Insight: Even the smallest distractions can seriously throw us off.
Evidence: Researchers asked participants to complete a series of tedious computer exercises and programmed interruptions to occur after every sixth step, requiring a code entry before returning to work.
They found that a 4.4-second interruption caused people to triple the errors they made when they returned to work, and after a 2.8-second distraction, they more than doubled their errors.
Why It Matters: This means that “it’s not just a phone call that counts as an interruption — just the ringing counts … even if all you want to do is find your phone and shut it off,” the study’s lead author, Michigan State University psychologist Erik Altmann, said.
What To Do: Try dedicating 60- to 90-minute chunks throughout the day to distraction-free work (studies show that’s about as much time as your brain can bear to produce quality work before needing a break, anyway). During that time, sign out of instant-messaging programs, turn off email pop-ups, put your cell phone away, and stay off social media — just imagine how many notifications you’ll have when you sign back on!
Source: NY Mag