beating digital distractions

HOW TO BEAT

DIGITAL

DISTRACTION

WARNING!!! This workshop requires

WILLPOWER!

“It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.” ― Clay Shirky

Image CC BY 2.0 © Joi http://bit.ly/1mCFN14

Objectives of the workshop

• The problem of digital distraction/information overload

• Your own digital distractions - Room 101• Solutions* • Technologies to help with digital distraction

*Not every solution will work for everyone

Not all solutions may be right for you, requires willpower.

We each leave behind us a vast ‘data trail’ every time we travel, use our phone or credit card, search or buy online, use social media or visit a supermarket. That data adds up, making up part of the 2.5 billion gigabytes of data – equivalent to 67.5 billion Encyclopedia Britannicas - created across the world every day.

Anyone here spend time doing nothing but this?

The best Web page in the world?

The fear of NOT being connected

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Disruption and Recovery of Computing Tasks: Field Study, Analysis, and Directions http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/horvitz/chi_2007_iqbal_horvitz.pdf

What are your digital distractions?

Image CC BY Davis Staedtler http://bit.ly/1KD81yk

Mine are

1.Email2.Myself3.Others

Image CC BY David Goehring http://bit.ly/1KHqPMS

Multitask?

Cognitive control in media multitaskers. E Ophir, C Nass, AD Wagner.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 (37), 15583-15587

What some of the big fish do

• Google – No more than 10 people at a meeting

• Reily Media – Have standing up meetings• Founder of Tumblr David Karp doesn’t read

email first hour of every morning• IBM – No email periods

Filter #1Filter emails before they arrive

Filter #2

Find the emails you really want

Filter #3Delete emails on your phone forever!

Filter #4

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-20609-7_68 [Last Accessed 28/10/2015]

Filter #5

Relax! You’ll Be More Productivehttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1&

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?_r=0 [Last Accessed 26/10/2015]

Colleagues in ScHARR“ I find meditation helps to focus on what matters: what is really happening now, what is my

purpose and how can I respond in a more kindly way to whatever is happening.”*“Meditation literally gives me 'head-space' and a release from thinking about the stress of our

increasingly busy lives, and the constant intrusion of technology that is eroding the boundaries between work life and home life. Meditation using mindfulness techniques provides the tranquility and nourishment my mind needs to keep it healthy in the same way my body needs exercise and a healthy diet.”

“I find meditation help not only calm my mind but also increase its ability to concentrate on an object. Performing mindfulness helps me touch the present moment; be less distracted or disturbed by thoughts about the past or the future; be able to focus more on the task I am doing; and be able to listen to others and help them to be with the present moment as well.”

“I find that after the 20 min session on a Wed lunchtime, my thoughts are more organised and I am more productive.*”

“I find it hugely 'levelling'. I am less critical of myself and others which gives me tons more space to enjoy what I am doing by simply being immersed in it.”

“I can wake up with lots of brief thoughts presenting themselves and find that meditation quietens this down and I can enjoy doing one thing at a time plus decide more easily what order to tackle things.”

I find that during the day, I am able to close my eyes for 1 min or so and rebalance or refocus myself and get rid of unhelpful thoughts. I find it very helpful if I have a lot on or need to deal with challenges. It gives me the energy and focus required.

* Both Professors

Do you practise meditation/mindfulness?

What are your experiences?If not, why not?

Useful meditation/mindfulness resources

• Headspace - Website. IOS, Android, Kindle App. iTunes. Book. Podcast free/subscription

• Take a Break (Guided meditations for stress relief) - IOS, Android App

• Calm - Website. IOS, Android App. Book• Buddhify - IOS, Android App

If you use them right

Filter #6

Filter #7 IFTTT

Filter #8 Readability

Filter #9 leave your desk behind

Image © Turnitin http://turnitin.com/en_us/features/ipad

Filter #10 Find a quiet focused place

Filter #11 Curate your interests

Filter #12 Unroll

Filter #13 Have a Walking meeting

Image CC BY 2.0 © cheetah100 http://bit.ly/1h5JZ4w

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

Mark Twain

Image CC BY 2.0 © Jussi Linkola http://bit.ly/1LZzFYt

30:30 App

http://3030.binaryhammer.com/

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/ask/ [Last Accessed 28/1/0/2015]

Stay FocusdAvailable on Chrome Web Store

Image CC BY 2.0 © Artondra Hall http://bit.ly/20cAhna

Other useful productivity tools

https://en.todoist.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web

https://www.wunderlist.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web

https://www.rememberthemilk.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Blackberry

Things for you to try

Leave your phone at homeGo for a walking meetingGo work in the libraryTry meditating (even for just a minute)

• The effect of music listening on work performancehttp://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/LESIUKarticle2005.pdf• The Effect of Student Music Choice on Writing Productivity.http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED448472Music to work to – ScoopIt! Pagehttp://www.scoop.it/t/background-music