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Turning Off Technology Can Be Productive

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 20, 2008

Last summer, my Blackberry went kaput. Because I work from home, a radio studio, my car - you name it - I felt incredibly lost without a portable way to check e-mail, even for a day or two.

But then, I started noticing something big: Without the constant buzzing and interruption, I was really getting things done. Instead of breaking away from writing every few minutes to check e-mail or answer a call, I was able to work straight through. Not only did that make me more efficient, what I produced was better because my train of thought was intact the entire time.

I bought a new Blackberry about two weeks later. But I didn't forget about my experience without it, and I'm no longer afraid to turn it off when I'm working on a big project, or leave it at home when I'm out with my kids.

Half-Hour Lost In Time

We spend - and waste - a bundle of time on gadgets and other distractions in our lives, and I'm not the only one who's noticed. Maggie Jackson, a columnist for the Boston Globe, has a new book out called "Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age" (Prometheus).

Dramatic title, I know. But so are the numbers Jackson offers to back it up. Did you know that the average office worker switches tasks every three minutes? Or that each time you're interrupted, it can take about 30 minutes to get back on track?

It's true. We're wasting valuable time at work, time that would be better spent with our families, golfing or even catching up on housework and laundry.

5 Ways To Get In The Zone

Here's how to regain your focus:

•Turn it off. Shut down the PDA, close the e-mail window on your laptop and let voice mail handle any phone calls. There are very few things that can't wait a couple of hours. If there's a true emergency, you'll get the message.

The beauty of electronics is that they have an on-off switch, so learn how to use it. If you can't bear the thought of not being connected in some way just turn them off as much as you can.

•Stop multitasking. You were probably taught that multitasking is a good thing. Turns out that was last decade's news. Now researchers are actually finding that juggling more than one thing at once actually slows you down.

Instead, dedicate a chunk of time to each task. Schedule it on your calendar if you have to. Then focus on that project, and only that project, for the designated time.

•Prioritize. I'm a list-maker. I always have been, because I know it's the one thing that keeps me organized, and the feeling of crossing something off my list is empowering to this day. At the start of every week, sit down and prioritize your work for the week.

•Create a supportive space. If your environment is distracting, you're going to be distracted. Stacks of papers, a cluttered desktop, busy artwork and a television on in the background are all things that can make your mind wander. Design an environment that allows you to focus, and set up a filing system to get the papers and clutter off your desk. It doesn't mean you're not working on them, it just means you're not working on them right now.

•Take 10. "In corporate America, some companies have been setting aside a room or time on the calendar for something called white space. You're setting aside time or space for uninterrupted, unwired thought," says Jackson. Just taking 10 minutes in the morning to be still, collect your thoughts, and plan your day can really set you on the right track and improve not only your productivity, but also your mood.

With reporting by Arielle McGowen. Jean Chatzky is an editor-at-large at Money Magazine and serves as AOL's official Money Coach. She is the personal finance editor for NBC's "Today Show."

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