By Maria Lianos
The other day, I wrote a post about suffering internet withdrawal while on vacation.
Upon my return, I read this article: “Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price”
As soon as I started reading, it hit me: “that’s me.”
“Scientists say juggling e-mail, phone calls and other incoming information can change how people think and behave. They say our ability to focus is being undermined by bursts of information…
While many people say multitasking makes them more productive, research shows otherwise. Heavy multitaskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information, scientists say, and they experience more stress.”
I consider myself to be a pretty good multitasker. Most moms are… they have to be. We can make dinner, Tweet, talk on the phone and deal with our kids all at the same time.
At times under stress, I am more productive. Even though the stress may be apparent (when I’m heard yelling, “Go to your room, NOW!!!” and when noon can’t come soon enough), I thrive on it.
But then there are those days when I am completely overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. The endless list of things-to-do stares me in the face. Not knowing where to begin, the multitasking expert I usually am becomes counter-productive and I end up doing nothing at all.
Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, online forums… do you often feel overwhelmed trying to stay on top of everything? Do you feel like if you’re away for a few days with no internet access, you’d miss something?
Do you think that multitasking is making you counter-productive and causing you more harm than good?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
5 Comments
Yes – sadly enough I would miss it. Was down for a few days awhile ago and had to go to my DS’s on the 2nd day for a fix! Found myself being pulled to the computer quite often to only to remember it was down – HABIT!
AND as far as ‘gadgets’ go… I’m truly hooked on my digital meat thermometer! Cooked 30 years w/o it, but now I use it every time! LOL
I was just thinking about this the other day. I’m a stay at home mom, and with Summer here, there is very little to actually schedule or do. Yet, I feel so busy online. Between all the social media sites, my blog and random other sites, I feel like I could be online 24/7 and still not get everything ‘done.’
I think I need a break. I’m trying to figure out what are my necessities and let everything else go for a little while and see how I feel.
Whew! So glad I’m not the only one feeling this way!
It’s pretty much out of habit for me too. I can spend so much time online and not really accomplish anything of “real” importance.
I realized on my vacation that I need to give myself a limit of time I spend online.
The more I do with social media, the more I seem to struggle with my focus. It’s kind of startling to me since, at least during my work hours, I’m not involved in it at all. That is a personal piece of my life and has no part in my work – and I can’t afford to lose my job over it so I don’t go there during work hours. But it seems to invade my mental space anyway. As I’m doing this or that work task, I’m often distracted about my next blog post, or ideas about half a dozen posts I want to do.
I find I can’t turn off my work email either to block that one distraction that honestly sends me in ridiculous directions throughout the day. I would probably get a lot more done if I left my email open for about two hours a day and closed it the rest of the time. Maybe I should attempt to start new habits. 🙂
Simply turning it off is the best way to stop being distracted. After my trip, my goal is to do the same. Small steps!