Working with Fewer Distractions

I am certain I am not the only member of my generation who has a little trouble turning off the distractions. As we speak, I am simultaneously watching the Jets/Chargers game, watching the Golden Globe pre-show (adding my own commentary, naturally) and watching the updates on Twitter. All signs point to a less productive Sarah. My New Year’s resolution (or rather, the only one I will actually be trying to keep) is to be a little more focused.

For me, this means checking my e-mail twice a day, instead of the second it comes up on my screen, leaving my cell phone in my locker when I go to the gym and turning the television off during the day. I have also declared a “quiet hour” at the end of the day where I try to do something for myself (read a book, paint, reorganize my desk) without using any sort of technology.

I am absolutely amazed by the sheer amount of tasks that I tick off my to-do list when I turn off the distractions and work them methodically one at a time. I know my generation is wired to believe that multitasking is beneficial, and being able to juggle multiple projects at once is in fact, useful. I have recently discovered, though, that checking Twitter while I check my e-mail and write my latest blog post is actually not multitasking, it is just distracting. It turns out that the tweets and e-mails will still be there when I finish the task at hand. And more than that, when I turn off the excess noise, I finish tasks in half the time. With fewer errors.

I encourage my fellow Millennials to think about these things while they are working their way through their test papers, their work at the office, their internship. You certainly do not have to turn it all off all the time, but remember, those messages will still be there when your finish your tasks at hand.