldn’t be slaves to our phones. The real problem with treating everything as urgent is we may take our eye off the ball when something really major occurs. A little patience never hurt anyone